Home Page Newsletter - Spring 2023

Spring 2023 Newsletter

By John Gallagher, Hope Solutions Site-Based Clinical Support Services Manager

The Hacienda Heights complex reopened in December 2022 as a new low-income senior living community This property had previously been identified as the worst public housing complex in Richmond. Now, under new ownership from our partner Mercy Housing, it is a shining example of how affordable housing can change lives

Meet Joyce, our first Permanent Supportive Housing resident at Hacienda Heights. In December, she moved into one of the twenty-five apartments designated for individuals 62 years and older meeting HUD's definition of being chronically homeless and having a disability.

Joyce was thrilled to move into her newly furnished apartment One of my key takeaways from the move-in: always remember to stand close to the client as they walk into their new home, just in case it turns into a knee-buckling, "I am going to faint" moment. And it just about did. She kept repeating, "I can't believe this I can't believe this. It's so nice." Joyce went on to say through happy tears, "I've dreamed about this for so long, but then I lost hope that I would ever have a home again. I just don't know what to say."

A Magical Moment: Seniors Move into New Housin HaciendaHeights,Richmond SeniorLivingApartmentComplex

Joyce's parents were from Sicily; her father was a fisherman, and she grew up in an Italian-speaking household "I used to make my own pasta, but it has been so long. I wonder if I can still do it?"

Experiencing one of these magical moments is the best part of my job at Hope Solutions. It’s amazing to watch someone reawaken to life's possibilities when newly housed And I am pleased to report that Joyce does indeed still know how to cook. That plate of home-cooked chicken cacciatore she shared with staff was excellent!

Joyce, age 64, has been homeless since 2016, living in a tent encampment in Martinez and, most recently, at a shelter in Concord She is managing chronic mental and physical health conditions, yet neither seemed to prevent her from experiencing the disorienting joy of the moment.

150 Units: studio, 1br & 2br, six stories Walkable to BART, grocery stores, pharmacy, and hospital Hope Solutions provides services to 25 residents

Formerly Contra Costa Interfaith Housing

Joyce in her new apartment

Resident Empowerment Program Creates Opportunities for Community Discussion

The Hope Solutions Resident Empowerment Team continues to make huge impacts on our community's approach to solving our affordable housing crisis. Since day one, Hope Solutions staff have partnered with residents to ensure our services are created with their input and feedback In 2018, we formalized this effort through the founding of the

Resident Empowerment Program (REP). The mission of REP is to lift up the voices of those most impacted by the lack of affordable housing and change the narrative concerning solutions

Earlier this year, our REP leaders took on new titles of Housing Policy Consultants, which better reflect and recognize their essential role in the community Three new consultants have joined the team: Deborah Carney, KC Radar, and Jacqueline Lowery coached and supported by our veteran team members, Irma Bodden and William Goodwin.

This team is working to shift perceptions, advocate for policy changes and share first-hand knowledge while centering people with lived experience in conversations about how to solve our housing crisis

With funding from the Partnership for the Bay's Future "Breakthrough Grant," and led by Jasmine Tarkoff, Co-convener Multi-Faith Action Coalition (MFAC) and Hope Solutions Consulting Director of Strategic Initiative, the REP Team is expanding its influence in Antioch This two-year grant is a collaboration between the City of Antioch, MFAC, and Hope Solutions to drive housing policies that promote affordable tiny-home or cottage communities on faith-owned land "The goal of this work is to build thriving communities and bring neighborhood stability, support, and a sense of community for individuals and families in Antioch," says Jocelyn Vera, Hope Solutions Policy Associate and Community Organizer

Let'sbuildacommunitywithinacommunity.

– Father Robert, St. Ignatius of Antioch

What Home Means to People Experiencing Homelessness

"Our approach is not forced upon those we seek to help, but rather we are working on a solution designed by those impacted by housing instability," says William Goodwin, Hope Solutions Board Member and REP Housing Policy Consultant

"Our goal is to build communities on faith-owned land that serve as the beginning of a journey towards healing – taking care of people's mental and physical health and ensuring they have the services needed to tackle trauma and rebuild their lives", says Jasmine Tarkoff Building these partnerships means working alongside people with lived experience by meeting at the locations where they gather, at times they are available, and accommodating their needs. The team is hosting listening sessions with housed, unhoused, and housing insecure Antioch residents, community-based organizations, and faith groups Seven sessions have been completed to date, engaging more than 300 people

During the listening sessions, the team asked participants what home means to them Answers were far reaching, and included: home is not only a place you feel safe, a place to keep your stuff safe, and a place to return to whenever needed, but also a place that provides peace, comfort, dignity and community.

Antioch Listening Session Take-Aways

90% of respondents said they would live in a tiny-home community

The most common answers for types of services residents would like to see offered at tiny-home communities:

For people experiencing homelessness, their main priorities are having access to basic needs, safe and stable housing, regardless of size. Mental

“

Hopes Solutions Resident Empowerment Program Policy Consultants

Irma Bodden

"When I first got my Section 8 Voucher, I waited only three months to receive my voucher. It wasn't hard to find housing, but in the early 2000s, everything changed Now some landlords won't even consider working with a 'Section 8' resident because of the heinous messaging and over-generalizations that the public has been taught to think about the risk of renting to housing voucher holders That's why I use my REP platform to advocate for legislation that advances affordable housing and supports the narrative shift that values housing vouchers and their holders "

Deborah Carney

"What home means to me is to be sheltered from the weather and the ability to live life at my fullest regardless of my age or disability Often, the people just seeking to live their normal lives and building towards regaining their dwellings are subject to threats, harassment, drug usage, and domestic abuse. So, as a concerned Antioch resident… [I] support new and innovative permanent supportive housing projects so that no one has to stay in sub-optimal shared housing situations "

William Goodwin

"As a homelessness survivor, there are things you don't forget, like the seven years it took my daughter and me to find affordable housing after I became disabled. Or the fact that I was number 2398 on a list of 2500 applicants Tragically, there are waiting lists of 5000+ now I still remember a young lady and her daughter living in an RV parked on the side of the road That could have been my daughter and me. COVID has illuminated the truth. We need to rethink our system of care. I use my REP platform to question whether affordable housing residents have been included in the thought process in every situation and determine how we can help create more affordable housing in our County."

"Have you ever wondered what it would be like attending high school without stable housing, or maybe how a student could end up unhoused? In my case, it was June of 2015, my junior year, when my father and I had to move out of our apartment because my dad wasn't able to work anymore due to him being a military veteran with PTSD triggered by the death of my mother I dropped out of school and my dad sent me to Richmond to stay with family for a month I started attending school again the next school year. Fortunately, I never spent too many nights on the street because I received help, whether that was couch surfing with friends or staying with my dad in the homeless shelter where I had to take an hour-and-a-half train ride to and from school After I graduated, I started renting a house but needed four roommates to be able to afford the rent…we made it…for about a year. But once some roommates moved out, I ended up having to move back in with my dad in an affordable housing unit By no means is it perfect; but it's the first time in a while that I haven't had to worry about where I'll end up next "

Jacqueline Lowery

"As a housing advocate, I have always felt the need to help people fight for their housing rights In the past, I've personally had to deal with homelessness for two months. The unfair laws that are more tailored for landlords versus tenants are just one of many roads that lead to homelessness That's when I decided to help in the fight to end people being displaced. I believe that housing is a human right! My focus is to help make sure that the unhoused have housing. Making sure that they receive all the resources they need and most importantly to help people feel stable, safe, and secure in housing."

Loren (KC) Kadar

Deanne Pearn Named Assembly District 16 Woman of the Year

On March 20, 2023, Hope Solutions CEO Deanne Pearn received an award from Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan at a ceremony at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan said, "I have selected Deanne as our

Woman of the Year in recognition of her lifelong work on housing access This issue is near and dear to all our hearts here in the East Bay, and I'm grateful we have leaders like Deanne and the rest of the team at Hope Solutions taking action."

Deanne also spoke with Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan about affordable housing captured in a video posted to the Assemblymember's Facebook page. The video is available on HopeSolutions org Deanne, the ever-humble leader of Hope Solutions, said, "I am here because of the hard work our phenomenal team does every single day. This award reflects their incredible commitment to our clients."

New Leaders Join Hope Solutions Board of Directors

Recently, we added three new board members to our leadership team who will help us to make progress against our Strategic Plan and execute our vision Our full board roster can be found on HopeSolutions org

Jamie Elmasu, MPH Director of Community Health Improvement, John Muir Health

HopeSolutionsisanorganizationthatisalignedwithnotonlymypassionforservingthecommunitybutalso myvisionforasafe,vibrantandresilientcommunity

Committed to advancing health and promoting wellness, Jamie designs health equity strategies focusing on improving programming for underserved communities Her 17 years of experience stem from working with a variety of community-based nonprofit organizations, hospitals, clinics, and education systems Jamie holds a Master's in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on Health and Social Behavior, and a Bachelor's Degree in Cognitive Neuroscience also from the University of California, Berkeley

William Goodwin Housing Advocacy Consultant, Hope Solutions

IbelievemyservingonHopeSolutionsboardaffirmsitsvisioninsupportofastrongcommunitywhere everyonecanreachtheirfullpotential.

William has been connected to Hope Solutions for the last 12 years First as a resident of Los Medanos Villages and subsequently as a Resident Empowerment Leader As a REP Leader, William led a grassroots community project to create a resident survey which was ultimately adopted by Resources for Community Development (RCD) and conducted at all 63 of their sites. William has also served as a Board Member for the East Bay Housing Organization (EBHO) and Monument Impact

Rabbi Noach Lawrence

Temple Isaiah

I serveontheHopeSolutionsboardbecausethereisnocausemoreurgentthanensuringthateachpersonhas aplacetogohometoatnight,asanctuaryphysicallyandpsychologicallyandthatthosewholackitgetthehome andthesocialservicesthattheyneedtogetthefreshstarttheydeserve

Rabbi Lawrence came to the rabbinate after a first career in law and politics, most recently at the Israeli Supreme Court and the US Senate. He received his BA with distinction from Yale and his JD from NYU School of Law and was ordained in May 2022 from the New York campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the central seminary of Reform Judaism He grew up in Boston, but his mother is from Los Angeles, and Rabbi Lawrence has long felt the Bay Area offers the best of both worlds of the two cities. Rabbi Lawrence is married to Katie, a house-call doctor in palliative care.

Coming Together to Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis

On March 9, 2023, more than 60 leaders from faith organizations across Contra Costa County gathered at Hillcrest Congregational Church for the Multi-Faith Action

Coalition Faith Leader Advisory and Hope Solutions' "Bigger Impact Together Summit "

Faith leaders discussed solutions to our County's lack of affordable housing. Clergy of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths grounded the event in their respective faith teachings about caring for the vulnerable in our community It was a reminder that regardless of religion, we are united in our commitment to helping all of our neighbors

For Hope Solutions, this moment felt full circle Hope Solutions was founded in 1997 by a coalition of local faith communities to provide emergency support to the unhoused Since then, we have grown to support more than 2,200 people in our county, but as we have grown, unfortunately, the need has too.

As part of our Strategic Plan, we are partnering with several faith communities to explore the construction of tiny-home cottage communities to add more affordable housing in the County. Jasmine Tarkoff, Co-convener Multi-Faith Action Coalition and Hope Solutions' Consulting Director of Strategic Initiatives, is leading this work. These developments are planned from six to twenty-five units. They will consist of studio, 1 or 2-bedroom unit cottages, shared common space, and most importantly, on-site services as consistent with our model of providing permanent housing and support services.

Multiple faith leaders shared the creative approaches that their congregations are taking to support this work, whether by providing land or advocating for affordable housing, recruiting volunteers, or stewarding philanthropy. We are grateful and humbled by their support

Critical to this work is centering the voices and needs of the people we are serving Our Resident Empowerment team ensures that as we move forward in our efforts, we provide solutions that are in line with the needs of the community we serve If you want to learn more or get involved in our housing development efforts, please email info@hopesolutions.org.

Brian McCoy, St. Ignatius of Antioch & Jasmine Tarkoff, MFAC/Hope Solutions

Rev. Will McGarvey, Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County

Pastor Lauren Gully, Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church (LOPC) & Rabbi Roberto Graetz, Temple Isaiah

399 Taylor Boulevard, Suite 115 Pleasant Hill, California 94523 hopesolutions.org

ANNUAL GALA - SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2023

We've got a lot to celebrate!

SummerFunat HopeSolutions

We're gearing up for a great summer for the kids at Hope Solutions. Check out a few ways you can get involved in the fun.

SummerCamps

BackpackDrive

- Hosting volunteers are asked to prepare an activity or activities for the children in our programs.

- Assisting volunteers are asked to help in different ways during our summer camps, including helping with snacks, helping run games, and/or assisting in crafts.

We are very excited to host our annual summer camps here at Hope Solutions We are in need of volunteers that are able to host and/or assist during our summer camps at all of our sites: Pittsburg, Concord, and Pleasant Hill hopesolutions.org/volunteer/summer/

Each year, the children of Hope Solutions start the school year with new backpacks With your support, we will provide over 500 backpacks filled with much-needed school supplies to help give students the tools and confidence needed for a successful '23-24 school year Thank you for considering a donation that will help us bring smiles and empower self-worth to the youth we serve