Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

Alexis Vincent

Coordinator & Intern, Master of Arts in Social Change Community Project

Housing and Community Development, City of Vallejo

Starr King School for the Ministry, Berkeley, CA

avincent@ses.sksm.edu

(P) 707-299-0865

May, 2015

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

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Contents

3 – Acknowledgments

4 – Project Summary

- About the author

- Rational

- Intended outcomes

- Timing

4 – Project Brief

5 – Background

6 – Rational, Intended Outcomes and Timing

11 – Q & A

Periodically, in this document there are philosophical excerpts that were drawn from several books written by inspirational and groundbreaking, contemporary and historical, social change leaders. These are included as points of consideration as poverty, homelessness and endemic systems of oppression, economic pressure and cultural injustice are more broadly positioned contextually. (See References)

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Acknowledgments

This report was made possible with special thanks to Anne Putney, Housing and Community Development

Manager for the City of Vallejo for the gracious opportunity to serve the community. Additional

acknowledgements include Dr. Gabriella Lettini, Graduate Student Advisor at Starr King School for the

Ministry and members of the community who granted informational interviews and generous insights about

existing community outreach programs such as: homeless advocate Maria Guevara of Vallejo Together, the

many volunteers in her network, Sonya Russell & Family founders of C.L.I.F. House, Pastor Jim McCoy of

Union Baptist Church and organizer of Project Homeless Connect Vallejo, Lynn from Amador Street Hope

Center, Emily Cohen of Project Homeless Connect SF, Mayor Osby Davis, Councilmember Bob Sampayan,

Administrative Analyst Will Morat, community homelessness advocates, and volunteer members of the Ad-

Hoc Homelessness Sub-Committee. There are other dedicated individuals and concerned organizations

active in the community that serve those most in need in direct ways such as: Rev. Al Marks of First Baptist

Church Sparrow Project, Community Volunteers for Care to Share Vallejo Together Mobile Unit (Feeding

Fridays Outreach), Ray Bernardes and others from the Christian Help Center/Global Center for Success,

Benjamin and Mary Anne Buggs of Faith Food Fridays,

Vallejo Homeless Coalition, Vallejo’s churches and Common

Ground, Michaels Transportation, Vallejo City Council

members, the City of Vallejo Code Enforcement, Police and

Fire Departments and all the other amazing individuals and

faith based organizations that are not named, who help to

meet the needs of Vallejo’s homeless people in various and

generous ways.

“The discovery of elements of common human frailty in the foe and, concomitantly, the appreciation of all human life as possessing transcendent worth, creates attitudes which transcend social conflict and thus mitigate cruelties. It binds human beings together by reminding them of the common roots and similar characteristics of both their vices and their virtues.”

– Reinhold Niebuhr.1932 (p.255)

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Project Summary

The goal of this community internship project is to produce a useful report with an overview of the City

of Vallejo’s (CoV) homelessness situation, relative to a wide view and to recommend feasible solutions

to address the community’s needs, and that can be implemented with available or accessible resources.

The intended audience is CoV administrators in the Housing and Community Development Division, City

Manager’s office, councilmembers, ad-hoc steering committees, public service task forces or any other

affiliated organizations1 interested in contributing to ongoing efforts to improve the conditions of those

men, women and children who are homeless2 in the community of Vallejo.

Rationale

The reason for this project was to gain a better understanding the social complexities and regional

context of homelessness in the City of Vallejo (CoV)3 and create an accessible report of solutions and

recommendations of how to address the issue with minimal fiscal impact, by leveraging existing

community resources and exploring access to public funding sources.

Intended Outcomes

To offer city administrators visibility into social, political and economic factors and challenges

associated with homelessness

To present viable short-term recommendations that address the needs of homeless persons in

the CoV based on evidence based solutions

1 See (Appendix C) 2 Defined as anyone who is lacking a regular, fixed and adequate nighttime residence (sub-standard housing), is sharing housing due to economic struggles (double-up), is living in a shelter, hotel or motel or public place not designed for sleeping (cars, parks), is an unaccompanied youth, a child or youth awaiting foster care placement, a child or youth abandoned in a hospital or a migrant person who qualifies under any of the above. 3 The research and reporting performed during the Starr King School for the Ministry, MASC internship was done so at no cost to the CoV, under the guidance and mentorship of Anne Putney, Director of Housing and Community Services.

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

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To develop long-range strategic goals that address homelessness that are implemented on an

ongoing basis with minimal fiscal impact

Timing

Support for sheltering and rehabilitating homeless people in the community of Vallejo among the City

Council, administrators, faith-based and non-profit service providers is high. The growing support and

momentum for addressing homelessness has been

evidenced most recently by the public turnout at

workshops, public hearings and voting opportunities4

about homelessness concerns and legislation

regarding camping in public spaces and homeless

camp abatements5 by Code Enforcement. Based on

the city’s limited shelter options and the county’s shortfall of shelter beds6 there is no justification to

delay examining and understanding how the community of Vallejo can implement insights about

providing the Continuum of Care7 services effectively and expeditiously, by looking at what has worked

elsewhere and while remaining in balance with available resources.

4 http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=13506&pageId=113189 5 The "abatement of temporary shelters" effort has a procedure to ensure the process includes storing personal belongings found at the site for 90 days (through a state-certified, hazardous material removal and storage contractor). 6 See (Supplement A)

7“According to HUD, a CoC is ‘a community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific

needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and maximize self-sufficiency. It includes action steps to end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness.” HUD identifies four necessary parts of a continuum: Outreach, intake, and assessment in order to identify service and housing needs and provide a link to the appropriate level of both; Emergency shelter to provide an immediate and safe alternative to sleeping on the streets, especially for homeless families with children; Transitional housing with supportive services to allow for the development of skills that will be needed once permanently housed; and Permanent and permanent supportive housing to provide individuals and families with an affordable place to live with services if needed.’”

http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/fact-sheet-what-is-a-continuum-of-care (accessed 4/7/15)

“I will argue that man’s hopes lie in the acceptance of the great law of change; that a general understanding of the principals of change will provide clues for rational action and an awareness of the realistic relationship between means and ends and how each determines the other.”

- Saul Alinsky. 1971 (p.5)

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The challenge for the CoV is how to adapt to increasing demand and decreasing resources for mental

health outreach services , decreased charitable contributions from shrinking attendance in churches

(who traditionally share through community programs that serve those in need). The population of

homeless people and families county-wide is growing8 and stress from sustained economic contraction9,

intergenerational poverty, cuts to social services and historically inadequate programs in the city and

county and country10 have made the issue a priority for the City Council to address.

Ideally compassionate and fiscally responsible solutions that work with private and political interests in

the community can be identified to fill the gap, such as has been done in other communities11. If there

is political and community support that is presented in a way that creates a response of collaboration

from the city council and among those who might otherwise voice on the side of disenfranchised

elements in public or vocal constituencies that would prefer not to have any facilities that cater to

traditionally underserved populations in their backyard against potentially viable locations in the

community for new shelters or rehabilitative service sites (i.e. such as for service providers who offer

homelessness services, mental health and substance abuse counseling, services for the disabled,

juveniles and migrant farm workers, LGBT outreach, ,

domestic violence case management, etc.).

The issue is complicated and the causes of

homelessness vary widely and are sometimes

different for families then for individuals. With

8 2015 specific PIT count data for Vallejo was not available at the time of this report. This report is not intended to mirror existing reports that have covered national homelessness extensively8 but as designed as a multipurpose resource specific to the CoV. 9 And an increased presence of homeless people in business areas which can affect the flow of

customer traffic and make a location less desirable for new and existing business. 10 http://www.salon.com/2013/12/01/noam_chomsky_america_hates_its_poor_partner/ 11 http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2014/11/tiny_houses_for_homeless.html

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

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consideration of expected impacts from an aging

population and people with disabilities on fixed

incomes that are low being priced out of the market,

affordable housing issues can be expected to

continues. Families experience homelessness most

often because unemployment, poverty and the lack

of affordable housing, sometimes families are

escaping domestic violence or substance abusers.

The leading causes of homelessness among

individuals are substance abuse, mental illness and

the lack of affordable housing. Ultimately, developing

long range planning goals and an effective response

to reintegrate homeless families and individuals into

the community, regardless of the circumstances that

contributed to their situation, by establishing housing

situations and providing wrap-around services. The

methods of addressing address chronic, transitional

or episodic12 needs vary depending on case specific

needs and what evidence based research has shown

12 There are three types of homelessness – chronic, transitional (largest group), and episodic http://nationalhomeless.org/about-homelessness/

Federal rental assistance programs reach only a

small share of the low-income California

households that pay unaffordable rental housing

costs.

In California, 1,579,300 low-income renter

households pay more than half their monthly cash

income for housing costs. The median income of

these households is $1,470 and the median housing

costs are $1,250, leaving only $220 to pay for other

necessities. About 34 percent of these severely

cost-burdened renter households are headed by

people who are elderly or have disabilities, while

36 percent are other families with children.

When housing costs consume more than half of

household income, low-income families are at

greater risk of becoming homeless. Point-in-time

surveys suggest that at least 135,900 people are

homeless in California (2012).

Figure 1http://www.cbpp.org/files/4-13-11hous-CA.pdf

On a single night in California in 2013, 136,826 people were

homeless, including 6,993 children and 15,179 veterans.

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

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most effective as a sustainable strategy to meet the ongoing needs of people who are living without

shelter, and who are at risk of losing their temporary or precarious13 housing or are overburdened with

housing costs.14

13 In the United States there are no local estimates of “couch-homeless” also sometimes called precariously housed, doubled up, couch surfers. They are the homeless who stay with friends and family. Although the US Census may have enumerated the couch homeless as household residents, it did not discern whether a person was homeless or a permanent household resident. There are nation-wide estimates of the couch-homeless at 1-2% of the population, but no way to estimate local populations. Using Census data, and surveys of homeless persons, rough estimates are a procedure was created to estimate the number of couch-homeless in local areas. This number varies widely from city to suburbs and from urban to rural areas. For the US overall, the estimate is 1.65% of the population is couch-homeless. (http://nationalhomeless.org/publications/precariouslyhoused/index.html) 14 See (Appendix B)

58.3

32.7

43.1

31.2

12.1

19.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Share of renters (%) Share of owners(%) All households %

All households in the Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metro Area

With Cost Burdens With Severe Cost Burdens

Figure 2Cost burden maps from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (Source: JCHS tabulations of US Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey data.

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

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Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness

Until recently, federal support had waned under the political trend to defund broad sweeping, publicly

funded social programs, a direction initiated during the 1980’s.15 The McKinney–Vento Homeless

Assistance Homeless Assistance Act has stimulated renewed compliance with social and ethical

pressures on federal (by forming the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness USICH), state and local

governments to provide an appropriate and adequate range of affordable housing16 for the needs of the

community. In 2006 the National Coalition for the Homeless wrote of “The McKinney-Vento Homeless

Assistance Act (PL100-77) was the first -- and remains the only - major federal legislative response to

15 http://www.nhi.org/online/issues/135/reagan.html (accessed 3/21/15) 16 “Fiscal Year 2016 budget, President Obama requested funding increases for nearly all of HUD’s programs, with significant boosts for rental assistance and homeless assistance programs. In total, the president’s budget has proposed $49.3 billion in gross discretionary funding for HUD programs, nearly $4 billion higher than the amount that Congress enacted in FY 2015.” http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/what-does-presidents-budget-mean-affordable-housing

Figure 3http://www.cbpp.org/images/cms/PolicyBasics-housing-1-25-13RA-f1.jpg

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homelessness” the factsheet goes on to say that, “The McKinney-Vento Act was, and remains, landmark

legislation. The programs created by the McKinney-Vento Act are needed now more than ever, as

homelessness shows no signs of abating. However, after more than a decade of an emergency response

to a long-term crisis, it is clear that only by addressing the causes of homelessness -- lack of jobs that pay

a living wage, inadequate benefits for those who cannot work, lack of affordable housing, and lack of

access to health care -- will homelessness be ended.”17

Trauma18 is becoming recognized by the SAMHSA as a major

aspect of being homeless, especially for children and the

chronically or episodic populations. Trauma Informed Care

(TIC) is the trend in homelessness services nationally and is

supported with funding. TIC is an organizational structure and treatment framework that involves

understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma. Trauma Informed Care

also emphasizes physical,

psychological and emotional safety

for both consumers and providers,

and helps survivors rebuild a sense

of control and empowerment.

17 NCH Fact Sheet #18 Published by the National Coalition for the Homeless, June 2006 18

“I argued, that the study of psychological trauma is an inherently political enterprise because it calls attention to the experience of oppressed people.”

– Judith Herman, M.D.. 1997. (p.237)

SAMHSA’s Six Key Principles of a Trauma-Informed Approach

A trauma-informed approach reflects adherence to six key principles rather than a prescribed set of practices or procedures. These principles may be generalizable across multiple types of settings, although terminology and application may be setting- or sector-specific:

1.Safety

2.Trustworthiness and Transparency

3.Peer support

4.Collaboration and mutuality

5.Empowerment, voice and choice

6.Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues

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Contributing factors to local poverty trends

High homeless populations presents a challenge for states such

as California with 90,765 homeless in 2014, (72.6%

unsheltered) 24% of the nation’s homeless, the second largest

population after New York. The Bay Area is anchored by San

Francisco, a metropolis that has the eighth largest homeless

population in the U.S. of 90,765.

Economic redevelopment of Vallejo has been excruciatingly

gradual and long term planning has stalled along the way19.

Administrators and planners are focusing on attracting business

partners and educational institutions to expand as part of a

new 10-year downtown revitalization plan that has yet to gain

momentum.

19 http://www.timesheraldonline.com/general-news/20140112/settlement-of-vallejo-developer-multi-year-lawsuit-on-the-horizon

Economic and Cultural Fallout from Mare Island Closure

“The City of Vallejo, California is home

to the nation’s oldest naval shipyard,

the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, which

was closed in the mid 1990’s by the

Federal Base Closure Commission. The

closure of Mare Island resulted in the

loss of 10,000 direct federal employee

jobs and 15,000 supporting jobs in the

surrounding community. The

economic impact of the loss of jobs is

nearly $500 million annually.

Although within the economically

diverse San Francisco Bay Area region,

the City of Vallejo was essentially a

shipyard town. Generation after

generation worked at Mare Island.

Closure had severe economic impacts

on the local community.”

www.vallejochamber.com/PDFs/Kosmont_Study_Complete.pdf (p.6)

The effect [of Nixon’s factors that led to a huge increase in unregulated financial capital and a radical shift in its use, from long-term investment and trade to speculation] has been to undermine national economic planning as governments are compelled to preserve market “credibility”, driving many economies toward a low-growth, high unemployment equilibrium,[…] with stagnating or declining real wages, increasing poverty and inequality, and booming markets for the few. The parallel process of internationalization of production provides new weapons to undermine working people in the West, who must accept an end to their “luxurious” lifestyle and agree to “flexibility of labor markets” (not knowing if you have a job tomorrow), the business press orates happily.”

- Noam Chomsky.1999 (p.122)

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Q & A

Why does alleviating homelessness matter?

Historically and in the present time, homelessness exists in

every part of the world. There is no ‘cure’ for homelessness

in the western Laissez-faire culture, there are more or less

effective strategies to reduce homelessness, more or less

expensive interventions, some programs work to rehabilitate

and restore persons to sustainable participatory lifestyles and

some that do not. The homeless population is quite diverse (such as the single mothers under age 25

with children under the age of 6, people with disabilities, working poor, aged out foster children or

victims of domestic violence) with individuals making up 62.6% and Families 37.4% nationally 2014.20

20 https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2014-AHAR-Part1.pdf (accessed 3/21/15)

“The question which confronts society is, how it can eliminate social injustice by methods which offer some fair opportunity for abolishing what is evil in our present society, without destroying what is worth preserving in it, and without running the risk of substituting new abuses and injustices in place of those abolished.”

- Reinhold Niebuhr. 1932 (p.107)

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Who Is Homeless?

Men, Women and Children of all ages and races are homeless in

every part of the world, historically and in the present. Homeless

people can be either temporarily sheltered and there are those who

are unsheltered as well as “For the US overall, the estimate is 1.65%

of the population is couch-homeless.”21

There are those with physical and or mental disabilities, veterans,

victims of domestic violence, aged-out foster kids, alienated teens,

LGBTQ runaways and those with a variety of chemical dependencies

to prescriptions, alcohol or illicit and over-the-counter drugs.

21 http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/precariouslyhoused/index.html

There are three types of homelessness – chronic, transitional, and episodic ◦Chronically Homeless Persons most like the stereotyped profile of the “skid-row” homeless, who are likely to be entrenched in the shelter system and for whom shelters are more like long-term housing rather than an emergency arrangement. These individuals are likely to be older, and consist of the “hard-core unemployed”, often suffering from disabilities and substance abuse problems. Yet such persons represent a far smaller proportion of the population compared to the transitionally homeless. ◦Transitionally Homeless individuals generally enter the shelter system for only one stay and for a short period. Such persons are likely to be younger, are probably recent members of the precariously housed population and have become homeless because of some catastrophic event, and have been forced to spend a short time in a homeless shelter before making a transition into more stable housing. Over time, transitionally homeless individuals will account for the majority of persons experiencing homelessness given their higher rate of turnover. -Episodic Homeless are those who frequently shuttle in and out of homelessness are known as episodically homeless. They are most likely to be young, but unlike those in transitional homelessness, episodically homeless individuals often are chronically unemployed and experience medical, mental health, and substance abuse problems.

Figure 4http://nationalhomeless.org/about-homelessness/

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What causes homelessness for families and individuals?

The causes of individuals becoming homeless are quite different than the key factors that create

homeless families.22 The top three reasons for families are lack of affordable housing, poverty and

unemployment. For individuals, the three most commonly cited causes of homelessness are substance

abuse, lack of affordable housing and mental illness.23 By more clearly understanding the various

circumstances around homelessness, prevention can also become a facet of any long range planning

goals administrators and elected officials consider in addition to rapid rehousing and rehabilitation

programs.

Why is homelessness issue so complex?

It is important to realize when looking at homeless individuals and families that there are multiple

categories of analysis. There are major categories such as chronic vs. transitional, first time homeless,

foster child, youth24, domestic violence) and

many sub-categories of analysis such as age

(children under 6, under 18, 18-24, elderly),

disabilities (physical and/or mental), race

(undocumented immigrants,

intergenerational-poverty), gender (male,

female, LGBT), geography (by city, by state, rural vs. urban), veterans (PTSD, TBI, Sexual Trauma), mental

disorders (schizophrenia, depression, BDP, etc.) and substance abuse (alcohol, prescriptions, illicit habit).

22 https://charitysub-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/monthly/2012/12/key-factors-that-cause-homelessness.gif (accessed 3/21/15) 23 https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2014-AHAR-Part1.pdf (accessed 3/21/15) 24 http://homeforhope.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/YouthHomelessnessInfographic.jpg

“There are always outsiders who are excommunicated and nullified and declared nonexistent. Every political system serves some at the cost of others. Every economic system benefits some at the expense of others. Every intellectual system eliminated the data and the people who do not fit. The urgent, unavoidable question then is: what to do about those others?”

- Walter Bruggemann. 1987.( p.81)

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

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This population is either further analyzed as sheltered or

unsheltered. Nationally, in 2014 sheltered families made

up 33.2% of the total homeless population, 4.2% of families

live unsheltered. Unsheltered individuals make up 26.5% of

the homeless population, and 11.3% of those are veterans

and 6.2% of individuals were sheltered and 1.65% were

couch-homeless.

Where can the resources be found to invest in long-term

sustainable solutions?

It is important to develop a goal to generate more successful grant awards and corporate donations and

considering city funding restraints and an evolving relationship with Solano County administrators

around collaborative budgeting efforts to establish a more robust social-safety-net infrastructure, that

will meet the CoV’s growing need, while also maximizing and maintaining existing funding streams and

eligible grants (e.g. ESG’s)25, in this cultural environment of shrinking participation from private

donations and high demand on resources, where “giant checks are becoming scarce”26. Disposable

income for charitable endeavors among the middle class has been shrinking as the income disparity has

increased. There are also changing patterns among age demographics, where younger people are giving

less, possibly due to under/unemployment and poverty among Americans under the age of 25.

How can the homeless be best helped?

With cooperation, persistence dedication and

growth, the process of social change can evolve with

25 https://www.hudexchange.info/emergency-shelter-grants/ 26 https://ngopoint.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/101711-news-giving-chart-ss-662w.jpg

“The separation of the people from the routine daily functions of democracy.”

- Saul Alinsky. 1971 (p. xxvi)

“By the 1980s, homelessness was no longer a skid row affair; it was structural. The shelter system was growing all over the country and was filled with dislocated families. We’ve come to accept the fact that every city has a shelter system, but that hasn’t always been the case. Before this structural homelessness it was more of a transient affair, the skid row. But it has turned into a situation where today there are more homeless children than any other segment of the homeless population.”

- Willie Baptist, 2011 (p.121)

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collective energy, intelligence and courage with an expanded synergy. As Saul Alinsky put it “Remember

we are talking about revolution not revelation; you can miss the target by shooting too high as well as

too low.”27 (p.xviii) The people of Vallejo have demonstrated a variety of amazing activists, diverse

advocates, and strong, passionate community participants that shape Vallejo’s interdependent cultural

identity and engage in continuous improvement in facilitating access to healthcare, transportation, legal

aid and placement services for those in need.

Affordable Housing28, Emergency Shelters, Legal Encampments and Temporary Use Villages

The controversial human housing conversation is alive in our society right now. There are movements

around the country toward “microhouses”29 to address the housing needs of the very poor with

innovative approaches to the emergency shelter and affordable housing shortages and equally adamant

NIMBY groups with higher Household Income and relative political influence.

27 Saul D Alinsky. Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatist Primer for Realistic Radicals.1971. 28 “More specifically, the empirical literature is unanimous in finding that tenant based housing certificates and vouchers provide housing of any quality at a much lower total cost (that is, cost to all levels of government and tenants) than the types of project based assistance studied, namely Public Housing, Section 236, and Section 8 New Construction\Substantial Rehab.” (Edgar O. Olsen. The Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Methods of Delivering Housing Subsidies. Department of Economics University of Virginia. 2000 (p.30 29 http://gizmodo.com/the-teeny-tiny-microhouse-revolution-thats-giving-the-1529727666

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Solutions

What Works?

Important feelings like personal liberty and a sense of inner freedom which people have when they are

empowered and have agency over their circumstances, help them in being resilient to adversity without

being numb and feeling overwhelmed by life. We all have basic needs30 and experience trauma

responses.31 We need comfort, peace, inclusion belonging, growth and community. These are basics

that are not dependent upon having a lot of finances, just enough. Private sector philanthropists, non-

profits, faith-based organizations and

advocacy groups can work in a coalition to

achieve the goal of “activating people to

organize and inspiring leaders from all

locations to sustainably pursue improved

human conditions for all.” By bridging the

gaps that exist in homeless people’s lives,

community organizations can implement

the programming and outreach activities that have the most positive impact.

30 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs 31 “After a trauma, people may go through a wide range of normal responses. Such reactions may be experienced not only by people who experienced the trauma first-hand, but by those who have witnessed or heard about the trauma, or been involved with those immediately affected. Many reactions can be triggered by persons, places, or things associated with the trauma. Some reactions may appear totally unrelated.” (http://www.trauma-pages.com/s/t-facts.php)

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

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Results show that both residential and mental health

programs and interventions with seemingly high

initial investment, such as development of more

affordable housing, such as in Utah32 and increasing

generous housing subsidies for rent33 and

investment in robust mental health services are

most effective in reducing the number of

unsheltered and chronically homeless.

There is a need for more residential treatment

centers, transitional housing, rehabilitation and preventative behavioral programs, government analysis

and planning for adequate emergency shelters, and investing in research to learn the most effective

strategy and combination of efforts would be best to address housing needs and reduce the population

of homeless families and individuals.

Next Steps

In the face of this ongoing, highly visibly social issue, It is important to develop a comprehensive

communications, marketing and public relations outreach plan for the media campaign that favorably

reinvents the CoV’s public image in harmony with its more compassionate new direction. Installing an

official point of contact (POC), whether it be an appointed/elected individual, city sponsored location or

stewardship among organizations that support the CoV’s long-term strategic planning is advisable.

32 http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/lntv3q/the-homeless-homed 33 New construction of HUD affordable housing can be less cost effective per bed than refurbishing existing or increasing rent subsidies.

“Democracy functions insofar as individuals can participate meaningfully in the public arena, meaning while running their own affairs, individually and collectively, without illegitimate interference by concentrations of power. Functioning democracy presupposes relative equality in access to resources-material, informational and other-a truism as old as Aristotle. In theory, governments are instituted to serve their ‘domestic constituencies’ and are subject to their will. A measure of a functioning democracy, then, is the extent to which the theory approximates reality, and the ‘domestic constituencies’ are genuinely approximate the population.”

– Noam Chomsky. 1999 (p.131)

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The POC could coordinate grant proposals34 and the implementation of a comprehensive resource

development and community relations program, implement any actions or activities related to

homelessness, such as the submission of grant reports and grant application proposals. The POC

collaborates broadly to ensure the collection of documents, program evaluation, edit and revise grant

narratives. The POC would also be the

administrative support, director of donor cultivation

and facilitator of fundraising event design and donor

development in the community. The POC would

identify and develop corporate, community and

individual prospects for the organization's

fundraising priorities and that defines objectives,

targets audiences, and creatively identifies key

messaging to funders and tactics specific to various

proposals as well as, monitor and coordinate the submission, planning and development of grant

proposals and applications and ensure strategic programmatic, funding, and policy planning and manage

critical fund raising goals, processes, timelines and preparation for activities.

Implementing Trauma Informed Care as the Standard

Protocol

Harvard researchers have found that “policymakers,

researchers, and practitioners in the field are re-thinking

services for children and families based on the science of early childhood development and an

understanding of the consequences of adverse early experiences35 and toxic stress.”36 No one is immune

34 CA State E.H.A.P. Prop 46 Grant, MHSA Prop 63, AHP – Continuum of Care (Youth Build), 35 http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/opinion/nicholas-kristof-beyond-education-wars.html?_r=1

Trauma-specific intervention programs generally recognize the following:

The survivor's need to be respected, informed, connected, and hopeful regarding their own recovery

The interrelation between trauma and symptoms of trauma such as substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety

The need to work in a collaborative way with survivors, family and friends of the survivor, and other human services agencies in a manner that will empower survivors and consumers

“I argued that the stuy of psychological trauma is an inherently politicdal enterprise because it calls attention to the experience of oppressed people.”

- Judith Herman, M.D. 1992/7 (p.237)

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

20

to the impact of trauma. Trauma affects

the individual, families, and

communities by disrupting healthy

development, adversely affecting

relationships, and contributing to

mental health issues including substance abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse. Everyone pays the

price when a community does not support people with untreated trauma by an increase in crime, loss of

wages, and threat to the stability of the family.

36 http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/stories_from_the_field/tackling_toxic_stress/

“For many survivors of trauma, our lack of control over a traumatic incident is one of the most terrifying and unnerving things about it. How much anxiety this causes us will vary from person to person, depending on how much control we feel we have in life generally.”

- Laura van Dernoot Lipsky,2009 (p.156)

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

21

What is TIC?

Trauma Informed Care is an organizational structure and treatment framework that involves

understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma. Trauma Informed Care

also emphasizes physical, psychological and emotional

safety for both consumers and providers, and helps

survivors rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.

The National Center on Family

Homelessness is currently developing an

interactive Internet-based training

curriculum designed to harness existing

technology to bring low-cost trauma

training into local shelters on a national

scale. The curriculum is geared to

realities of shelter life and provides

Trauma-Informed Approach

According to SAMHSA’s concept of a trauma-informed approach, “A program, organization, or system that is trauma-informed:

1.Realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery;

2.Recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system;

3.Responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and

4.Seeks to actively resist re-traumatization.”

Figure 5http://www.samhsa.gov/nctic/trauma-interventions (accessed 3/27/15)

KNOWN TRAUMA-SPECIFIC

INTERVENTIONS

Following are some well-known trauma-specific interventions based on psychosocial educational empowerment principles that have been used extensively in public system settings. Note that these interventions are listed for informational and educational purposes only. NCTIC does not endorse any specific intervention.

Addiction and Trauma Recovery Integration Model (ATRIUM)

Essence of Being Real Risking Connection® Sanctuary Model® Seeking Safety Trauma, Addiction, Mental Health, and

Recovery (TAMAR) Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education

and Therapy (TARGET) Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model

(TREM and M-TREM)

Figure 6http://www.samhsa.gov/nctic/trauma-interventions (accessed 3/27/15)

INTERSECTION BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS

AND TRAUMA

Exposure to trauma is a significant risk factor for

homelessness and Women Veterans experience

trauma at higher rates than the general population.

Women Veterans are two to four times more likely

to be homeless than non-Veteran women.

(American Institute of Research. Homelessness and

Trauma in the Lives of Women Veterans. November,

2013)

• According to the Department of Veteran Affairs

(VA), the number of homeless women Veterans

doubled from 1,380 in 2006 to 3,328 in 2010; however,

these numbers only include women Veterans who

receive VA health care, which is approximately 57.4%

of women Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom,

Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn

(OEF/OIF/OND).

• Almost two thirds of homeless women Veterans are

between the ages of 40 and 59 years old.

• Over one-third of homeless women Veterans have

disabilities.

• 23% of homeless women Veterans have children

under the age of 18.

Figure 7www.familyhomelessness.org/media/402.pdf

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

22

opportunities for one-on-one training as well as feedback and assessment.37

Treatment centers across the United States have come

together to form the National Child Traumatic Stress Network

(NCTSN). This Network is a groundbreaking effort that blends

the best practices of the clinical research community with the wisdom of front-line community service

providers. Its mission is to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized

children, their families, and communities throughout the United States38

Understanding Coping Systems

Dr. Jana Pressley describes the effects of trauma on the spiritual coping systems of individuals:

“Disrupted systems of meaning are acknowledged as a core domain of impact for adults with a complex trauma history, often leading to adversely affected belief systems and existential angst. Themes related to hopelessness, betrayal, meaning-making and mourning often overlap with spiritual and/or religious beliefs. Additionally, themes related to sense of self and others, including chronic guilt, shame, or unworthiness, can often be connected to spiritual perceptions and fears. For those whose trauma occurred within the context of a religious home or community, the wounds can be profound. Further, the impact of complex trauma on spirituality can lead to particular dissonance for those whose faith traditions are a core part of their cultural heritage and community. This dissonance can create isolation, fear and the inhibited capacity for resilience and recovery.

Identify core themes of spiritual impact that often overlap with a complex trauma history

Assess client spirituality and the potential negative and/or positive religious beliefs and experiences that can impact recovery

Consider spiritually-attuned intervention strategies that can be integrated into trauma-informed treatment

Attend to spiritual and existential distress in complex trauma intervention, with a focus on integrating spiritual meaning-making in an overall life narrative.” 39

37 For more information go to www.familyhomelessness.org 38 For more information go to www.NCTSNet.org 39 Dr. Jana Pressley is an Associate Professor and the Director of Clinical Training for the Clinical Psychology PsyD program at Wheaton College Graduate School in Wheaton, IL.

(http://www.traumacenter.org/training/workshop_Sacred_Dissonance_April2015.php)

“Sexism must be included in the liberation of the poor from the cycles of oppression.”

- Kwok Pui-lan. 2005 (p.159)

“We now know that even responses to trauma that have been deeply buried in our implicit only memory can be rewired. Recovering and resilience involves not avoiding the storms of life but learning to be t peace within ourselves in the midst of those storms.”

- Linda Graham, MFT. 2013 (p.42)

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

23

Conclusion – All Our Efforts are Needed to Make a Social Change

The CoV can expect to experience a population of homeless citizens, being that it is situated in a state

that has the second largest homeless population of homeless in the country. We now know that

poverty and homelessness is traumatic for families and individuals. There are some solutions offered in

this paper to soften the situation by realizing that trauma responses can manifest like mental illness,

however the approach is very different. The ‘Trauma Informed Care’ perspective is not only supported

with federal funding and tools, it also can be

implemented on a wide scale to use

internally for CoV employees, first

responders and emergency crews, who have

secondary trauma exposure, that can create

trauma responses.

These evidence based practices are not

intended to solve homelessness or minimize

the importance of rehousing people. It is important to acknowledge that we are talking about real

human beings, men, women and children that are facing a variety of harsh life circumstances oftentimes

without adequate support systems.

These are circumstances that have led their family or themselves to lose their housing, and without a

rapid rehousing option, find themselves on the street, in a car or on a friend’s couch. Attitudes and laws

can be influenced with public education, organized activism, inspired collaboration and community

based responses, the awareness of how trauma effects people’s ability to cope and reintegrate into

society can be shared and the tools for recovery can be implemented by involving the community that

will benefit in the process of recovering with dignity.

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

24

About the Author

Alexis Vincent is a catalytic leader whose social change work has included,

community organizing, writing, public speaking, teaching and organizational

management. She recently earned a Master of Arts in Social Change, and

combines this education with over ten years of experience consulting in non-

profit, public and private business sectors. Alexis facilitates social change

through conscious community building and by developing effective strategies with the goal of activating

people to organize and inspiring leaders from all locations to sustainably pursue improved human

conditions for all. Her passion for social change is rooted in experiences and her core interests. She is in

humanitarian service to people – of any or no religious affiliations – guiding the development of change

agents. Creating shared leadership by empowering people with purposeful meaning to energize

dynamic community building and inform conscious reflection and embodiment of values.

References

Alinsky, Saul D. Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals. New York: Vintage Books,

1971.

Baptist, Willie and Jan Rehman. Pedagogy of the Poor: Building the Movement to End Poverty. Teacher’s

College, Colombia University. 2011. Chapter 7

Brueggemann, Walter. Hope Within History. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1987.

Chomsky, Noam. Profit Over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order. New York: Seven Stories Press,

1999.

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

25

Crass, Chris. Towards Collective Liberation: Anti-Racist Organizing, Feminist Praxis, and Movement

Building Strategy. Oakland: PM Press, 2013.

Encyclopedia of Homelessness, Volumes 1 &2. Edited by David Levinson. Thousand Oaks: Sage

Publications, 2004.

Graham, Linda. Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being. Novato:

New World Library, 2013.

Herman, Judith. Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence-from Domestic Abuse to Political

Terror. New York: Basic Books, 1992 and 1997.

Mann, Eric. Playbook for Progressives: 16 Qualities of the Successful Organizer. Boston: Beacon Press,

2011.

Niebuhr, Reinhold. Moral Man and Immoral Society: A Study in Ethics and Politics. Second Edition:

Westminster: John Knox Press, 2001.

Pui-Lan, Kwok. Postcolonial Imagination & Feminist Theology. Louisville: John Knox Press, 2005.

Van Dernoot Lipsky, Laura and Connie Burk. Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self

While Caring for Others. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2009.

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

26

Resources

National Coalition for the Homeless, www.nationalhomeless.org

Urban Institute, www.urban.org

National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness, www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, www.nlchp.org/

Children’s Defense Fund, www.childrensdefense.org

National Alliance to End Homelessness, www.naeh.org

Health Care for the Homeless Information Resource Center, www.prainc.org/hch

National Health Care for the Homeless Council , www.nhchc.org

For more information go to www.familyhomelessness.org.

For more information go to www.NCTSNet.org.

Additional Homeless Resources

Homeless persons or those who are about to be homeless may contact the Solano County Health and

Human Services Department. The County and volunteers operate a telephone helpline, First Call for

Help, and a shelter bed hotline. The department has a limited number of vouchers, redeemable at local

motels, for temporary shelter.

Mission Solano Rescue Mission

Since 1998, the Mission Solano Rescue Mission has successfully met the basic necessities of the

homeless and poverty stricken population residing in Fairfield. Recognizing that many people struggling

with addiction needed more than “three hots and a cot,” Mission Solano focused on developing long-

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

27

term residential treatment for homeless addicted men, women, and children. The nationally recognized

Nomadic Sheltering Program provides emergency shelter nights to those in need, while continuing to

offer the Community Outreach Center (COC) and Social Industries distributing food, clothing, and

ongoing community services. Their doors are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Help is available

without charge to any person regardless of race, color, creed, or social standing. Mission Solano

operates entirely on voluntary contributions, with the majority of the support coming from individual

donors and the balance from churches, organizations, foundations, and the corporate community.

Community Resources Services (Rosewood House)

Community Resource Services (CRS) offers case management for homeless clients, assisting them with

basic needs, jobs search, school reentry, and housing information. Services are also provided for

incarcerated clients in the county jails. The services provided prepare jail clients for a successful return

to the community, where they can rejoin families, find work, and participate meaningfully in the

community. Rosewood House provides clean and sober transitional housing for women. The goals

include assisting participants with obtaining permanent housing, achieving greater self-determination,

and increasing their skills and education. Women completing their stay at Rosewood House will be

better prepared to obtain permanent housing and participate within the community.

Fairfield-Suisun Community Action Council

Fairfield-Suisun Community Action Council (CAC) provides basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter

and also provides supportive services such as rental assistance, homeless assistance and prevention, and

case management. In addition, CAC provides information about and referrals to other community-based

organizations, churches, and/or government agencies that can help clients with additional needs. CAC

serves almost 1,000 clients every year; their clients consist of the working poor, low-income, senior

citizen, disabled, and homeless population living in the Fairfield area.

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

28

Heather House

Heather House provides temporary shelter, food, and case management to the homeless. The shelter

has 24 beds and 4 transitional apartments for families and single women. Clients receive assistance in

job searches and in locating permanent housing, as well as life skills training which includes budgeting,

parenting, and nutrition. CAC has partnered with Healthy Start, Child Haven, the Community Action

Agency, The Salvation Army, Solano County Mental Health, Youth and Family Services, the Solano

County Homeless Shelter Collaborative, and Child Protective Services to ensure that families are given

the necessary tools to strengthen their families, clean up their credit/eviction issues, find gainful

employment, and move into permanent housing. In 2007 Heather House served 228 (unduplicated)

homeless individuals. Of the 228 served at Heather House, 25 percent were children less than 5 years of

age, 16 percent were children ages 5–14, 7 percent were youth ages 15–19, 11 percent were young

adults ages 20–25, and 41 percent were adults ages 26–64. These statistics demonstrate that

homelessness affects all ages. Of those individuals, 97 clients moved into permanent housing and 13

clients moved into a transitional housing program. There were 118 family units served: 56 single females

(47 percent), 45 single mothers with children (38 percent), 3 couples without children (3 percent), 9

couples with children (8 percent), and 5 single fathers with children (4 percent).

Caminar Solano

Caminar Solano opened Laurel Creek House in 1999, offering residential treatment in 12 beds. Not all of

the persons served by Laurel Creek House would be homeless, but the facility does provide a service to

residents who may have temporary shelter needs. Caminar Solano hasexpressed interest in developing a

transitional housing project (15 apartments) for residents with mental disabilities.

Source: http://www.co.solano.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=8762 (accessed/4/19/15)

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

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Appendix A – Original Community Internship Project Proposal, Fall 2014- Spring 2015

Phase I - Assessment

Information Gathering - Centralize Resource Index/Calendar

Accurate Demographics - Population (analyze data collected, track trends)

Publish Community Meal Calendar - Faith Based/Secular

All City Resource List - Department Contacts (Police, Fire, City Council, Mental Health, City Administration and Community Coalitions)

Phase II - Planning and Implementation

Establish outline of short and long range policy goals in collaboration with stakeholders

Research and identify funding resources based on those goals

Establish interim protocol for addressing immediate basic needs (such as more fully developing the Warming Shelter and other potential sheltering)

Develop prevention strategies for those at risk of being without housing (such as short term supplements during long Section 8 waiting periods) - reducing displacement - prevention for at risk youth and families.

Coordinate outreach programs with coalitions (and future Day-Center) to connect those in need with necessary services: Job Training/Resume/Employment, Transportation, Child Care, Mental Health, Veteran's, Medical, Education and Shelter/Housing.

Phase III - Next Steps

Collation, reporting and presentation

Establish future data gathering and monitoring protocols

Identify and train internal leadership team to direct ongoing efforts with the community

Create mechanism for feedback loop to improve services with community support

Design annual fundraising programs in private sector to establish recurring revenue stream to support goals

Cultivating collaboration and continuing to advance the priorities of community leadership

Compiling data, information and helpful recommendations to create an easily presentable report

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

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Appendix B

“Millions of Americans Spend Over 30 Percent of Income for Housing.”

All households (owners & renters) in the Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metro Area

Share of households with cost burdens (%) 43.1

Share of households with severe cost burdens (%) 19.9

Household cost burden rank among metros or micros 28 (of 381)

Households with cost burdens 60,777

Household median income ($) 61,100

Household median monthly housing costs ($) Renter households in the Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metro Area

Share of renters with cost burdens (%) 58.3

Share of renters with severe cost burdens (%) 31.2

Renter cost burden rank among metros or micros 36 (of 381)

Renters with cost burdens 33,375

Renter household median income ($) 39,400

Renter median monthly housing costs ($) Homeowner households in the Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metro Area

Share of owners with cost burdens (%) 32.7

Share of owners with severe cost burdens (%) 12.1

Owner rank burden rank among metros or micros 43 (of 381)

Owners with cost burdens 27,402

Owner household median income ($) 80,000

Owner median monthly housing costs ($) 1,653

1,260

1,392

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

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Appendix C - Feeding the Hungry

Some of the places hungry locals can get a meal in Vallejo, include:

• Weekdays – Lunchtime – First Baptist Church, corner of Sonoma Boulevard and Florida Street.

Also there on Saturdays from 2 to 4 a.m. since 1999, Pastors Al Marks and Mike Brown serve soup, barbecued chicken and a bag lunch for the next day to a typical crowd of 40 to 80 of the community’s less fortunate. • Tuesdays at 3 p.m., Community Life Integration Foundation feeds the homeless at 1020 Colusa St. • Thursdays at 4 p.m., Gateway Benicia feeds the hungry at the flagpole behind Vallejo’ John F. Kennedy Library. • Fridays – Vallejo Together’s Care to Share Mobile Unit distributes meals to homeless encampments and cars from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. • Fridays at noon, a retired Vallejo couple feed the hungry at the flagpole behind the library.

Organization Contact Address City State Zip Phone Service Provided Requirements Additional Information Website

Faith Bible Church of Vallejo (FBCV)

Ben Buggs - Director

Faith Food Fridays 901 Solano Avenue Vallejo CA 94590 510-978-2396 (Ben)

Provides families and individuals with emergency food and groceries to help those in our

community who continue to struggle financially in this economy. Distribution of food,

clothing and other goods are every Friday from 3pm – 6pm at FBCV Ministry Center (across

the street from the church at 826 Solano Ave.) Every Friday between 3-6pm at 826 Solano Ave. http://www.faithfoodfridays.com/ http://www.fbcvallejo.net/

Salvtion Army: Vallejo Pantry

Joanne - Office

Coordinator 630-632 Toulumne Street Vallejo CA 94590 707-643-8621

PG&E=medical perscription car repair (every 19 months) Bag lunch on Fridays - (30 - 50

people) Provides a food pantry. Serves Solano County (Vallejo). Pantry hours: Monday: 9-

11:30, Tuesdays 9-11:30 and 1:30-4, Wednesdays 9-11 and 1:30-4

Documentation Required: Picture identification, proof of

residency and income and Social Security Cards for each

member of the household.

Emmanuel Arms/ Emmanuel Temple Apostolic Church 900 6th Street Vallejo CA 94590 707-642-2391 http://emmanueltemplevallejo.com/

Friendship Miss. Baptist Church

Rev. Danté R. Quick &

Rev. Monica L. Quick 1838 Carolina Street Vallejo CA 94590 707-648-2005

Food Pantry, Feed the Hungry and Clothes Closet. Provides a food pantry. Pantry hours: 4th

Saturday: 9:30-12:30, except November and December when the distribution is the 3rd

Saturday of the month

Serves Solano County (Vallejo). Documentation Required:

Photo identification

Amador Street Hope Center (ASHC) 929 Amador Street Vallejo CA 94590 707-468-1986

Food Bank Mondays 6:30 p.m. Signups start at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday 1:00 p.m. Signups start at 12:00 p.m.

Senior Day 2nd Wednesday of each month. Age 62 and older only

Thursday Night Meal - 6:30 p.m

One box per month per household

Picture ID required and proof of residency in Vallejo (e.g.

utility bill, bank statement)

Amador Street neighborhood and surrounding areas of Vallejo

Provides resources to meet people’s physical,

emotional and material needs, including,

food, counseling, tutoring and mentoring

students; groups for survivors of domestic

violence; and arts therapy programs for

economically disadvantaged and at-risk

children and youth in the community.

Screening and referrals for Social Services are

available during food bank hours or by

appointment in our Social Services Resources

Center. Offer help completing simple forms,

advocacy and referrals to agencies and other

community resources.

Job Search Skills Training - We offer classes

and workshops to develop and improve your

resume writing, interviewing, job readiness

and business communication skills. Call 707-

648-1986 to make an appointment, or for

information on workshops and trainings.

http://www.amadorstreethopecenter.org/

Antioch COGIC: Vallejo 21 Antioch Drive Vallejo CA 94589 707-647-1005

Vallejo SDA Church 1130 Alabama Street Vallejo CA 94590 707-643-6181 http://www.vcsdachurch.com/

Good Samaritan Miss. Baptist 407 Capitol Street Vallejo CA 94590 707-553-1896

Provides a food pantry. Pantry hours: Monday and Thursday: 10-12pm, 3rd Saturday of every

month: 9-11:30am

Serves Solano County (Vallejo). Documentation Required:

Photo identification, income verification and proof of

residency

Catholic Social Services 125 Corporate Place, Ste. A Vallejo CA 94590 707-664-8909 Provides a food pantry. hours: Mondays through Thursdays 9-11am Serves Solano County (Vallejo)

St. Basil Conference 15 Toulumne Street Vallejo CA 94590 707-644-0376 http://www.stbasilvallejo.org/

Union Baptist Church Rev. McCoy 128 Encerti Avenue Vallejo CA 94590 707-642-0870 Hosted Project Homeless Connect for several years

Calvary Community Church 585 Mini Drive Vallejo CA 94589 707-642-6587 http://www.calvarycommunityvallejo.com/

Bridgeway Cornerstone Church 1505 Georgia Street Vallejo CA 94590 707-652-5300

Second Baptist Church Vallejo 1170 Benicia Road Vallejo CA 94590 707-643-6496 www.sbcvallejo.org

North Bay Foursquare Church 330 Avian Drive Vallejo CA 94590 707-554-8232 Provides a food pantry: hours: Sunday: 12:30-1pm

Serves Solano County (American Canyon, Benicia, Vallejo)

Documentation Required: Photo identification.

Christian Help Center 2166 Sacramento Street Vallejo CA 94590 707-553-8192 Provides a food pantry. hours: Saturday: 10:30am Serves Solano County. Documentation Required: Photo ID

Continentals of Omega Boys & Girls Club 1 Positive Place Vallejo CA 94589 707-643-1728

Fighting Back Partnership 505 Santa Clara Street, Third Floor Vallejo CA 94590 707-648-5230

Each FRC brings together services and activities that educate, develop skills and promote

moving in new directions for families. Our efforts will hopefully increase Vallejo families’

capacity to be healthy, involved members of this community.

http://www.fight-back.org/programs.php

Global Center for Success

Elvie DeLeon, Rey &

Eva Bernardes 1055 Azuar Drive, Mare Island Vallejo CA 94592 707-562-5673

6 beds still open. State of Calif (EHAP) + Federal Home Loan Program (FHLP)Grant funding

remodel completed in January 2015 = 100 beds for men, women, and families with

childeren, including 3 meals per day. Thrift store, support services offered . Outreach code

enforcement, housing authority and collaboration. Spoke with Rey 11/5. http://globalcenterforsuccess.org/

Lift 3 Support Group Claudia Humphrey P.O. Box 5251 Vallejo CA 94591 707-398-6865 Domestic Violence Shelter, Education and Support Group: Crisis Line 707-425-1867

Meals on Wheels 95 Marina Center Suisun City CA 94585 707-644-7444

Mobile Meals for Seniors: Lunch: 12 Noon @ Florence Douglas Senior Center, 333 Amador

St., Vallejo (707)643-1044

Lunch: 11:30am @ Marina Towers, 601 Sacramento St., Vallejo (707)552-4422

http://mealsonwheelssolano.org/

The House of Acts 627 Grant Street Vallejo CA 94590 707-553-1042 Substance Abuse Treatment - 24 hours - Rehabilitation in Sober Living Environment http://www.houseofacts.org/

Vallejo Senior Citizens Council Douglas Senior Center, 333 Amador St Vallejo CA 94590

Hearts and Hands of Compassion P.O. Box 5783 Concord CA 94524 925-687-9977

Heart and Hands of Compassion, Inc. is a non-profit corporation established to help house

and feed the less fortunate within our community.

St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church 925 Sacramento St Vallejo CA 94590

Congregation B’nai Israel 1256 Nebraska St Vallejo CA 94590 707-642-6526

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 1300 Tuolumne St Vallejo CA 94590 707-643-5761

St. Basil the Great Catholic Church 1225 Tuolumne St Vallejo CA 94590 707-644-5251

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1035 Indiana St Vallejo CA 94590 707-643-7973

Anka Behavioral Health 251 Georgia St Vallejo CA 94590 707-558-8195 HOPE Substance Abuse Treatment - Outpatient

Bi Bett Corp/Recovery Connection 604 Broadway Vallejo CA 94590 707-643-2748 Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Caminar 902 Tuolumne St Vallejo CA 94590 707-648-8121

Genesis House 1149 Warren Ave Vallejo CA 94591 707-552-3395 Residential Care for the Elderly

Hope Haven Transitional Sharon T. Spencer 164 Robles Drive #A7 PMB 178 Vallejo CA 94591 707-554-9781 Transitional Housing for Homeless Women http://www.hopehaventransitional.com/

House of Acts 627 Grant Street Vallejo CA 94590 707-553-1042

Assisting residents to find lasting sobriety through individual and group counseling, 12 step

activities, drug education, relapse prevention, and wellness education.

And assisting in their attempts to find employment through our job search readiness and

resume writing workshops and our computer education lab. Substance Abuse Treatment

SafeQuest Solano 1049 Union Ave., Suite B Fairfield CA 94533 707-422-7345

SafeQuest Solano, Services for those affected by Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault

including emergency shelter, support groups, art therapy for children, prevention

education and resources. 24/7Crisis Hotline 1-866-487-7233 http://safequest.org/

Threshold Residential Facility Darvin Peterson 69 Beverly Drive Vallejo CA 94591 Residential Care for the Elderly

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

32

Appendix D

Solano County has a 10-year plan addressing homelessness for the 2008 to 2018 time frame. According

to their most recent data (January 2007), Solano County has 179 beds year-round in "Planning for a

Sustainable Solano County" Appendix A: Housing Needs Assessment Page A - 1 1 emergency shelters,

118 beds year-round in transitional housing, and 99 beds year-round in permanent housing. Even with

these 396 beds, Solano County is looking at the need to house over 3,000 homeless persons at any one

time in Solano County. Solano County has ten strategies addressing homelessness:

Discharge planning and decrease the number of people of being discharged into homelessness

by 25 percent;

Create new permanent housing beds for homeless and chronically homeless persons;

Increase percentage of homeless persons staying in permanent housing over 6 months to 71

percent;

Increase percentage of homeless persons moving from transitional housing into permanent

housing by 61 percent;

Increase percentage of homeless persons becoming employed by 11 percent;

Ensure that the Continuum of Care has a functional Homeless Management Information System

with 90 percent of the shelters and housing projects actively participating;

Improve access to mainstream resources by 25 percent;

Chronically homeless individuals will be fully engaged in the continuum of services and housing

available of them;

Chronically homeless people will be forced to live on the street until permanent housing or

affordable housing is available; ‚ Ensure sufficient outreach to homeless, at-risk families and

non-chronically homeless individuals and provide for their basic needs;

Further strengthen self-sufficiency supports for homeless people moving out of homelessness.

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

33

Supplement B

How does the Code Enforcement Division address the issue of homeless encampments?

If the homeless encampment is on private property, the area officer will conduct an inspection and notify the property owner via a warning letter providing 20 days to correct the violations for junk and debris. If not corrected, a Notice of Violation, which comes with an administrative charge, will be sent to the owner and an additional 20 days will be granted to abate the violations. The officer may issue a citation if corrections have not been made after the required time to abate or if the violations are deemed to be dangerous to the general welfare, health and safety, they may be summarily abated. Abatement may include, but is not limited to the removal of junk and debris. The Code Enforcement Division will coordinate with the Housing and Community Development Division, the Vallejo Police Department and a private contractor to bag, tag and store any personal property left on the site and perform biohazard clean-up. The City's policies and procedures for clean-up and abatement of temporary shelters can be found here: City of Vallejo Administrative Rule 7.10: Garbage Removal; Clean Up of Temporary Shelters and Code Enforcement Abatement Procedures If the homeless encampment is on public property, it will be addressed by the City's Public Works Maintenance Division. More information about their process can be found here.

Source: http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=13506&pageId=27446#7 (accessed/4/22/15)

Homelessness in Vallejo: Impacts of Poverty and Trauma

34

Supplement C

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009: Disability rate in this city among poor males (it is 20.0% amongresidents who are not classified as poor):

Poverty and Disability rates in Vallejo

Vallejo: California:

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Percentage Population in Poverty

CA Solano County