Sunday, August 25:  Arroyo Grande Summer Concert In The Park

Celebration Chorus

Bring your picnic basket, lawn chairs and blankets and join us at this free concert at the Rotary Bandstand in Heritage Square Park in the Village of Arroyo Grande.

Concertgoers will enjoy the harmonic sounds of the SLO County Band, Celebration Chorus & Gold Coast Chorus. While enjoying the music support the efforts of the 5Cities Homeless by buying a raffle ticket!  To learn more of the Village Summer Concert Series, click here.  Many thanks to Rabobank as the continuing Series Sponsor of the Arroyo Grande Village Summer Concert Series.

SLO County Band

Gold Coast Barbershop Chorus

Wednesday, Sept. 25:  2nd Annual Empty Bowls Community Luncheon

We hope that you will save the date and consider sponsoring the 2nd Annual 5Cities Homeless Coalition Empty Bowls Community Luncheon. It will be held Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall in Arroyo Grande to raise awareness of homelessness in our community. This wonderful collaborative event brings local artists, restaurants, businesses and community members together to support the 5Cities Homeless Coalition in its work to help the homeless and those facing poverty in the South County area. At our inaugural event in 2012 over 500 people came together to enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread in support of the Coalition. With the support of over 50 volunteers, 30 artists, and more than 50 restaurants, sponsors and supporting businesses, virtually every aspect of the event was supported by our community.  Click here for event sponsorship information.  Tickets will be on sale in late summer, so please save the date!

The Trilogy Service Club  has named the 5Cities Homeless Coalition as the sole beneficiary for  the 2nd annual Harvesting Hope Festival (formerly known as Empty Bowls and Baskets). The Harvesting Hope Festival is a celebration of locally handcrafted art, food and wines. Produced by the Trilogy Service Club, the event showcases the works of local artists, food purveyors, wineries and the residents of Trilogy at Monarch Dunes. The event is a fundraising benefit with all proceeds benefiting the 5Cities Homeless Coalition.  Save the date and click here
for more details!

Lifeline Assistance Cell Phone Program Registration

5Cities Homeless Coalition volunteers have taken on the effort to ensure that local residents are aware of the opportunity to receive a free cell phone through the Lifeline Assistance program. At a recent registration outreach event, volunteers assisted 25 families in signing up for the program; 12 of whom were homeless.

Access to a telephone is imperative when trying to find work, obtain housing or access other necessary services.  Oftentimes it is a barrier, as simple as a phone, that prevents individuals from an ability to change their circumstances. For the homeless population, they need a cell phone, because they don’t have a home to hard-wire a land-line. The Lifeline Assistance program is a government benefit program supported by the federal Universal Service Fund. Enrollment is available to individuals who qualify based on federal or state-specific eligibility criteria. Individuals may qualify if they are on certain public assistance programs, like Med-Cal or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or with proof of low-income.

Registration for the program must happen before June 6.  To see if you or someone you know may qualify, click here for details.  For more information or assistance through the 5Cities Homeless Coalition, contact us at 574-1638.

Helping Hand Assistance

In recent months through the 5Cities Helping Hands Program, in partnership with the South County Youth Coalition, local homeless residents have received assistance with gasoline vouchers to get to a new job, housing assistance with rental deposits,  and bus passes. For more details on this program…

Clothing Assistance

More than 10 families have received clothing assistance through St. Barnabas Thrift Store and St. Patrick’s Shamrock Thrift Store as part of the 5CHC’s new clothing voucher program which began in January.  Their stories vary; one family lost everything in a house fire, another was on the streets due to mental illness and had just one pair of jeans.  Regardless of their reason for need, each appreciated the simple gift of clothing.  For more details on this program…

Warming Center Preparation

The 5Cities Homeless Coalition has just completed the necessary pre-work and contracts necessary to open an overnight warming center to provide a safe, warm and dry place for homeless adults to find shelter during nights of particularly poor weather.  We tried mightily to open the shelter before the weather improved; none the less we’re ready for the next storm that hits. For more details on this program…

Information and Referral

The 5Cities Homeless Coalition continues to receive calls from both those seeking assistance, as well as those looking to help. It is a role we take on gladly as we work to mobilize the resources and support of the community.  Through this we are developing a comprehensive understanding of regional resources.  We have compiled a list of services, everything from medical help to food and financial assistance, that is  now available online.  Click here for a directory of services in South County…  We will continue to work with service providers to refine this list, with a plan to develop an easy to read hand-out that may be distributed to those in need throughout the South County area.

A.G. Hospital Employees and 5CHC Board Members

We’d like to express our sincere appreciation to the employees of Arroyo Grande hospital for their recent school backpack drive! In our January newsletter we put out the word that more than 40 backpacks were needed for homeless students in the Lucia Mar School District.  Hospital employees stepped up to fill the need, donating more than 40 backpacks.

Currently there are more than 300 students in the Lucia Mar School District who are homeless. Through the District’s Families in Transition Program the backpacks donated by the employees of Arroyo Grande Community Hospital will be given to these students, along with the school supplies they need to help the children succeed in school.  Even though the school year is nearly complete, there are new children coming into the district on a daily basis, often times with few or no school supplies.

There is an on-going need for new backpacks and school binders; and this will be especially so with the new school year in August.  If you’d like ot help, please let us know.

Five Cities-Eco Rotary

Eco Rotary President Anita Shower with 5CHC representatives Pres. Patti Diefenderfer, Secretary Betsy Ehrler and E.D. Janna Nichols

The Five Cities-Eco Rotary recently stepped forward to help at our Valentine Serenade Event on February 10.  The club handled all recycling for the event, spending the whole night washing dishes, busing tables and managing the event trash and recycling.  We couldn’t have done it without them.  And then, to put icing on the chocolate (so to speak), Club President Anita Shower then recognized the 5Cities Homeless Coalition with a Community Volunteer Service Award for its role in addressing critical issues of homelessness.  ”Your points of light are recognized by this club as we join you to celebrate your personal power to transform ourselves and the world around us.  We applaud your strong commitment to on-going volunteer programs.”

We’re honored to have Five Cities-Eco Rotary as a partner in these efforts.

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Thrift Store

Volunteers of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Thrift Store with staff of 5CHC

It is with sincere appreciation that we thank the volunteers of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Thrift Store, who have named the 5Cities Homeless Coalition as a recipient of their support for this year.

In addition they are a key partner  with us to provide clothing to homeless adults in the area.  If you’re doing a bit of spring cleaning, please consider making a donation of clothing to St. Barnabas Thrift Store, or our other clothing program partner, St. Patrick’s Shamrock Thrift Store.

Valentine Serenade Supporters

Thank You!

Many thanks to Nipomo Community Presbyterian Church, The QuieT Knights, Rick Jarrett, Kim Ford and Steve McAndrew, our generous sponsors and our supporters for helping us put on such a terrific event. Over $9.500 was raised, thanks to your generous support and that of more than 150 silent auction donors, chocolatiers, and volunteers.   For more about the event…

Individual Donors & Contributors

Current Efforts
Efforts continue to secure the property needed for the proposed Community Services Center.  The Coalition has assessed over 100  parcels in the Five Cities area.  In September 2012 the Coalition opened escrow on a 1/2 acre parcel in Oceano.  The Coalition has 24 months to close escrow, contingent upon acquiring adequate adjacent property; securing the necessary permits and approvals for construction, and raising the funds needed to develop the center.  The current design calls for a parcel of approximately 2 acres.

In assessing the Oceano property we continue to meet with various community stakeholders to share our plan and receive their feedback.  We will then proceed, based upon these comments and information gathered, to access the viability and appropriateness of the project location. We are also continuing to look at other parcels as they become available.

In tandem with our efforts to develop the Center, the Coalition is in the process of working with service providing organization to assess current services, and opportunities for collaboration to provide for immediate needs that are currently not being met. Here are details of the programs currently being developed.  Click here to learn more about services that are in the works.

How You Can Help
Resources
Your gift will help the Coalition provide assistance to meet immediate needs (including clothing, laundry, food, gas, and transportation assistance) and developing a winter warming center for use during inclement weather.

Support
There are many volunteer opportunities available in the South County where you can help address the needs of the homeless and those facing poverty.  Please contact us for a list of opportunities.

Hope
Advocate on behalf of the homeless and those facing poverty.  Those who are without a home or without sufficient resources are often unable to advocate for themselves.  You can help be their voice.

5CHC Holiday 2012 050

Karla Prather Allee

5CHC Holiday 2012 015

St. Pat Church

Holiday Gifts and Meals –  - Members of the Five Cities Christian Women’s Club came together over the holidays to assist 60 families with holiday food and gifts.  The women, gathering at the United Methodist Church, packaged boxes for each family that included all the fixings for a holiday meal, and gifts for each in the family.  Members of  St. Patrick’s Catholic Church took the lead to provide assistance to over 400 families with their gift and holiday food program.  Volunteers with the South County People’s Kitchen hosted a holiday party for nearly 300 needy neighbors, complete with children’s gifts, warm clothing and of course a hot meal.  And the South SLO County Service Extension Unit of the Salvation Army reported helping over 700 families with their Angel Tree program of gifts and food.

Linda and Kermit Prather’s Gift Closet - Community volunteer Karla Prather Allee and her husband Kent, reached out to the community to provide stuffed animals and books for homeless children.  Karla and her parents started this effort, which Karla now continues in their memory.  ”My mother would always say that every child should have a book to read and something to hold,” notes Karla.  With the assistance of Kohl’s, area Kiwanis Clubs, Camp Fire and others, Karla and her team were able to give out over 100 gift bags to area families through the holiday season.

Homeless Outreach in Nipomo - Working with the homeless in Nipomo, members of the Nipomo Community Presbyterian Church are working to provide tents, tarps, warm socks, water, nutrition bars and transportation. The church has been able to sponsor one family with children into their first apartment  and are celebrating that.   The church has also made up 100 bags to give to homeless folks with necessities etc.  and are taking up toiletries every week for the shelter in Santa Maria and food each week for 5 cities Christian women’s food bank.

Clothing Vouchers with St. Barnabas and St. Patrick’s – We are especially pleased to announce a new clothing voucher program we have been able to develop with St. Barbnabas Episcopal Church and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, through their respective thrift stores.  Working with other area service providers we have begun giving clothing vouchers to those in need that can be redeemed at these two thrift stores.  Members of both churches also continue to be involved in helping the homeless in many other ways, including providing food, holiday gifts,  hygiene kits, and other assistance throughout the year.

There is also free tree viewing this week, Nov. 26-30 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. nightly.

Purchase tickets for one of several fully decorated Christmas Trees, complete with gifts!  Tickets can be purchased at the door for only $20.  Raffle tickets are also available at the event.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the 5Cities Homeless Coalition.  Click here for a flyer for the event.

First there was Black Friday, then came Cyber Monday. Today is Giving Tuesday, a day when you can give to your community in a meaningful way. Please give today to offer resources, support and hope for those who are homeless or facing poverty in our community.  Click here for more details of 5CHC programs in development, or contact us for more information.

How You Can Help

Resources

We are seeking funds to provide assistance this winter to meet immediate needs (including a winter warming center, clothing, laundry and other immedaite needs such as transportation assistance).

Winter Warming Center – a winter warming center is just that, a place to get warm during exceptionally cold and rainy nights.  We estimate the center will operate about 35 nights during the winter months, based on weather projections. A major need in order to ensure the success of the warming center is to secure a location or locations, which we are hopeful to have nailed down by the end of December.

We currently are seeking financial support to make the warming center a reality,  including funds for professional staff oversight, hot dinners and healthy morning breakfasts, and transportation. We estimate costs to be $600 per night to operate the center (including food and transportation). Additionally we seek to provide separate lodging for homeless families, estimated to be $250 per night (to accommodate an estimated five families).

It is estimated that on any given night there are approximately 900 South County residents living without homes; an estimated half are children. Currently the South County has no overnight shelter for those who are homeless. This can be particularly tragic in the winter months as homelessness and health are intimately interwoven. Homeless people are 3 to 4 times more likely to become ill than housed people. People who live on the streets are at high risk for frostbite, immersion foot and hypothermia. The risk of death from other causes is increased eightfold in people who have experienced these exposure related conditions. Life expectancy in the homeless is estimated between 42-52 years, compared to 78 years in the general population.

Clothing and Laundry Vouchers – A consistent message reported from the homeless community is that they are challenged to get clean clothes, or wash those that they have. We have developed a clothing voucher program with two area thrift stores (St. Barnabas and St. Patrick’s) to provide clothing assistance.  The clothing program will include a career wear component for those needing interview and professional attire.  Should you have career wear to donate, please deliver to the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Thrift Shop on Brisco Road.

We are also finalizing details with an area laundry mat in order to provide homeless neighbors with laundry assistance. Initially we will launch the laundry program to serve area families who are homeless. Your support is needed to help pay for these services.

Immediate Needs (including Gasoline and Transportation Assistance) – Funds are needed to provide for a wide range of immediate needs for the homeless. We are developing a program targeting those who are in case management, seeking work or who are already employed, and trying save the necessary funds for housing or other challenges in order to change their circumstances. One of the greatest challenges currently, for those who are living in their cars, is gasoline. At $4.00 per gallon, getting to and from work, or traveling to obtain services and food, can be a significant obstacle. Likewise, many need assistance with bus transportation.

Coats, Sleeping Bags and Winter Care Kits – There are a variety of ways you can help with in-kind products that can provide relief to a homeless neighbor this winter. Some examples would be a cold weather coats, sleeping bags, and winter care kits. We are seeking support to provide these needed items. At this time however, we do not have the necessary space to store any donated items, so will need to coordinate collection and distribution in advance of receiving your gift. Click here for a detail of ideas that we have developed for the winter care kits.

Support 

Volunteers are needed to be “on call” to prepare and serve dinners, cold breakfasts, and for additional support to make the Warming Center a reality.. Even if you are not able to provide a host location, your assistance volunteering to support the Center is vitally needed.

Hope

We also seek support to advocate on behalf of the homeless and those facing poverty. Those who are without a home, without a phone, and without a mailing address are often unable to advocate for themselves. You can help be their voice.

And here are some great shots, taken by Clay Hadick of Open Door Photography!

Just click on the photo below to view the complete photo album.

We’d like to extend our thanks to the following for their generous sponsorship of the event:  County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors, Martin Resorts, Smart and Final,  Pacific Eye, Altrusa Intl. of Cinco Ciudades, Bryan Crawford – Charles Schwab, Bernie and Lennette Horton,  Oceano-Five Cities Elks, Nipomo Community Presbyterian Church Women, Coasthill’s Federal Credit Union, Brad’s Restaurant, Curves for Women, South County Youth Coalition, Rudolph and Anne Bachmann.  In-kind sponsors include St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Andy Cox – Allstate Insurance, SLOCO Data, Phase 1 Mobile DJ, Clay Hadick of Open Door Photography, Annie Cappelli, Susan Greene, and Anam-Cre’ Studio.  We would also like to recognize the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation for their belief in our cause and long-standing support to make our vision a reality.

We would especially like to recognize these restaurants, artists and volunteers for their support in making this event possible.