Read Parts I and II in our 2018 Homelessness Series:
http:// joom. ag / pTyY / p18 http:// joom. ag / 87UY / p32
RESOURCES
Destination: Home destinationhomesv. org
Plan to End Homelessness destinationhomesv. org / the- 2015-2020-community-plan-to-endhomelessness
Gilroy Compassion Center gilroycompassioncenter. blogspot. com
Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing sccgov. org, sccgov. org / sites / yes / tools
St. Joseph’ s Family Center stjosephsgilroy. org
Coming in 2019
Measure A Funded Affordable Housing Projects
Gateway Senior Apartments, Gilroy This 75-unit affordable senior housing complex is situated on a 1.86-acre site. Half of the apartments will be for special needs seniors, and the other half for income-qualifying seniors. A LifeSTEPS service coordinator will offer residents referrals and assistance to access community-based services, financial literacy workshops, and organized social activities. Target for Completion: June 2019
Crossings on Monterey, Morgan Hill This three-story affordable housing development comprises 39 apartment units, 20 of which will be for chronically homeless or homeless individuals and families. Central Valley Coalition for Affordable Housing will provide resident services including referrals and assistance to access community-based services. Target for Completion: October 2019
“ Dental illness is common among the homeless. It leads to other disease, digestion issues, even heart disease. We’ d love to see a local dentist or two donate a few appointment slots to free dental care for the homeless.
“ We can’ t be prisoners to our fears, and we can’ t arrest our way out of this. We can’ t be afraid to fail. We need to have the courage to say out loud, it’ s okay to help our homeless.”
“ Another thing, we’ re in dire need of mental health care in our community,” Perales said.“ What happens when someone requires immediate care and can’ t wait two months? The homeless struggle with the same issues as the rest of us when it comes to the need for access to healthcare, education, and employment.
“ Without meaning to, our community discriminates against the homeless. It’ s easy to talk about clean and safe streets, but this is about people’ s lives. We have to challenge our thinking.
“ Gilroy Compassion Park, the Tiny Homes project, has been designed and vetted. We crossed our first hurdle with the County. The project has been reviewed positively. Our next steps are to acquire about ten acres, get permitting, and add infrastructure. We might lease the land and then work with a developer, private donor or angel investors.”
Help From All Corners of the Community
GCC will host its twice-annual Homeless Connect program in 2019. The event brings together service providers from all over the County, ready to provide information and resources to the homeless.
“ This year, Christopher Ranch, Gary Tognetti, and local churches donated food for the event. Volunteers, including our homeless clients, cooked the food and served eighty homeless people. Dr. Isabella Diaz, a local optometrist, provided free eye exams, wrote prescriptions, and helped 18 clients order glasses online and it was all free.
“ Gilroy Police Chief Smithee has been active in leading discussions about how to meet the needs of the homeless,” Perales said.“ Officer Geoff Guerin has been a saint.
Chief Smithee has said the City of Gilroy is hoping to partner with the City of Morgan Hill and Santa Clara County to cost-share additional resources in the form of a Homeless Response Team to assess the needs of the homeless and provide service referrals for everything from public restroom access to addressing mental health disorders.
“ We also work closely with David Cox at St. Josephs Family Center,” Perales said.“ They get funding to provide case management for the Armory, and we provide the case manager. Members of the Mormon Church, New Hope, and South Valley Community Church are supporters. Freda Coggin buys food and organizes our BBQs.
“ At one BBQ, local barber / stylist Casey Adams arrived with a group of stylists and their chairs to offer free haircuts,” Perales said.“ One homeless woman was so moved she cried as they cut her hair. She hadn’ t felt human touch in a long time and having her hair cut made her feel beautiful.
“ Another client, a high school student who lives in a car with his mother, told me,“ I’ m embarrassed to go to school when I smell and I can’ t go today because it’ s my only chance to do laundry.’ He just needed access to a shower.
“ Dental illness is common among the homeless. It leads to other disease, digestion issues, even heart disease. We’ d love to see a local dentist or two donate a few appointment slots to free dental care for the homeless.
“ We can’ t be prisoners to our fears, and we can’ t arrest our way out of this. We can’ t be afraid to fail. We need to have the courage to say out loud, it’ s okay to help our homeless.”
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2018 gmhtoday. com