Homelessness

As Catholics, we want to ensure that every human being is able to live in dignity. In considering threats to human dignity, let us take a look at one of the major threats locally – homelessness. Did you know that Orange County has around 35,000 homeless people, one of the highest rates in the country? Two thirds of these people are families with children. Some live in motels as long as they can, or in temporary shelters if there is room, but way too many are in cars or on the streets. Many of the adults are actually working full time, but in a low-wage job that just won’t pay the bills. As you can imagine, kids moving between motel rooms and shelters do not do very well in school, so their future chances look dim. Wanting to love and care for and respect all of God’s children, do you wonder who these people are, why they are homeless, and what we can do to actually help them in a meaningful way?

On 11/22/11, St. Bonaventure hosted a presentation “Who Are the Homeless in Orange County (and what can we do to help)”. We heard from people who know the stories of who is homeless in Orange County, and why they are homeless, and what is being done to help. Speakers included:

  • Dwight and Leia Smith, who live at the Catholic Worker house (Isaiah’s House) in Santa Ana and provide hot meals and temporary shelter for homeless women. (see www.occatholicworker.org)
  • Linda Serio, Manager of Communications and Development for the Illumination Foundation. Illumination provides motel housing and health care and other family support services to help families break the cycle of homelessness in Costa Mesa and other local cities. (More at www.ifhomeless.org)
  • Kathy Tillotson, Executive Director of Build Futures, which provides assistance to homeless youth (18-24 years old) in Huntington Beach and nearby cities (www.BuildFutures.org)
  • Billy O’Connell, Executive Director of Collette’s Children’s Home in Huntington Beach (www.healinghomelessness.org)
  • Bob Murphy, General Manager of American Family Housing, which runs a homeless shelter in Westminster/Midway City and also transitional housing and support services in other cities. (Check out www.afhusa.org)
  • Baron Coenen, coordinator of St. Bonaventure’s participation in the Self Help Interfaith Program (SHIP), which helps clients who are homeless but working full time to save up money to get into an apartment.

More on SHIP

One of the organizations we heard about was the Self Help Interfaith Program (SHIP), which helps clients who are homeless but working full time to save up money to get into an apartment. With the support of local churches, SHIP houses around 10 people at a time in a church hall, moving the group every couple of weeks to a new church hall. Clients can stay with the program for 4-6 months as long as they are working and following the program rules – it is exciting to see them getting a fresh start. St. Bonaventure hosts a group of SHIP clients for two weeks each January; the program needs an adult or two, each night the guests are here, to sleep overnight in the hall, and also groups who are willing to bring dinner and eat with our guests each night. Please help if you can!

Saint Bonaventure’s HOPE Office (http://www.saintbonaventureparish.org/ministries/gospel-outreach/hope-office/) does a tremendous job of providing food assistance to many people, but also is frequently visited by homeless men (often veterans) who need toiletries, blankets and underwear, especially socks (cheap ones are fine, since they wear them out quickly and throw them away). HOPE is able to accept laundered socks (no holes) and blankets – keep them coming!

Local Resources for Homeless People – Updated 4/29/12

Here are some useful resources for you to download and print out and keep handy. Download these useful resources by clicking on the links below. Thank you.

Homeless Organizations – organizations which provide shelter

Homeless Outreach – organizations which provide other services (primarily food)

More Volunteer Opportunities

Thomas House, Garden Grove www.thomashouseshelter.org. Cyndee Albertson, Executive Director. Transitional shelter founded in 1986 by St. Barbara Church – qualifying families live rent-free in one of 16 furnished apartments owned by the shelter.

Mercy House (founded by Father Jerome T. Karcher in 1988) www.mercyhouse.net. Ashleigh Anderson Camba, Volunteer Coordinator, 714-836-7188 x102; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mercy House has developed a Continuum of Care to provide homeless prevention, emergency services, transitional housing and permanent housing with supportive services to homeless men, women and children living in Orange County and the City of Ontario. The organization’s goal is “to end the cycle of homelessness of those who enter our system of care.” Volunteer opportunities include helping morning or evening in the Armory Emergency Shelter, Adopt-A-Resident for the Holidays, Decorate a Food Box (and fill it with items for a family), host a Movie Night, donate Hygiene Kits, bring a group for a Shelter Cleaning or a BBQ or Holiday Party, etc.