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