A monthly newsletter summarizing the efforts of the Network for Homeless Solutions, a collaboration comprised of city staff, volunteers, community churches and nonprofit and private organizations to address homelessness in Costa Mesa.
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Homelessness Community Forum
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On April 19, 2018 a Homelessness in Costa Mesa and Orange county community forum was held that discussed the factors contributing to homelessness and how the community can engage to effect positive change.
The forum featured a panel of experts, including Costa Mesa Homeless Consultant Muriel Ullman, Costa Mesa Police Officer Trevor Jones, Mayor Pro Tem Allan Mansoor and Executive Director Ian Stevenson.
The forum was moderated by former Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation commissioner Brett Eckles.
The forum was sponsored by Trellis, a religious based organization in the Costa Mesa community. Trellis has been a key player in the coordination of churches, government and individuals in addressing the problems of homelessness in Costa Mesa.
For more information:
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Multi City Collaborative on Reducing Homelessness
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On April 18, official representatives involved in homelessness outreach from the cities of Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Dana Point met to discuss homeless issues.
The purpose of the meeting was to facilitate relationships with neighboring cities,
share resources, avoid duplication of services for intra-city individuals and case manage for mutual clients.
By working together, these groups can case manage troubled clients together and help homeless individuals access services in areas where they have pre-existing ties.
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Monthly Volunteer Meeting
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On Thursday, April 19, 2018, Costa Mesa Outreach held its monthly volunteer meeting at the Lighthouse Community Church.
Guest speaker was Jesus LozaCruz, a veterans outreach care coordinator at the Orange County Rescue Mission. The O.C. Rescue Mission is a faith-based organization that provides the homeless community the following services: guidance, counseling, education, job training, shelter, food, clothing, health care and independent living communities.
LozaCruz and his team go out into different cities providing services to homeless veterans and other members of homeless community.
During the meeting, LozaCruz's guest speaker Matthew Twist, a former homeless veteran and success of the program talked about his battle with addiction and struggles on the streets and how he triumphantly overcame them through the help of O.C. Rescue Mission.
The outreach team and volunteers will collaborate their efforts with O.C. Rescue Mission and continue to provide services to veterans, families and other parts of the homeless community.
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Eight months ago outreach staff received a call from the relative of a man living on the streets Costa Mesa. The relative wished to come to Costa Mesa and return home with his loved one.
Outreach assisted with the arrangements and the homeless man and concerned family member were sent back home.
Unfortunately the homeless man had grown accustomed to living outdoors and to life on the street. He left his family and home and returned to Costa Mesa.
While back on the streets, he was roughed up and finally decided life on the streets was not what he wanted. He wanted to return home.
Through social media outreach staff was able to connect with the homeless veteran's family. Staff purchased another bus ticket and the veteran was sent home.
Currently he is still with his family who has reached out to staff and expressed their appreciation for helping him get back home.
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Linkages Collaborative
Case Management
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NETWORK FOR HOMELESS SOLUTIONS ORGANIZATION HIGHLIGHT
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Meet Russ Carter - Mentor to the Homeless
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Russ Carter first began his involvement with homelessness in Costa Mesa 13 years ago through a small group at Saddleback Church. He served breakfast, fellowship and a message to the homeless that attended at the Sandpiper Motel.
A partnership between church members and City staff began to form when the the small group had to relocate their efforts and began serving the homeless at The Lighthouse Church.
While serving breakfast, Carter became very involved with a homeless man and grew to become his advocate. He soon learned about the homeless and their issues, problems, needs and services available to them. His role evolved from meal preparation and serving to advocating for the homeless, both individually and as a group.
Today, Carter works with a selective group of individuals and has been instrumental in arranging their housing, medical care and being a shoulder to lean on.
Carter is an original member of the City of Costa Mesa Homeless Task Force and is currently a member of the Network for Homeless Solutions. He continues his involvement with City leaders and partners tasked with shaping policy designed to reduce homelessness in Costa Mesa.
He is active at Saddleback Church and helps promote and train homeless volunteers. He is also a church counselor and member of Saddleback’s local Peace Ministry.
Carter gave up his love of golf to serve his brothers and sisters everywhere and h never looked back.
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VOLUNTEER AND PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
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Orange County Behavioral Health
Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT)
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- 10 total hours of service
- 12 contacts made with private residents
- 2 contact made with homeless residents
- 5 legal hold/evaluation
- 0 linkages to other services
- 3 hospitalized
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- Five homeless individuals were reconnected.
- Four homeless individuals were relocated out of state.
- One homeless individual was relocated out of the county.
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- Total of six homeless individuals housed this month.
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- Trellis partnered with local non-profit to deliver house furnishings to homeless families recently housed.
- 28 homeless residents were provided with emergency resources including jackets, blankets and sleeping bags.
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- 40 homeless individuals served on the Community Impact Team assisting with community projects, including: cleanup at Mariners Church, cleanup at Newport Rib Company, cleanup at a local warehouse, and furniture delivery.
- Participated in special faith based events.
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The average monthly total of 578 hours is outlined below:
The Check in Center:
40 volunteers from 11 different churches help fill 144 slots each month totaling roughly
220 hours a month
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Mornings:
Mon. – Fri. 6 - 7:30 a.m. 2-3 volunteers
Sat. – 7- 10 a.m. 2-3 volunteers
Evenings:
Mon. – Thur. 6:30 - 8 p.m. 2-3 volunteers
Fri. – Sat. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 2-3 volunteers
Saturday Morning L.O.T.S.
(Life on the Streets): Showers, laundry and breakfast
7:30 – 11:00 a.m. Includes 10 -15 volunteers on average each week, varying from 16 churches equaling roughly
170 hours a month
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LOTS Community Impact Team:
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon eight to 10 volunteers from five different churches serve to make this happen each Saturday.
40 hours a month.
Most of these volunteers meet each Thursday from 3:30 – 5 p.m. to develop and fine tune this program.
60 hours a month.
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Volunteers needed at The Check in Center
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The
Check in Center
is a storage facility for our neighbors who are homeless to keep their belongings in a safe and secure place. This allows clients to go on job interviews, medical and social services appointments. Our homeless friends are also relieved of the physical burden of carrying all their belongings on their back or alternatively stashing everything in the parks and neighborhoods.
Volunteers at the
CIC
typically help clients retrieve and store their items through checking client bins in and out and according to special procedures. In addition, there's time to get to know the clients better, especially those who are regulars.
All volunteers are partnered with an experienced lead volunteer to give
direction and guidance.
New volunteers will also receive a folder containing Oath For Compassionate Service, Professional Boundaries and Handling Conflict and
CIC
Pointers for working with the homeless to aid in understanding proper and effective methods of dealing with the complicated issue of homelessness.
Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of two shifts per month in order to develop collective
relationship-building, a key factor in ending homelessness.
The CIC
is located at the lowest level of the parking structure at the Crossing Church 2115 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa.
Hours of Operations
Mon-Fri 6:00-7:30 a.m.
Mon-Thur 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Sat 7:00-10:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat 6:30-7:30 p.m.
On Sundays, it is closed
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Mentors are needed!
Trellis Community Impact Team – Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.
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Saturday Morning LOTS: Showers, laundry and breakfast 7:30 – 11:00 a.m. For further information, contact
Ian@wearetrellis.com
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