Monthly Newsletter
Updates from May 2018
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.
LATEST NEWS
Banding Together

Members of the Costa Mesa community recently banded together and took temporary custody of a local homeless man's service dog while he attempted to take care of legal matters.

While handling his legal issues, the man lost his housing and couldn't care for the animal.

The dog owner is now back in housing and immensely grateful to the team of volunteers who cared for his service animal during his absence.
Volunteer Meeting Recap
On May 17, 2018 Costa Mesa Police Officer, Lieutenant Joyce La Pointe held a Q&A presentation regarding community issues related to homelessness.

The presentation provided insight on how to report homeless matters and safety measures to be taken when interacting with members of the homeless population. In addition, La Pointe discussed a variety of issues regarding homelessness in Costa Mesa including law enforcement and homelessness and the rights of citizens and homeless.

La Pointe is a 20-year veteran of the Costa Mesa Police Department. She began her career in Costa Mesa as a police officer in 1997 and was promoted to the rank of corporal in 2002, sergeant in 2007 and the rank of lieutenant in 2015.

She became the first female to hold the rank of lieutenant in the department’s history.
Network for Homeless Solutions and
Costa Mesa Senior Center Increase Efforts

Network for Homeless Solutions is expanding it's partnership with the Costa Mesa Senior Center.

NHS staff currently take referrals from the Senior Center's part-time social worker, but will soon expand those efforts.

Senior Center staff will now be able to access profiles of mutual clients to avoid duplication of services.

Senior Center staff will also be able to inform the outreach staff about seniors who are at risk of losing housing before it occurs. This will allow staff to determine if the Community Development Block Grant rental assistance offered through the City's contact rental assistance provider Mercy House Living Centers would be a viable option.

Code Enforcement Monitors Problem Properties

Recently Code Enforcement and Costa Mesa Police Department conducted an inspection at a known problem property off Baker Street.

Evidence of camping and trespassing was evident, including used syringes, food, trash, ares of urination and property damage.

It also appeared that a transient tried to break through the door of a neighboring business.

With the past history at this property, code enforcement and CMPD issued warnings to the property owner. If the needed precautions are not enforced by the owner and problems continues, citations will be given.
OUTREACH
May Housing actions
Outreach Actions
MAY LINKAGES
Linkage Transportation
Linkage Medical
Linkages Mental Health
Linkages Field Support
Linkages Social Services
Linkages Housing
Linkages Collaborative Case Management
Linkages Job Connection
Linkages Documentation and House Recovery Resources
Linkages Substance Abuse
Linkages Reconnections
CODE ENFORCEMENT
NETWORK FOR HOMELESS SOLUTIONS ORGANIZATION HIGHLIGHT
Meet Larry Zirbes
Larry Zirbes began his efforts with the Network for Homeless Solutions in 2015. He wanted to make a difference and help people experiencing homelessness get off the streets.

Zirbes has been a key player and in his efforts has located housing for several Costa Mesa residents experiencing homelessness for over 25 years.

Zirbes has assisted the Network for Homeless Solutions while serving in a variety of roles. He served as coordinator of Trellis Community Impact team, served under Trellis's Costa Mesa Street Team Ministry followed by his transition to the Community Impact Team (CIT). While in his role with the CIT, Zirbes engage local Costa Mesa business to employ and offer a hand up to homeless residing in Costa Mesa.

After serving 20 years in the United States Army Zirbes spent the majority of his career responsible for proposal and program support activities and technical publication support for major aerospace programs at Boeing Corporation.
VOLUNTEER AND PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
Orange County Behavioral Health
Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) 
  • 31.58 total hours of service 
  • 15 contacts made with private residents
  • 10 contact made with homeless residents 
  • 11 legal hold/evaluation
  • 3 linkages to other services
  • 9 hospitalized
Outreach and Engagement Linkages and Services
Outreach and Engagement Linkages and Services
April 2018
  • Two out of state reconnections made.
  • Three clients were linked to job opportunities.
  • Trellis assisted with providing and delivering furniture to three newly housed clients.
  • A total of six homeless individuals participated in community impact projects for Trellis. Projects included cleaning up around the city and delivering furniture.

The Check in Center:   40 volunteers from 11 different churches help fill 144 slots each month totaling roughly 220 hours a month .
               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 .
 
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.
IMPORTANT UPDATES
Volunteers needed at The Check in Center
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 .
 
Contact: Robert Morse :  santabob@wearetrellis.com  or call 949-205-3583
Trellis
Mentors are needed!

Trellis Community Impact Team – Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.
LOTS
The Crossing Church
 Saturday Morning LOTS: Showers, laundry and breakfast 7:30 – 11:00 a.m. For further information, contact  Ian@wearetrellis.com