Monthly Newsletter

Updates from March 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. Visit our website

LATEST NEWS

Costa Mesa Police Officer Trevor Jones Nominated by Mental Health Association as Outstanding Professional Community Policing Officer Trevor Jones was recently nominated as an Outstanding Professional in the mental health field by the Mental Health Association. Officer Jones has shown exemplary work through his efforts with the Network for Homeless Solutions Team, dealing with quality of life issues in the City. Jones also offers daily support to outreach staff as they work to link people on the streets to services.  Officer Jones has assisted outreach in locating and taking clients to social services appointments and making home visits.

Michigan Man Heads Home Pastor John Begin of Trellis was recently introduced to Sal Marchant at a local church dinner. Marchant traveled to California to attend a recovery program in another county. After leaving the center, Marchant made his way to Costa Mesa, and began living on the streets in 2017. His story is similar to many of those who live on the street: Marchant struggles with both mental health issues and addiction. Marchant didn't want to live on the streets of Costa Meas any longer and wanted to go back to Michigan. He had most of his belongings stolen and could not find employment.   Pastor Begin spoke to Marchant's mother who wanted him to come back to Michigan as long as he followed house rules. Trellis arranged a bus ride back to Michigan. Marchant and his parents were very grateful for this opportunity to make a new start in life.

Outreach Navigates Mental Health System for Chronically Homeless Man

Outreach staff has been working with a chronically homeless man who has been unable to navigate the mental health and substance abuse health care systems independently. He is a high service call transient who is subject to episodes of depression and volatility.   He contacted Outreach at the end of the month to let staff know he had spent the day in Santa Ana and applied for multiple services with no manic episodes. Outreach staff will continue to work with him to ensure that he is successfully linked to mental health services.

Family Crisis Center Assists Homeless Family in Costa Mesa

Lighthouse Church recently referred a family to Outreach staff. A mother and her three small children were trying to escape a hostile living situation. With no where to go, the Lighthouse provided them temporary shelter. After an assessment by Outreach staff, the family was referred to the Family Care Center family shelter in Orange. The family has strong ties to the city of Orange. They recently moved into the shelter where they can stay for up to 120 days while they look for a permanent living situation.

OUTREACH

March Housing actions

MARCH 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 Linkages Substance Abuse

Linkages Reconnections

CODE ENFORCEMENT

NETWORK FOR HOMELESS SOLUTIONS ORGANIZATION HIGHLIGHT

Meet Robert "Santa Bob" Morse Robert Morse, or Santa Bob as the community more lovingly calls him brings a unique set of skills, compassion and understanding towards working with those experiencing homelessness. Morse experienced his own homelessness when he spent eight years on the streets before visiting the Check in Center in February of 2012. After frequent visits, Morse gained employment at the center. The Check-In Center is a volunteer-driven gathering place located at The Crossing Church and is equipped with storage bins for use by those experiencing homelessness. Within only two years Morse was promoted to manager and in 2015 he was promoted to director of the entire facility. Continuing to schedule and train 50 plus volunteers and work with approximately 125 homeless clients annually, he plans to continue to advocate for the homeless of Costa Mesa.

VOLUNTEER AND PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS

Orange County Behavioral Health Outreach and Engagement Linkages and Services 24 total contacts made with new and existing clients 5 referrals made to mental health services  1 referral made to medical services  2 referrals made to substance abuse services  0 referrals made to social services  0 referrals made to job resources  1 referral made to legal services 4 referrals made to permanent housing 4 referrals made to temporary housing 1 referral made to transitional housing

Orange County Behavioral Health Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT)  15.75 total hours of service  8 contacts made with private residents 2 contact made with homeless residents  6 legal hold/evaluation 4 linkages to other services 2 hospitalized

Trellis March Volunteer Report

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 .                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. The Crossing Church. Contact Chris Cuthill ccuthill@rockharbor.org

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

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