Stay Safe During the Holidays

Alameda County strongly recommends against gathering with people outside of your household for Thanksgiving. Skip the trip this year and celebrate safely instead. Please avoid gatherings, wear face coverings, and keep your distance from others. Together, we can protect the ones we love and slow the spread of Covid-19.

Visit acphd.org to learn more about practices that reduce the chance of catching or spreading Covid-19, including wearing a mask and social distancing.

A Message from San Leandro Mayor Pauline Cutter

Disasters won't wait so we have partnered with San Leandro Mayor Pauline Cutter and Listos California to bring you a video explaining how to prepare for disasters by creating your own personal preparedness plan. Prepare with these 4 easy steps before it is too late.

211 has an ambitious goal to educate 20,000 Alameda County residents on disaster preparedness by the end of 2020. Please watch the full video or visit the link below so we can count YOU!

Visit https://www.centerondisability.org/preparedness/ for more information on the 4 steps to disaster-readiness.

Join Eden I&R for a free virtual training that will guide you through 4 steps you can take to prepare for emergencies and disasters. Learn actions you can take now, and ways you can use what you already have to make your own emergency supply kits. Click here to learn more and register.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time when communities across the country team up to bring attention to diabetes. The American Diabetes Association's website offers helpful information on diabetes prevention, as well as tips for thriving after diagnoses.

Did you know? Sugary drinks—like sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks with added sugar, and soda—are a major contributor to the increased rate of diabetes. Choose health. Drink water.

Beyond the immediate health crisis caused by Covid-19, the pandemic and resulting shelter-in-place order and economic downturn have created a variety of secondary stress-related health effects, including overactivity of the biological stress response (toxic stress response), anxiety and depression, mental health deterioration, a rise in domestic violence, increased substance abuse, and greater barriers to accessing healthcare and social resources.

People with a childhood history of abuse, neglect, and/or household dysfunction (Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs) are at an increased risk of comorbidities and chronic diseases in adult life, which are exacerbated by subsequent major stressors.

Click here to read more about how healthcare providers can use ACEs-oriented, trauma-informed care to mitigate negative health effects of secondary stress caused by the Covid-19 pandemic

Looking for a way to make a difference? Eden I&R is seeking new members to join its Board of Directors and provide mission-based leadership, development assistance and strategic governance. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about Eden I&R’s mission and who has relevant skills and leadership experience. Ideal Board Members will have a background in business, government, finance, law, philanthropy, education or the nonprofit sector that allow them to attract funders, partners, program resources and other qualified and committed Board Members. Eden I&R’s Board Members serve a three-year term and are eligible for reappointment for an additional term. Board meetings are held quarterly, and committee meetings are held on a monthly basis as-needed.

If you are interested in board service, please contact Eden I&R’s Executive Director, Alison DeJung, at adejung@edenir.org. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to reach out about this opportunity!

We fondly remember Pam Reuling, a strong advocate for Eden I&R and other local nonprofits, who died on October 29, 2020. Pam was the wife of Ed Reuling (1937 – 2014), who was a Founding Board Member of Eden I&R. She was a regular attendee at agency celebrations such as holiday potlucks and National 2-1-1 Day where she enjoyed talking to all staff. Pam deeply cared about the agency, our staff and family members, and our clients. She often sent donations to support our work with a note saying they were "for Ed's baby," since her husband helped start Eden I&R in 1976. Her kindness and support for underserved community members will be greatly missed. Pam’s family has asked that donations in her memory be made to Family Emergency Shelter Coalition (FESCO) another Hayward-based nonprofit with which Pam was involved.

A man on probation in Berkeley called seeking rental assistance. He had been released from prison after serving 30 years and wanted to know of any additional resources that might help him. 211 staff provided this caller with information on the HELP Flexible Fund that offers single adults who are at risk of becoming homeless help with a one-time emergency assistance. Staff also suggested the caller visit Eden I&R’s Reentry Services Portal at http://reentry.211alamedacounty.org.

For more 211 call examples from October, click here.

4,849 conversations handled*

5,404 referrals provided*

*reflects both calls and two-way texts to 211

71% female

24% single mothers with minor children

55% Living with disabilities

296 agency record updates

473 program record updates

461 units added

1,693 records updated

In October AHIP completed 302 calls and 10 face-to-face meetings with clients, provided 560 housing referrals and 170 referrals to services. 1 client was placed in permanent housing, 5 site visits were conducted, and 6 clients were assisted with Coordinated Entry System navigation and document readiness. Since July 1, 2020, AHIP has provided assistance to 191 unduplicated clients.

30 community web-based meetings & calls attended

39,270 website page views

9,975 website sessions/visitors

Donor Spotlight - The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Eden I&R is honored to be a recipient of a Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life grant, funding us to conduct specialized Disaster Preparedness trainings for people living with paralysis and their caregivers.

The Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by advancing innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis.

Referral Partner Spotlight - Spectrum Community Services, Inc.

Throughout the pandemic, Spectrum has continued to serve meals safely to the senior population at over 13 sites in the East Bay Area. To learn more about Spectrum's senior meal programs and other community services visit https://www.spectrumcs.org/about.