December 2020 E-Newsletter |
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99% Invisible Podcast Features 211 Alameda County: 'The Hotline'
“All the operators told me the best calls – the best days – are when you feel like you actually have something to offer."
Thank you to the 99% Invisible podcast for giving people a window into our world, the challenges our staff face, and the lengths we go to to help where we can. Click here to listen to the full episode.
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East Bay Times Profiles 211 Caller
“I knew that there were resources out there to be had, I just needed to find out what they were. And so I called 211… and from there it was just uphill, really.”
Click here to read a profile about how taking the first step to contact 211 Alameda County proved transformational for one of our callers. This story is part of the East Bay Times' Share the Spirit initiative!
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Stay Home, Save Lives
As #COVID19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in our communities, Alameda County is working to prevent our local hospitals from being overwhelmed. We can get through this together by each of us doing our part to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community. As we continue to face our highest surge of COVID-19 cases, it is crucial now more than ever to follow these guidelines:
Stay home as much as possible, wear a mask whenever you leave home, keep at least 6 feet of distance from anyone you don’t live with, wash your hands frequently, and avoid gathering with other households and traveling
All individuals living in the State of California are currently ordered to stay home or at their place of residence though January 7, 2021, except for permitted work, local shopping or other permitted errands, or as otherwise authorized. For more information on Alameda County's response and services related to COVID-19, please visit covid-19.acgov.org.
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Taking small steps today to prepare for a future disaster can make a big difference, so we partnered with David Haubert, former Mayor of Dublin and now a member-elect of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, 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.
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A Message from Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf
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New Regional Covid-19
Resource Guide
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Be Well: Fight the Flu
The Flu is a virus not a cold. Having the flu can also make people more susceptible to the Covid-19 virus. Covid-19 and the flu are caused by different viruses, but are spread in similar ways. The best ways to protect yourself from getting sick are:
• Get your flu shot now. Flu shots are recommended for everyone over the age of 6 months.
• Wear a face covering and keep 6 feet distance from those not in your household. Limit contact with people you don't live with.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Stay home and away from others if you are sick.
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Free Lyft Jobs Access Rides
A ride can mean the difference between landing a job and a missed opportunity. 211 Alameda County has partnered with United Way and Lyft to help people get to job opportunities. Call 211 to learn how you can access free Lyft rides in Alameda County to help you reach your full potential. Lyft is providing access to rides to job trainings, education classes, interviews, new jobs, and other support services through the end of December 2020.
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New & Improved Housing Website
This month Eden I&R is proud to announce the launch of the new improved AC Housing CHOICES website www.achousingchoices.org, home to ALL active waiting lists for affordable housing in Alameda County. The website contains:
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Improved accessibility features based on best practices and input from local focus group participants in the homeless and mental health community.
- Thoughtful answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” about affordable housing as well as suggestions and solutions to common barriers for maintaining and accessing housing, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Useful links to housing-related services like advocacy, legal aid, deposit assistance, property management companies and affordable developers.
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New search design which provides simpler and easier navigation, and a new look and feel, including photos and directions to the properties.
- Mobile App.
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In Memory of Ilene Weinreb
It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Ilene Weinreb, former Mayor of Hayward and longtime supporter of Eden I&R, who died on November 22.
Ilene served on Eden I&R’s board of directors for many years, and held a few different offices during that time. She then transitioned to an advisory role for the agency for several years. “Ilene was a force, and her legacy lives on in the thousands of people her efforts assisted, especially in the areas of housing and health care,” said Eden I&R’s former Executive Director, Barbara Bernstein.
Always active in her community, Ilene sought out intellectual engagement and community service activities through the League of Women Voters, who assigned her to observe Hayward City Council meetings in the 1960’s. Through this experience, she gained an appreciation of local government and decided to run for city council. She was elected to the city council in 1968, and in 1974 became the first elected female mayor of Hayward.
During her two terms as mayor, Ilene focused on affordable housing and social services. While in government she served on the California Coastal Commission, Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments.
Even after no longer serving in an official capacity with Eden I&R, Ilene consistently included the agency in her annual individual giving. Alison DeJung, the agency’s Executive Director, stated, “We are so grateful for all of the time and energy Ilene devoted to the agency. She will be dearly missed.”
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Eden I&R's AHIP (AIDS Housing Information Project) team first started working with Ernest in 2017. He was homeless and receiving workers' compensation due to a knee injury. AHIP staff worked diligently to find housing within his budget, but the biggest barrier was the shortage of affordable housing.
After almost 3 years of submitting applications to affordable properties, AHIP staff learned that the Housing Authority of the County of Alameda was soliciting referrals for the Mainstream Housing Voucher program, which serves individuals living with a disability between the ages of 18 and 61.
The Mainstream Voucher opened the door to additional housing opportunities but locating housing on the private rental market presented its own challenges. AHIP staff decided that the best strategy was to make sure Ernest would stand out as a qualified and impressive candidate. He received help in assembling a housing portfolio that contained every document he would need, including copies of his ID, social security card, Housing Voucher, income verification, and reference letters as well as a completed rental application to use as a guide. Ernest reported that one property manager in particular commented that she was impressed by how organized he was. A few days later, he heard back from the property manager letting him know that his application was approved.
Ernest is now waiting for the Housing Authority to inspect the apartment, negotiate the rent, and execute his lease and Voucher contract. The HomeStretch Housing Assistance fund will be used for move-in financial assistance, and to provide household furnishings.
Ernest stated that his housing search has been a learning experience as well as a lesson in perseverance and hope, and that having the support of AHIP staff provided him with the encouragement he needed to remain hopeful during his years of homelessness.
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Top needs of callers to 211 Alameda include rental assistance; emergency shelter; food; mortgage payment assistance; emergency financial assistance; mental health; utility assistance; and Covid-19 questions. For 211 call examples from the month of November, click here.
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211 By the Numbers - November 2020 |
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211 Alameda County
5,252 conversations handled*
6,726 referrals provided*
*reflects both calls and two-way texts to 211
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Demographics
72% female
38% single mothers with minor children
52% Living with disabilities
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Average Call Length
3:47 minutes
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Average Wait Time
1:48 minutes
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Services Database
184 agency record updates
370 program record updates
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Housing Database
71 units added
1,311 records updated
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"The 211 staff member was great. She gave me housing referrals
and talked with me briefly about my wellbeing. She shared
info I may have needed and was excellent!
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AHIP (AIDS Housing Information Project) |
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AHIP (AIDS Housing Information Project) offers housing and human services resource referrals to People Living with HIV/AIDS via a designated phone line and through one-on-one, in-person assistance at clinics and AIDS Service Organizations.
In November AHIP completed 275 calls and 8 face-to-face meetings with clients, provided 559 housing referrals and 168 referrals to services. 2 clients were placed in permanent housing, 2 site visits were conducted, and 3 clients were assisted with Coordinated Entry System navigation and document readiness. Since July 1, 2020, AHIP has provided assistance to 215 unduplicated clients.
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26 community web-based meetings & calls attended
24,189 website page views
7,551 website sessions/visitors
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Thank You to Our Partners |
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Partner Spotlight - Alameda County Health Care Services Agency's Outreach/Health Education Program
Eden I&R is proud to partner with Alameda County Health Care Services Agency's Outreach/Health Education Program to support the development of targeted culturally relevant messaging as part of the county’s Covid-19 response. Eden I&R/211 is working with Alameda County Public Health/Health Care Services Agency to develop and adapt Covid-19 messages with a focus on the importance of case investigation/contact tracing engagement, facts, privacy concerns; and prevention strategies such as masking and social distancing. This information is being disseminated in a number of ways including via 211 and Eden I&R’s social media channels. Additionally, 211 continues to track and connect callers to relevant resources including Covid-19 testing sites and vaccine updates.
Visit canotify.ca.gov for more information and the latest campaign to get Covid-19 contact notifications on your phone to Stop the Spread.
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Donor Spotlight - Simpson Strong-Tie
Eden I&R was grateful to be the recipient of a special donation from Simpson Strong-Tie this holiday season. The company usually holds a holiday party at its headquarters each December, but was unable to this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, they donated funds that would have been spent on the party to Eden I&R and another local organization. The company’s facilities around the country also donated their holiday party funds to community organizations.
For more than 60 years, Simpson Strong-Tie has dedicated itself to creating structural solutions and technology to help people design and build safer, stronger homes and buildings. Considered an industry leader in structural systems research, testing and innovation, Simpson Strong-Tie works closely with construction professionals to provide code-listed, field-tested products and value-engineered solutions. From product development and testing to training and engineering and field support, Simpson Strong-Tie is highly committed to our customers’ success. For more information on Simpson Strong-Tie please visit https://www.strongtie.com/
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