News Coverage

Fashion Stars To Attend Santana Row’s 6th Annual Fall Fashion In The Park

TTKN News, August 10, 2010

“Project Runway” Season 7 star Jay Nicolas Sario and designer Donald J. Pliner will make special guest appearances at Fall Fashion in the Park, Santana Row’s 6th annual celebration of fashion & philanthropy. Taking place Friday, September 10 and Saturday, September 11, the event will feature two days of exclusive parties, special shopping & style events and runway shows benefiting four Bay Area non-profits: San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, EHC LifeBuilders, National Charity League and Junior League of San Jose.

Silicon Valley Community Foundation giving $1.3 million to nonprofits

By Eric Messinger, Silicon Valley Mercury News, July 7, 2010

Sixty-five nonprofits in San Mateo and Santa Clara county will receive $1.3 million in grant money from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to further efforts to help provide food, shelter and emergency assistance to their communities, the foundation announced today.

Back to the Fashion: A Sweet Charity

By Sophia Papadopoulos, Helium Magazine, May 5, 2010

A recap of the Rivers of Chocolate event, the article describes how guests enjoyed both the breathtaking views of the valley below and the California sun, as they went on a food Odyssey through all the kiosks of chocolates, pastries, hors d’oeuvres, and gelato, along with sophisticated wine selections and refreshing beer and spirits. An enjoyable day for all!

More than chocolate to flow at Rivers event

By Shannon Burkey, Silicon Valley MercuryNews.com, April 19, 2010

Both the sweet and savory will be plentiful and the libations flowing at the 14th annual Rivers of Chocolate Festival at the Mountain Winery on April 25. The festival, a fundraiser for EHC LifeBuilders, will feature 79 of the Bay Area's best chocolatiers, restaurateurs, winemakers and brewers as they showcase their best desserts, hors d'oeuvres, wines and beers, all for a great cause.

South Bay homeless advocates try all-in-one approach

San Jose Mercury News, Wednesday, December 16, 2009

This article takes a closer look at EHC LifeBuilders "wraparound" services at its One Stop Homeless Prevention Center. Rather than just providing a safe place to rest and a hot meal, receptionists at the center on Little Orchard Street in San Jose can help clients register for veterans' benefits, food stamps and many other services in one office. In the past, people had to trek to different parts of the county by bus to register for food stamps, veteran's medical services and job-hunting classes.

Somber vigil to honor the memory of dozens who die without a home

San Jose Mercury News, Wednesday, December 9, 2009

This article honors the 67 homeless people who died on the streets this year, according to the Santa Clara County coroner. Each year, a list is compiled by EHC LifeBuilders, a leading provider of homeless shelters. On Wednesday, EHC held its annual vigil at the Boccardo Reception Center, where about 150 people gathered to pay respects. A pastor began with a prayer. Then, 10 politicians and nonprofit leaders each solemnly read aloud the names, leaving plenty of room for silence in between.

Homeless Organizations Plan Extra Events To Combat Cold

Bay City News, SF Appeal Online Newspaper, Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Coverage of efforts by local organizations to assist the Bay Area's homeless take on special meaning in San Jose this week as officials gathered this morning for an annual memorial service for those who died on the streets. This year, 67 men and women died while homeless in Santa Clara County.

Cold Brings Plight of Homless Into Focus

KCBS, Mike Colgan Reports, Wednesday, December 9, 2009

This week's unusually cold weather is making conditions even more hazardous for those living on the street, and the city of San Jose held a special remembrance ceremony Wednesday to honor the 67 homeless men and women who have died on the streets this year. EHC LifeBuilders is the largest shelter in the county and CEO Jenny Niklaus said the winter months are especially difficult.

Church offers baseball lore, support for needy

The Gilroy Dispatch, by Chuck Flagg, Wednesday, December 9, 2009

On Saturday, December 12, 2009, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" will offer a chance to hear unique baseball insider information, share a simple meal of pizza and salad and support some worthy charities during this time of need. The Boccardo Family Living Center in San Martin is one of the recipients, and is operated by EHC Lifebuilders. It is more than a simple homeless shelter. It offers comfortable transitional housing as families get their lives together and find permanent homes. Clients receive individualized case management including classes on life skills and English improvement. Children are offered recreation opportunities and tutoring.

Morning News Roundup - 12.09.09: The No Problem Zone...

Watchdog Silicon Valley, December 9, 2009

When you head out to grab a bite today, local elected officials will gather for a memorial service recognizing the 67 men and women who died living on the streets this year. The annual EHC LifeBuilders memorial service is open to the public.

Welcome to winter: South Bay to flirt with record low temperatures on Tuesday

LiveJournal, December 9, 2009

This article notes how San Jose could dip to below freezing. Morgan Hill and Gilroy could see lows in the 20s. That's about 15 degrees below normal for this time of year, and flirting with record lows. With the cold blast continuing, cold-weather homeless shelters in Sunnyvale and Gilroy will be a hot ticket, said Jennifer Van Every, a spokeswoman for EHC LifeBuilders, which runs the shelters at National Guard armories.

With demand rising and temperature dropping, Santa Clara County opens cold weather shelters

San Jose Mercury News, Tuesday, December 1, 2009

This article points out how homeless advocates are certain it's "going to be worse this year." They see it in the high unemployment rate and foreclosure statistics. They tally it in surveys taken on the banks of the Guadalupe River and under freeway overpasses. And on Monday night, they watched it outside the Sunnyvale Armory, where the homeless lined up for a bedroll and a meal.

Fisher: From the shelter to board room

San Jose Mercury News, Monday, November 30, 2009

This article chronicles the launching of Baby Brat Inc. in a homeless shelter by two hard-luck guys who decided it was time to start making some luck of their own. Nearly three years later, the two men have a corporation, a product line, roofs over their heads and big hopes for the future. They just signed a contract to deliver $1.4 million in merchandise.

Hope for the Holidays

Gentry Magazine, December, 2009.

This article reminds us about those in our community who lack the means to provide for their families and themselves. For many, homelessness is a brand new reality. This month, Gentry salutes some of the dozens of organizations working tirelessly to reach out to those in our South Bay community who have fallen on hard times perhaps the hardest of all. Despite a tough economic time of their own — with need on the rise (up more than 40 percent in some cases) and funds more difficult to come by — these community leaders and leading organizations persevere for the sake of those whose need is greater.

The magic of giving comes from the smiles

Morgan Hill Times, Friday, November 20, 2009.

This past week, the Morgan Hill Community Foundation with co-sponsor Pacific Gas & Electric hosted their 4th annual Philanthropy Day Luncheon to honor such philanthropists in our community. More than 120 individuals attended the luncheon, recognizing the tremendous philanthropic contributions of time and resources from representatives in 20 different non-profit organizations.

Faces of Foreclosure

Mercury News, Tuesday, November 10, 2009.

Mercury News special coverage in video format on the "Faces of Foreclosure." The most recent video features Joe Russo, Program Manager for Housing Services Pertnership for EHC LifeBuilders. Joe speaks about the clientele at the shelters, and how they have changed and evolved since prior to the recession, at the beginning of the recession, and now.

Editorial: Generous gifts to shelter are an inspiration

Mercury News Editorial, Wednesday, October 15, 2009.

As wind and pounding rain swept into San Jose this week, 125 people who otherwise would have been huddled in doorways or under bridges found warm beds at the EHC LifeBuilders shelter — thanks solely to the generosity of two Silicon Valley families. What a marvelous feeling it must have been for Joe and Michele Costello and for Ajay Shah and Lata Krishnan as they watched that rain, knowing that the $100,000 checks each couple had written prevented so much misery.

Homeless shelter beds to remain open after high tech couples invest in community

Mercury News, by Julia Prodis Sulek, Wednesday, October 14, 2009.

Unbeknown to each other, two high-tech couples living in Los Altos donated $100,000 this week to keep all 250 beds open through the winter at the Boccardo Reception Center on the southern edge of downtown San Jose. The donations come when the homeless need them most, allowing the shelter to reopen all the beds Monday — in the midst of the biggest storm to hit the Bay Area this season.

October 1 Readers' Letters

Mercury News, Readers' Letters, Wednesday, September 30, 2009.

Profiles a letter from a Mercury News reader regarding the reduction of shelter beds for the homeless due to local government and homeless service providers embracing a "Housing First" model that seeks to end, rather than maintain, homelessness. This model works by placing people into housing first and then addressing the underlying causes of their homelessness through intensive case management, such as the One Stop Homeless Prevention Centers run by EHC LifeBuilders and InnVision.

EHC plans to close half its emergency shelter beds

Mercury News, by Julia Prodis Sulek, Monday, September 28, 2009.

The EHC LifeBuilders shelter says it must cut half its beds, eventually offering only 125 a night. Starting Thursday, shelter officials will reduce the number of available beds by five every night until Oct. 25 to save on the costs of laundry, hot meals and overnight staff. The move, which will significantly reduce the total number of local beds for the homeless, is the latest sign of financial difficulty for the shelter's operator, EHC LifeBuilders

Fisher: A safe place to heal for homeless patients in Silicon Valley

Mercury News, by Patty Fisher, Monday, August 10, 2009.

This article describes the benefits of the Medical Respite Center, which offers homeless people a place where they can recuperate from surgery or broken bones, to gain strength while undergoing cancer treatment. The 15-bed center, one of only a handful in the country, is in a wing of the Boccardo Reception Center in San Jose, a one-stop homeless servicescenter run by EHC LifeBuilders. A collaborative including EHC, Santa Clara County and nine private hospitals supports it.

One man's effort to help the homeless

Milpitas Post, by Shannon Barry, Saturday, July 29, 2009. Part two of a two-part series.

This article highlights the struggle of Carlton Mobley in his quest to overcome and help others who are lost, abandoned or struggling to clean up their act along life's way.

Milpitas organization humanizes 2009 homeless census

Milpitas Post, by Shannon Barry, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Part one of a two-part series.

Ray Bramson, director of development for EHC Lifebuilders in Milpitas, met as a chance to humanize the recent statistics and results behind Santa Clara County's 2009 Homeless Census and Survey.

Report: Chronic homelessness soars in Santa Clara County, but overall number without homes dips

mercurynews.com, by Lisa Fernandez, Friday, June 26, 2009

There's a bit of good news with this year's Santa Clara County homeless survey: Census takers found a 2 percent dip in the number of homeless people compared with two years ago, and only 1 percent reported being forced out of their homes because of foreclosure. And, a bit of bad news: The number of chronically homeless people rose by 35 percent, and the number of homeless people who admit to abusing drugs and alcohol rose from 30 to 41 percent.

New EHC Lifebuilders chief focusing on finances

mercurynews.com, Sunnyvale Sun, by Cody Kraatz, Wednesday, March 4, 2009

EHC Lifebuilders, which runs the cold weather shelter at the Sunnyvale National Guard Armory, announced last week that it had appointed Jenny Niklaus as its new CEO. According to an EHC statement. "Jenny's successful nonprofit track record, organizational and fundraising experience and deep understanding of homeless and poverty issues make her ideally suited to lead EHC and strengthen our mission and goals," said Phil Gregory, chair of EHC's board.

Homeless man turns successful entrepreneur

San Francisco Chronicle, C.W. Nevius, Saturday, February 21, 2009

One year ago, Groves was sleeping in parks and vacant cars, and ate at the Salvation Army lunch counter. He told everyone he had "some genius ideas." He was going to start a business, he said. All he needed was a little help - some guidance and encouragement.

Largest homeless provider outgrows itself

KGO-TV, San Francisco, ABC Channel 7, Wednesday, February 18, 2009

San Jose, CA - One of Santa Clara County's oldest and largest providers of homeless services is in the middle of a major reorganization. After a rapid expansion it is now downsizing back to the basics as its role in the community changes. Click here to watch the video.

Homeless Teen Blogger Gets Help: A teen’s blog helped her and her mom finally get a place to live

KGO-TV, San Francisco, ABC Channel 7, Thursday, January 8, 2009, by Karina Rusk

Campbell, CA - In December, we told you about a South Bay teenager who has been blogging about being homeless. She and her mother are still living in their car and motel rooms, but that may soon change. Click here to watch the video.

Eastside/Westside looks back at 2008

Mercury News, Silicon Valley, Saturday, December 30, 2008, by Joe Rodriguez

A column about people who have never been in the news can't leave readers hanging at the end of the year, wondering whatever happened to some of them. So here they are, Eastsiders and Westsiders of 2008 who filled this space with joy and sorrow, new ideas and old songs.

December 21 Letters to the Editor

Mercury News, Silicon Valley, Saturday, December 20, 2008, Letters

Features a letter to the editor by Jennifer Loving, Interim CEO EHC LifeBuilders entitled "With hard times, more homelessness" that comments on the December 18 Mercury News coverage of the homeless memorial held by EHC LifeBuilders.

55 homeless people died on the streets of Santa Clara County this year — a record high

Mercury News, Silicon Valley, Thursday, December 18, 2008, by Linda Goldston

They were single and married, young and old, from San Jose and parts unknown. What tied them together is how they died: cold and alone on the streets of Silicon Valley, their lives now statistics, their stories never told. There were 55 of them, men and women as young as 18, as old as 76, all homeless people who died this year — more than ever before in Santa Clara County, according to the coroner's office. Forty-one people died on streets — in a park, on a bench or tucked beneath a freeway overpass — last year.

Editorial: Homeless deaths are shocking -- or should be

Mercury News, Silicon Valley, Thursday, December 18, 2008

Amid the wealth of Silicon Valley, one human being each week dies alone, homeless, on the streets — 55 so far in 2008, whose final fortnight appears destined for freezing temperatures and for rain that most of us will watch, warm and cozy, through curtained windows. The number is up from last year. It will grow in 2009, with a recession as chilling as this week's weather. We have to act. Long term, Santa Clara County and San Jose have a plan to diminish or even end homelessness by getting people into housing with services to keep them there. It has worked elsewhere, and ultimately it saves the public a fortune. But it will take a substantial upfront investment, most likely from corporations and foundations.

Cold-weather shelter opens in Sunnyvale

Sunnyvale Sun, Wednesday, December 10, 2008, by Cody Kraatz

The cold weather shelter at the Sunnyvale National Guard Armory opened last week in the midst of a recession and housing downturn that threatens to exacerbate some of the perennial causes of homelessness.

Gilroy Program Gives Shelter and Hope to Homeless

Morgan Hill Observer, Monday, December 1, 2008, by Jessica Fromm

Homeless individuals in South County will now have the option of going to the National Guard armory in Gilroy for a warm place to sleep this winter. Run by nonprofit EHC Lifebuilders, the cold weather shelter at 8940 Wren Avenue in Gilroy will be open every night from 6pm to 6am through the end of March. Because of the current recession and foreclosure crisis, EHC has seen a 12 percent increase in emergency shelter stays in Silicon Valley within the last quarter. Many people accessing these services are facing homelessness for the first time.

Seasonal homeless shelters open in Santa Clara County

San Jose Mercury News, Monday, December 1, 2008, by Sandra Gonzales

With chilly weather finally here, seasonal shelters in Gilroy and Sunnyvale opened Monday night. This could be a particularly bustling winter for the seasonal shelters. Santa Clara County's year-round shelter has seen a 12 percent increase in visitors, many of them homeless for the first time. Both shelters will be open from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. seven days a week at the National Guard armories at 8940 Wren Avenue in Gilroy and 620 East Maude Avenue in Sunnyvale.

South Bay cities open cold shelters

Lisa Amin, ABC Channel 7, Monday, December 1, 2008

With more Californians losing their jobs and their homes, unexpected faces are turning-up at Bay Area shelters. There are people who have never needed that kind of help before. Two temporary shelters opened for the winter in the South Bay, but it's not enough. Click here for online article and video.

Sunnyvale Armory Becomes Homeless Shelter

Channel 2, KTVU, Monday, December 1, 2008

The National Guard Armory in Sunnyvale transformed Monday into a homeless shelter. Emergency Housing Consortium LifeBuilders, a non-profit organization, runs the shelter. Officials say there has been a 12-percent increase in shelter stays since last year.

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