Housing 1000 is collaborative working to house 1,000 of the most vulnerable homeless men and women in our community. EHC LifeBuilders leads Housing 1000′s Care Coordination Project, where clients receive intensive case management services along with permanent housing. Housing 1000 just launched an ambitious new initiative to house 257 chronically homeless individuals within 100 days. EHC LifeBuilders has committed to house 60 of them. Jennifer Loving, Executive Director for Destination: Home and Housing 1000 campaign partner, originally wrote this article for the Housing 1000 blog. 

The Next 100 Days…

In May, Santa Clara County was invited to send a Housing 1000 delegation to the 100,000 Homes / Rapid Results Bootcamp in Chicago.  During the conference our national partners challenged us to find new ways to accelerate our housing placement goal and to use that work to set an aggressive 100-day housing target.

Our team worked diligently over the week and came away unanimously recommending a bold new goal of housing 257 chronically homeless men and women, with 48% being chronically homeless veterans, in the next 100 DAYS.

How can we possibly do this in the most expensive rental market with one of the smallest vacancy rates in America?

The simple answer is teamwork, collaboration, and a common goal.  In Chicago, our Housing 1000 non profit cohort worked side by side with our government partners – the Veterans Administration, the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara, the City of San Jose, and the County of Santa Clara.  We set concrete goals to eliminate duplicative efforts and worked together towards reducing processes that have historically increased the time it takes to move someone from the street to a home.

We also looked at ways we can better coordinate securing rental units and improving the process of moving folks into housing.  From rental subsidies to security deposits, allocating flexible housing funds to increased and targeted case management – and all with tangible outcomes and measurements.  We have a strong and mighty team who are willing to do whatever it takes. 

– Jennifer Loving

For EHC, this is a strong call to action.  Please join us as we move through the next 100 days – you can follow our progress on social media through Facebook (EHC LifeBuilders and Housing 1000) and on twitter @ehclifebuilders or @Housing1000, using the hashtag #100days257homes.

Thousands of homeless men and women in the streets of Silicon Valley are counting on us to continually work harder to end chronic homelessness as fast as we possibly can.

The weather was beautiful, the tastings were delectable, and the crowd was enchanting. In short, Rivers of Chocolate 2013 was a success! EHC LifeBuilders extends a heartfelt thanks to the generous Sponsors, Participants, Volunteers, Committee, Board, Advisory Council, and Staff who made this magical day possible. Your attendance and participation at Rivers of Chocolate ensures that EHC can continue to provide life-saving programs for the most vulnerable homeless adults, families, and children in Santa Clara County. Thank You!

This volume of Off The Street features EHC’s’ work with homeless youth and gives a sneak peek into Rivers of Chocolate 2013.

A 20-year veteran of direct service, Niklaus has built a career working with the most vulnerable populations in the community. As CEO of EHC LifeBuilders, she oversees a staff of more than 80 people at seven sites and a $9 million operating budget.

With nearly 800 homeless youth living in Santa Clara County on any given night, the Sobrato House Youth Center provides critical shelter and connection to a medical home for this population. Did you know that the majority of homeless youth in Santa Clara County see themselves getting off the street eventually? With your help we can make this vision a reality. Visit our program today and learn how!

To schedule a tour of Sobrato House, please contact our Community Relations Specialist at egriswold@ehclifebuilders.org or (408) 539-2143.

“With the housing prices here, it’s ridiculously difficult to get somebody housed – almost impossible,” says Hilary Barroga, with EHC LifeBuilders, one of the local groups participating in the program.”

“EHC LifeBuilders has made contact with 2,500 people, developed a close enough relationship with 438 to have their names put in a database, and helped place 64 into permanent housing during the two years of the outreach program.”

The date is set. EHC LifeBuilders will host the 17^th annual premier wine, chocolate, and savory tasting event in Northern California, on Sunday, April 28, 2013, at The Mountain Winery in Saratoga.

Purchase Your Tickets Today!

The proceeds from Rivers of Chocolate support the life-saving programs of EHC LifeBuilders, a leading provider of shelter and services for homeless adults, families, and children in Santa Clara County. To learn more about this event click here.

“I was so glad to be out of the cold,” he said while helping out at the National Guard Armory, the agency’s shelter in Sunnyvale. “They saved my life.”

Become a Learning Assistant Today!

EHC LifeBuilders is seeking dedicated volunteers to enhance family and children services at our Family Living Centers. As a Learning Assistant you will join a team of dedicated volunteers who work weekly with formerly homeless youth and adults to improve their learning.

Activities range from after school tutoring to educational workshops that help families improve their stability. To sign up, contact our Community Relations Specialist at egriswold@ehclifebuilders.org or (408) 539-2143.

Click here for more information on this opportunity.