LA Times’ Housing for Health Article

LA Times’ Housing for Health Article

At the moment, Housing for Health has about 17,000 clients, and their care and management is provided by dozens of agencies, including nonprofits under county oversight. For the many who have serious and even terminal health conditions, a medical team led by Behforouz makes house calls, and I’ll have more on that in the next column.

Like so many people who end up on the street, Sauceda had a rough start in life. He doesn’t know his parents and described his childhood like this: “Whatever facility had a spot for me is where I went, basically.”

Sauceda was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. As an adult living on the streets, mostly in little dens he carved out in secret places around Pasadena, he got into multiple fights with other homeless people and cops.

Sauceda got hooked on drugs. His heart was failing. He was diagnosed as HIV-positive. He’s just about blind in one eye. In his lowest moments, he says, he tried “jumping off of [things] and throwing myself in front of vehicles,” but all he accomplished was to bang himself up.

“Sean has 25 lives,” said Sieglinde von Deffner, Housing for Health’s skid row coordinator.

She was at Sauceda’s Inglewood apartment along with two colleagues who have looked in on him over the years — Patricia Nwaekeke and Beatrice Tan.

It’s not uncommon for social workers to have years-long relationships with homeless people. The goal is to stay connected, monitor clients’ welfare and earn their trust, building toward a time when housing is available and the client is ready.

Von Deffner — who along with her husband has a weekend lunch with Sauceda a couple of times a month — met him about 15 years ago while doing outreach for a nonprofit called Housing Works. She and then-colleague Shawn Morrissey, another of Sauceda’s angels, ended up at Union Station Homeless Services in Pasadena, the city where Sauceda spent most of his years while homeless.

Read the full article in the Los Angeles Times.

Union Station Homeless Services Announces  New Board Officers

Union Station Homeless Services Announces New Board Officers

Union Station Homeless Services announced today the organization’s new Board of Directors Officers effective July 1, 2022, and the election of new members since the last officer installation. 

Serving as Chair will be Jesse Torres, Principal, ArroyoWest, LLC, with Maxine Harris, Vice President and Senior Trust Officer, Bank of the West, continuing her role as Vice Chair and Eric “Tony” Gronroos, CPA, Hinton, Kreditor & Gronroos, LLP, continuing in his role as Treasurer.  Angela Serranzana, Hackler Flynn and Associates will serve as Secretary.  Charles Thuss, Chief Financial Officer, Inter-Con Security Systems is returning to the board as Assistant Secretary & Treasurer.

“Now is a critical time in the homeless sector.  We need strong and committed leaders to guide us as we continue our mission to end homelessness and rebuild lives,” states Anne Miskey, CEO Union Station Homeless Services. “We are looking forward to the contributions of our Officers and entire Board as they are guided by the belief that everyone deserves a life of dignity and a place to call home.” 

New Board Members elected since the last Officer installation include Jordan Corngold, Retired Music Editor, Warner Bros; Rita Diaz, Partner/Chair of Litigation Department, Hahn & Hahn, LLP; Dr. Katharine Harrington, Professor Emerita, USC, Marshall School of Business; Jordan Rettig, Chief Pharmacist, Ramona Pharmacy Group; Bill Ticknor, Partner, Locke Lord, LLP; and, Steven Townsend, Managing Director, Market Leader, Wells Fargo Advisors.

# # #

Union Station Homeless Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to providing permanent solutions to end homelessness and rebuild lives. Headquartered in Pasadena, CA, Union Station has been in existence for almost 50 years. Union Station is the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families.  Recently expanding into El Sereno and Eagle Rock, we are the lead county agency for Service Planning Area 3 (SPA 3), coordinating homeless services in 36 communities, with a combined population of over 1.5 million across the San Gabriel Valley. Our mission is guided by the belief that everyone deserves a life of dignity and a place to call home.  For more information, visit www.unionstationhs.org

LAist Articles About the Effects of Inflation

LAist Articles About the Effects of Inflation

Inflation has hit a 40-year high and is affecting the ability of homelessness service providers to provide basic needs like food and shelter.

Over the last 12 months, from May 2021 to May 2022, food prices have risen 10.1%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means food budgets aren’t going as far as they used to and providers, like Union Station Homeless Services, are having to get more creative, even resorting to creating Amazon wish lists for donations.

Union Station Homeless Services’ Chef Marisa said she is doing an economic version of the show “Chopped” to work with the food they have and combat rising costs and meat shortages.

“Everything is getting so expensive that I have to find creative ways to create a dish where the people won’t miss the meat,” Chef Marisa said. This approach led to her creating a new potato chicken cheesy taco dish. “They notice the difference but in a positive way.”

Read the full story on LAist.

Bank of America Awards $35,000 Grant to US

Bank of America Awards $35,000 Grant to US

Union Station Homeless Services announced today that it has been awarded a generous $35,000 grant from Bank of America. The grant will support Union Station Homeless Services’ mission of ending homelessness and rebuilding lives in the Pasadena, San Gabriel Valley and Northeast Los Angeles. 

The need to help end homelessness is more important than ever before, as the 2022 Pasadena Homeless Count revealed Seniors over age 62 comprise 15% of the total unhoused population and three out of four (72%) of seniors surveyed cited financial reasons as a contributing factor to their experience of homelessness.

“Even though the numbers are alarming, we are making a difference with the generous help of organizations like Bank of America.  Fewer people reported experiencing homelessness in Pasadena for the first time in 2022—9% down from 19% in 2020. This drop highlights the successes of COVID-related interventions such as Project HomeKey, expanded motel voucher programs and increased financial assistance programs that kept people housed during the pandemic,” stated Anne Miskey, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services.

“Union Station Homeless Services does an incredible job helping to provide shelter for the unhoused and programs to help end homelessness. The private sector can play a role to help alleviate homelessness and get people back on stable economic footing,” said Raul Anaya, President, Bank of America Los Angeles.

As part of Bank of America’s long-time support of Union Station, this grant is part of the Bank’s commitment to help address barriers to basic needs, workforce development, and education. 

# # #

Union Station Homeless Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to providing permanent solutions to end homelessness and rebuild lives. Headquartered in Pasadena, CA, Union Station has been in existence for almost 50 years. Union Station is the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families.  Recently expanding into El Sereno and Eagle Rock, we are the lead county agency for Service Planning Area 3 (SPA 3), coordinating homeless services in 36 communities, with a combined population of over 1.5 million across the San Gabriel Valley. Our mission is guided by the belief that everyone deserves a life of dignity and a place to call home.  For more information, visit www.unionstationhs.org.

Changing the Narrative: Aging Without a Home Webinar

Changing the Narrative: Aging Without a Home Webinar

Changing the Narrative: Aging Without a Home Webinar Tackles the Issues of a Growing Population of Homeless Seniors

California is facing an unprecedented crisis of people in their 50s, 60s and 70s living on our streets.  A recent study* found people over 50 now account for half of unhoused adults and nearly half became homeless for the first time after the age of 50.

The upcoming Changing the Narrative Series: Aging Without a Home on Thursday, May 26th, 12 noon to 1:30 pm will directly address the unique challenges of an aging homeless population. Register to join the Zoom webinar at https://unionstationhs.org/CNS8M and learn about the implications of older adults becoming a growing proportion of the homeless population.

“Tragically, 90 percent of unsheltered older adults lived in Los Angeles County prior to becoming unsheltered. These are our neighbors who have lived and worked in our communities for years but now are being forced out into the streets in their senior years,” states Anne Miskey, CEO, Union Station Homeless Services.

Anne Miskey, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services, will moderate a panel of three experts to explore if, as a society, we are ready for the more complex needs of older adults being unsheltered.

Yelba Carrillo, Ed.D – Sr Manager, Homeless Systems Change (Seniors) Home for Good, United Way
Yelba Carrillo has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector working with the Older Adult, Veteran, and the LGBTQIA+ communities in Los Angeles. Her experience includes community organization, planning, administration, and direct service.  She has been with United Way of Greater Los Angeles since 2020 and in the last year co-authored and oversaw the implementation of United Way’s The Older Adult Strategy: A Roadmap of Strategic System Investments to End Homelessness Among Older Adults in LA. 

Dr. Dennis Culhane, Professor, School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania
Dennis Culhane is a social science researcher with primary expertise in the area of homelessness and assisted housing policy. His research has focused on using linked administrative data to gain a better understanding about the service utilization patterns of vulnerable populations, including youth exiting foster care and/or juvenile justice, as well as the individuals aged 55 and older who are experiencing homelessness.

Alfred “AJ” Johnson, Lived Expertise Advocate and Retired Journeyman Carpenter
As a man with lived expertise, AJ brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to this panel discussion around the growing epidemic that is Senior Homelessness. A 72-year-old who is retired and on a fixed income, AJ had rented a room in a large house for $850 where he shared a bathroom and kitchen with the other tenants. After his landlord evicted everyone to subdivide the rooms, AJ lived in a van for two years. Currently he is living in his own apartment with supportive services in Arcadia.

“To truly meet the needs of the individual, we must also address and educate the public about social issues that are at the root of homelessness. Our call to action is encapsulated in the series name and is the goal of each session — Changing the Narrative,” stated Anne Miskey, CEO Union Station Homeless Services.

This is the eighth in the Changing the Narrative Series, a free educational series created by Union Station Homeless Services to deepen community understanding of homelessness and housing. Recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the Most Innovative Awareness Campaign within the Los Angeles community, recordings of past webinars and action resource guides can be accessed at https://unionstationhs.org/changing-the-narrative-series/.

# # #

 
Union Station Homeless Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to
providing permanent solutions to end homelessness and rebuild lives. Headquartered in
Pasadena, CA, Union Station has been in existence for almost 50 years. Union Station is the San
Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and
families.  Recently expanding into El Sereno and Eagle Rock, we are the lead county agency for
Service Planning Area 3 (SPA 3), coordinating homeless services in 36 communities, with a
combined population of over 1.5 million across the San Gabriel Valley. Our mission is guided by
the belief that everyone deserves a life of dignity and a place to call home.  For more
information, visit www.unionstationhs.org.

*”Aging Among the Homeless Population: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions”
Study by UC San Francisco expert Dr. Margot Kushel

Amanda Green Promoted to Chief Operations Officer

Pasadena, CA April 12, 2021 – Union Station Homeless Services announced today that Amanda Green has been promoted to Chief Operations Officer reporting directly to CEO Anne Miskey as senior member of the organization’s Executive Team.

In this new role, she will continue to oversee and expand the work of her 18-person team which is responsible for Volunteer Services, IT, Food Services, Facilities & Capital Improvements, Office Administration, Event Management and In-Kind Donations.

“Amanda Green has continuously demonstrated her commitment to the mission and values of Union Station, as well as shown true excellence in her work,” said Anne Miskey, CEO. “She is a valued asset to our leadership team and will continue to help us end homelessness for our neighbors in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley.”

Ms. Green has been with Union Station since 2012, and during that time she has held several key positions, including Development Manager, Associate Director of Development, Director of Operations and Sr. Director of Operations.  In addition, she served as Event Director and then Executive Event Director for Masters of Taste, a premier outdoor food and beverage festival with 100 % of the event proceeds benefiting Union Station.  

Prior to joining Union Station, Ms. Green worked at Stone House, a safe haven for adult and child survivors of domestic abuse, as the Development Assistant, Development & Community Relations Coordinator, Assistant Director of Development and Interim Director of Development.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Boston University as well as Graduate Certificates in Professional Fundraising from Boston University and Non Profit Management from University of Texas, Austin.

Changing the Narrative Series: Broken Systems, Not Broken People

The rise in homelessness is the result of decades of policy choices, not bad choices by those experiencing homelessness. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the number of homeless will skyrocket. Now is the time to refocus attention on making fundamental changes to the systems in order to address this dire situation.

Recognizing that our systems have failed people, Changing the Narrative Series: Broken Systems, Not Broken People is a webinar conversation that will delve into the systemic changes needed to end the homeless crisis. The event will take place on April 29 from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Register at: https://unionstationhs.org/event/changing-the-narrative-series-broken-systems-not-broken-people/.

Moderating the webinar will be Anne Miskey, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services (the leading homeless services provider for 32 cities throughout the San Gabriel Valley). She will be leading the discussion with three prominent panelists who will discuss how broken systems, not broken people, are the causes of homelessness and how to change those systems to be equitable for all members of society.

Nan Roman, President and CEO at National Alliance to End Homelessness – Nan will examine the pending changes and resources available to positively impact the critical lack of societal safety nets on a national level.

Chris Ko, Vice President of Impact & Strategy at United Way of Greater Los Angeles – Chris will discuss how we can address the barriers as well as the shortage of housing units in the Los Angeles region.

Cynthia Kirby, Administrative Assistant First Baptist Church Pasadena, LEAP member, Union Station Homeless Services Board of Directors – Cynthia will share her experience with the broken systems that led to her experience of being homeless.

This is the fourth in the Changing the Narrative Series, a free educational series created by Union Station Homeless Services to deepen community understanding of homelessness and housing. Recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the Most Innovative Awareness Campaign within the Los Angeles community, recording of past webinars and action resource guides can be accessed at https://unionstationhs.org/changing-the-narrative-series/.

Weekly Lunches for Unhoused Residents Aim to Fight More than Hunger at Garfield Park

A small group of compassionate activists has been doing on a weekly basis at Garfield Park in South Pasadena. Anne Bagasao and Fahren James — who are cofounders and members of the South Pasadena Tenants Union and Black Lives Matter South Pasadena respectively — conceived the idea in early January, after successfully hosting large-scale food & donation drives last year during the holidays. “When I saw how grateful and how happy the folks that we were serving (were), it just occurred to me that I could do more,” Bagasao tells the South Pasadenan News.

She reflects that when she started, it was worth it “to cook a hot meal for several of the guys or make sandwiches and take (it) to them once a week.” It wasn’t just enough, she says, to show up on Thanksgiving and Christmas and tell them “you’re own your own for another 12 months.” Bagasao then conferred with local unhoused residents to agree on Mondays to meet at the park.

Marina Ella Rodriguez, Union Station Homeless Services housing navigator.

 

Also present was Marina Ella Rodriguez, a housing navigator for Union Station Homeless Services who oversees both South Pasadena and Arcadia. “I do outreach in those two cities, case management & referrals, and housing plans for individuals who are experiencing homelessness,” Rodriguez explained. Performing outreach weekly through conduits like Shower of Hope and programs at Holy Family Church, her relationship with many of the citizens in attendance preceded the lunches in the park.

 

Establishing trust is essential and Rodriguez hopes to build a rapport and continue to fortify those relationships, her end goal being getting them closer to housing. Gathering vital information from those in attendance, she expressed gratitude to the organizers, “I think it really helps individuals who are experiencing homelessness feel like a part of the community, it makes them feel welcome and accepted… that makes a huge change in terms of their motivation.”

 

Shawn Morrissey Promoted to Senior Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement at Union Station Homeless Services

 

Union Station Homeless Services announced today the promotion of Shawn Morrissey, to Senior Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement, as a senior member of the organization’s Executive Team reporting directly to CEO Anne Miskey.

 

In this role, Shawn continues to lead the advocacy work of Union Station, advocating for best practices and policies around homelessness, service provision, housing, and housing accessibility and sustainability. He also heads up USHS’s Advocacy Committee, as well as the Lived Expertise Advisory Panel (LEAP), a diverse group of current and formerly unhoused individuals who share insights on decision making and policies at the organization, county, and state level.  

Shawn is a licensed California State Substance Use Disorder Specialist and also holds a Harm Reduction Certificate from York University in Toronto, Canada. As a practitioner of the Housing First model, Shawn brings his experience and knowledge of the best practices and evidence-based models that are crucial to solving homelessness and creating stability and sustainability in vulnerable populations. In his daily work, Shawn continues to expand the department to further influence public opinion on issues related to housing, ending homelessness, and creating accessible and effective resources for all people 

“Shawn brings extensive knowledge of the issues involved in addressing homelessness, with 17 years of experience in the field of homeless advocacy, service provision, and social justice,” said Anne Miskey, CEO.  “When you couple this expertise with his unique perspective as a trauma survivor who experienced homelessness, you have the ideal person to build the bridge between marginalized and vulnerable communities and faith and civic leaders, the police, elected officials, and the broader community.”

 

Having worked at Union Station Homeless Services from 2004 to 2008, Shawn returned in 2015 to run several of the Permanent Supportive Housing Programs, as the Associate Director of Permanent Supportive Housing. Interim to that, he served as Program Manager at Housing Works where he worked alongside and mentored under Los Angeles Homeless services pioneer, Mollie Lowery. 

A Way Home Webinar Is A Community Conversation About Housing and Homelessness in El Sereno

 

EL SERENO, CA — Union Station Homeless Services, in partnership with the office of LA City Councilmember Kevin de León and National Community Renaissance, are hosting a webinar for the residents of El Sereno.  A Way Home: A Community Conversation about housing and homelessness in El Sereno will was held on February 10 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm.  For more information and to register, go to LINK.

This community webinar will explore the questions of who is experiencing homelessness in El Sereno; What is being done to end homelessness in our neighborhood; What else still needs to be done; and how can you help?

The five expert panelists include Councilmember Kevin de León, El Sereno Council District 14; Henry Lo, Mayor Pro Tem, Monterey Park; Steve PonTell, CEO, National Community Renaissance Anne Miskey, CEO, Union Station Homeless Services; and Shawn Morrissey, Senior Director of Advocacy, Union Station Homeless Services.

The goal of the webinar and Q&A session is to dispel myths and misconceptions about homelessness and promote a culture of inclusion and community in support of housing solutions in the community.

“We are proud to be part of the conversation and effort in El Sereno to address the issue of homelessness in a holistic manner.”“As a community, we can address homelessness through a coordinated approach that both maintains the wonderful heritage of the El Sereno community and addresses interim and permanent housing solutions.” – said Anne Miskey, CEO Union Station Homeless Services

 

Union Station Homeless Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to providing permanent solutions to end homelessness and rebuild lives. Headquartered in Pasadena, Ca, Union Station is the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. Union Station Homelessness Services has been in existence for almost 50 years. We are the lead county agency for SPA 3, coordinating homeless services in 32 communities, with a combined population of over 1.5 million across the San Gabriel Valley. Our mission is guided by the belief that everyone deserves a life of dignity and a place to call home.  For more information, visit www.unionstationhs.org.