Outreach
In February 2021, a collaborative city and nonprofit team made up of: SFHOT, VA, Felton ICM and EMS6, worked together to house a vulnerable senior with schizophrenia who had been homeless in the Mission for 45 years. Bob* experienced homelessness when his first episode of schizophrenia began at the age of 30 years old. He lost everything: his job, family and stability. When Bob initially became homeless, he lived in his van for several years until he became ill and unable to maintain his vehicle. Through the journey of his return to stabilization, and outreach from SFHOT, Bob was in and out of hospital stays until the VA found Bob a SIP which could accommodate his ADL’s. After many attempts of housing offers, Bob successfully moved into the permanent supportive housing.
Problem Solving
Tanya* a mother escaping domestic violence with two young children came to San Francisco seeking a better life. She and her children spent five months at the Hamilton Family Shelter. Overwhelmed and struggling, she reached out to her mother in Georgia, who in turn contacted Homeward Bound for help. In a matter of days, Homeward Bound was able to get Tanya and her children safely on a Greyhound bus home to Georgia. Tanya called her Homeward Bound case manager from every state until she was reunited with her grateful mother. Once a client is reunited with friends, family or loved ones, Homeward Bound follows-up with phone calls and outreach.
Coordinated Entry
Barry*, a San Francisco native, recently moved into his new home after experiencing homelessness for over two years. After his divorce, Barry alternated between couch-surfing, staying in shelters, and living on the streets. He suffered a stroke, which resulted in him having significantly limited mobility and difficulty speaking. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Barry received a room at a Shelter-in-Place hotel operated by Episcopal Community Services. With the assistance of Adult Coordinated Entry, he secured permanent supportive housing, and he says he is delighted to “move forward and live my life” now that he has housing stability.
Shelter
Kelly* was excited to pick new baby blue sheets for her first night at the City’s newly opened Lower Polk TAY (18-24) Navigation Center. She’s looking forward to taking advantage of the services offered through Third Street Youth Center & Clinic and Success Centers and one day hopes to attend law school here in San Francisco.
Housing
Over the holidays we were able to transition, Brenda*, a 59 year old woman, who had been homeless her entire life, from a SIP hotel into permanent supportive housing. Brenda signed her lease on December 30th and rang in the new year in her new home. One of Brenda’s greatest joys is finally being able to cook again. Nonprofit Brilliant Corners provided the woman with kitchenware and she was able to cook her favorite dish, collard greens. As an older homeless woman who uses a walker, Brenda struggled on the streets and had trouble hanging onto her belongings and phone. Today, with stable permanent housing, Brenda is grateful to make homecooked meals to drop off for her friends.
Housing Ladder
Fareedah Shabazz, the first tenant housed via Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool, had been back and forth between homelessness and incarceration for ten years, and most recently was residing at a Shelter-In-Place (SIP) Hotel in San Francisco. Despite barriers to housing, Fareedah’s case managers and housing coordinators worked diligently to ensure Fareedah was welcomed to her new home with open arms.
When longtime San Francisco landlord Wayne H. got a call from Brilliant Corners, a non-profit partner in the City’s Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool, he was intrigued. Wayne initially decided to limit his entry into the Flex Pool housing portfolio with just two vacant 1-bedroom apartments. “Sometimes people just need a helping hand,” says Wayne. Now, there is a growing, successful partnership between Wayne and Brilliant Corners. “If I had a concern, Brilliant Corners was hands on and responsive and that made the Flex Pool appealing to me,” explains Wayne. “Property managers don’t want to marginalize the tenants. We want to cultivate trust and sometimes a third party helps with that.” Today, Wayne has 20 rental units in the City’s Flex Pool program and he shares his positive Flex Pool landlord experience with other landlords. “It feels good to be helping and changing lives by getting people into housing,” says Wayne. “We’re all just people and everyone needs a place to call home.”
