December 2016 Volume 2, Issue 9

Problems faced by people who are homeless

Personal security, quiet and privacy, especially for sleeping

Safekeeping of bedding, clothing and possessions, which

may have to be carried at all times

Hygiene and shaving facilities

Cleaning and drying clothes

Keeping Contacts, without a permanent location or mailing

address

Hostility and legal powers against urban vagrancy

Wound and skin infections, bronchitis and pneumonia with

other problems being outdoors.

Reduced access to health and dental care

Limited access to education

Increased risk of from violence and abuse

General rejection or discrimination from other people

Loss of usual relationships with the mainstream

Not being seen as suitable for employment

Reduced access to banking services

Reduced access to communication technology

Picture of Supervisor Hilda Solis At Basset Park, La Puente with Bob McKennon, Jim Gardner and Richard Hopkins of the East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Home less who were Special Guests Nov. 17th-Operation Gobble Gobble

Retiring Supervisor Don Knabe with Bob McKenn-

non, Donna McKennon, President of the East San

Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless, Chris

Sanchez, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don

Knabe ‘s Volunteer for Hacienda Heights and Rich-

ard Hopkins, Board Member of ESGVCH at the

Hacienda Heights Library Remodeling Ceremony

on November 17th. Supervisor was generous in

funding the ESGVCH earlier in the year.

Meeting the Needs of Families With Young Children Experiencing the Risk of Homelessness—US Dept of Health and Human Services-Oct. 16, 2016.

The first year of life is when people who are

most likely to enter shelter and transitional

housing programs, followed by ages one to five.

Among low income families, being pregnant or

having a child under the age of two is associat-

ed with elevated risk for seeking or entering

shelter. Raising a child is expensive; in 2013, low income families spent between $8,000 to $9,000

raising a child 0-2 year old, with housing, along with child care and early education, accounting for

the largest share of the costs. The birth of child affects parents’ ability to work, often disrupts family

routines, and can trigger the need for additional space and resources. The birth of a child may further

strain limited social and financial resources or necessitate the need to leave inadequate housing ar-

rangements and in some arrangements, lead to the loss of housing.

Estimates show that there are more than 1.2 million children under six experiencing homelessness every year. These children sleep in cars, shelters, and abandoned buildings. Their families relocate of-ten, which results in infants and toddlers having little continuity of care. Current research establishes a strong connection between a young child’s early experiences and the development of his or her brain structure. These early years of life can provide a strong or weak foun-dation for all future learning, behavior, and health. Children born into homelessness are more likely to have low birth weights, are at greater risk for multiple health risks, and have greater experiences of food insecurity. Study after study confirms what every teacher knows: young children who experience secure, stimu-

lating environments with rich learning opportunities from an early age are better prepared to thrive in

school and in life. Children’s earliest experiences and environments influence later success in

school and in life. When parents and children are stably housed, they make strides in reach other

goals.

Do Homeless People Really Want to be Helped? Are They Just Lazy or Drug Addicted?

It costs less to house, educate, and employ homeless people than it does to maintain their status quo on the streets. So let's invest in lifting people up—not

just giving charity. By Adele Peters 06.08.15

“Almost everyone I met while homeless wanted out of the situation. Some just to do not know to

help themselves or where to go. And not everyone has the strength to get out of the hopeless situation.

Not all find themselves as a result of drugs or alcohol. Many fall on hard times through the loss of a

job, unexpected medical expense or loss of a wage earner. We have had doctors, lawyers and in the en-

tertainment business. The truth is, a few bad decisions, lost paychecks, or unfortunate circumstances

may be all it takes. Another surprising fact: some clients are already employed, they just need a place

to stay while they save enough to afford a place of their own.

Once someone goes back into the community, they give many times over. The become good fathers

and mothers, start paying rent, buy clothes, pay taxes. They move from being takers to givers. By in-

vesting in human potential, they create positive returns to society one person at a time.

Hacienda Heights– This year Southern California Gas Co. through their Azusa/Industry

bases which serve Azusa, Covina, Diamond Bar, Glendora, Industry and San Dimas is gath-

ering personal items, clothing and potential funds from employees which will be donated to

the homeless through the East San Gabriel Valley Coalition Winter Shelter which will be

from Dec. 1 through March 1, 2017 and the Emergency Assistance Center in Hacienda

Heights. Homeless often feel discouraged, anxious, abandoned. Winston Churchill said, “ We

make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

We are most grateful for So. Cal Gas. Co.’s example of community service, compassion and

mercy to homeless whose population is growing and who are often unwanted, unloved, and

uncared for. Real love is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. We hope that other business-

es, small and large, will follow as well. The ESGVCH is a Coalition where all work together

to help the homeless.

Working Together With Southern California Gas Employees to Serve

Our Communities. San Gabriel Valley Herald Examiner Nov. 24-30,

Crazy Amazing Me: Matthew & Ann Marie Smith & family provide customized 150 socks.

Each has a phrase on the bottom for the Homeless. They teach their kids to give back and take care of the community.

EAST SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS

East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless (ESGVCH) is a non-profit, 501c3 charitable organization with a mission to bring hope and restore dignity to individuals and families who are homeless in the San Gabriel Val-ley region. Our goal is always to assist people to find permanent housing and assist them to become self-supporting. Toward this end ESGVCH:

- Provides emergency and transitional shelter programs

- Alleviates hunger by providing food

-Assists with basic daily needs: clothing, hygiene, and transportation

- Stabilizes individuals and families by making referrals for housing, jobs, education & healthcare

- Raises community awareness about issues related to homelessness

- Works collaboratively with others to end hunger and homelessness.

ESGVCH has four programs: (1) Emergency Assistance Center located in Hacienda Heights is where clients come to receive direct aid (up to 500 client visits per month); (2) Transitional Housing Program -The Bridge Program whereby ESGVCH has a one to six month motel program where we transition our families. This program allows our clients to stabilize with case management setting goals for employment, schooling and other benefits which en-courages success and accountability; (3) Winter Shelter Program that operates within six participating churches located throughout East San Gabriel Valley. Partner churches donate space for the shelter (2 weeks at a time) dur-ing winter months. Last winter over 1100 unduplicated persons spent one or more nights at ESGVCH Winter Shel-ter Program; The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) released its 2015 count in San Gabriel Valley, revealing a 21% increase in unsheltered homeless since 2013. Most alarming is the increasing numbers of families without shelter. The need for shelter is urgent! (4) Our newest program, the Encore Program, provides support for outpatient therapy for the homeless who are addicted to substances and seek recovery.

Physical Address: St. Martin de Porres Center at St. John Vianney Church 1345 Turnbull Canyon Road Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 Mailing Ad-dress: P. 0. Box 93256 City of Industry, California 91715-3256 Phone: - - Fax: 626-333-7260 E-mail: esgvch@aol.com Donations gratefully accepted through our secure website: www.esgvchomeless.org or by mail.

Opening Night of ESGCH’s Winter Shelter at

St. Christopher Church in West Covina.

Mailing Address Line 1

Mailing Address Line 2

Mailing Address Line 3

PLEASE PLACE

ESGVCH.ORG

St. Joseph had to face some difficult situations in his life. One of them was the

time when Mary was about to give birth, to have Jesus. .And she gave birth to

her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a man-

ger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Lk 2:6-7).

The Bible is very clear about this: there was no room for them. I can imagine

Joseph, with his wife about to have a child, with no shelter, no home, no place

to stay. The Son of God came into this world as a homeless person. The Son of

God knew what it was to start life without a roof over his head. We can imagine

what Joseph must have been thinking. How is it that the Son of God has no

home? Why are we homeless, why don’t we have housing? These are questions

which many of you may ask daily. Like Saint Joseph, you may ask: Why are we

homeless, without a place to live? These are questions which all of us might

well ask. Why do these, our brothers and sisters, have no place to live? Why

are these brothers and sisters of ours homeless?

“We can find no social or moral justification, no justification, no justification

whatsoever, for lack of housing,” Pope Francis