News and Events
The Life Restoration Outreach Committee includes Courtney Banks, Tyahna Johnson, Pastor BoTiwa (Bo) Jackson, LaToya Webb.
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Life Restoration Event December 2022
Life Restoration Ministries Church at 13041 San Pablo Ave. in San Pablo held an outreach day Saturday December 17 for housed and unhoused neighborhood residents. Resources included a clothing closet, free food, Showers courtesy of SOS Richmond, county social services advice, plus toys and visits with Santa for the kids. LaToya Webb, outreach coordinator for the church said, “This is a one-stop-shop for those in need and SOS is a huge part of the program. Our pastor says ‘give without limits and love without limits', and that’s what we intended to do on Saturday.” |
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A Home for June December 2022
After years of sleeping on a cold concrete bench at Trader Joe's, Jane will at last move into permanent housing for seniors. The yearlong process was possible with daily care from community volunteers, SOS staff, and our beloved community's financial support. https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-home-for-jane |
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This is Jun December 2022
A 63-year-old man living unsheltered on a creekside in San Pablo for more than a decade. Jun is very ill. Weakened by his illness, he is no longer able to make his way up the hill to the street to look for food. Were it not for a very dedicated SOS staff member who used to live in a creek culvert near him, Jun would still live emaciated in this heap of illegally dumped trash. Randy had been bringing food, water & clothing until Jun agreed to seek medical care and shelter. A SOS Richmond volunteer took Jun to the emergency room, where he was discharged after three days with cab fare to get him back to the creek. The weather has been very cold and wet with temperatures in the 30s at night. Jun was supported, with difficulty breathing and doubled over in pain, to make it back up from the creek’s ravine. SOS placed him in a motel for two days while the County’s mobile outreach team secured a bed and transported him to a medical respite care facility. We will update you on Jun’s condition and his next steps as we work together to support Jun’s health, safety and access to housing. |
Above, Ferose Bassier and Margaret Huffman; below, O'Neill Fernandez & Cyntha Simpson;
Bottom, Jewel Morse.
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Four SOS Staff Members Moved Into Safer Housing October 2022
Four SOS staff members who lived at the Castro St. RV encampment moved in the past 2 weeks into interim and permanent housing, thanks to the Contra Costa County CORE team. These SOS employees have been serving Castro to help improve safety at the unregulated encampment. CORE is the Coordinated Outreach, Referral, Engagement program which connects homeless residents to safety net services and housing. SOS Streets team member Ferose Bassier and his partner Margaret Huffman were recently able to move into Delta Landing in Pittsburg. Delta Landing is the County’s state-of-the-art 172-unit interim housing facility with basic healthcare, housing navigation, and case management services provided on-site to help residents recover from homelessness and find permanent housing. Ferose and Margaret had been living in their car for nearly two years, then moved into a pop-up camper in the Castro encampment, where Ferose has committed his energy to SOS as a Local Steward with the strong potential to help provide a range of expanded encampment services there. The couple says they were bullied and harassed at Castro because of their interracial relationship and jumped at the chance to move. They are already visiting a permanent housing arrangement for a rapid rehousing opportunity. Jewel Morse, a SOS Streets Team member for the last two years, and her partner Trey, lived in a tent near Wildcat Creek until coming to Castro after several aggressive evictions from this park location in San Pablo. “It’s great to have a shower, a microwave, a bed. In tent living”, Jewel said, “it was a pain in the butt just to get hot water. You have to gather wood, start a fire. It takes a good portion of your day.” Through all of Jewel and Trey’s long period of instability, Jewel has remained dedicated to her role as a Streets Team member and a Local Steward at Castro. O’Neill Fernandez and Cyntha Simpson have been a couple since they met in an El Sobrante Richmond homeless camp 4 years ago, before coming to Castro. Over the years they’ve couch-surfed, lived in tents, a car, a trailer, a house-share with bedbugs, and two months of seeking safety in an economy motel with their newborn daughter, Kailynn. This weekend they gave back to El Sobrante, cleaning its illegal dumping and encampments as part of National Cleanup Day, even as they settled into their new permanent housing in Richmond. Their newfound stability and security will permit O’Neill and Cyntha to take turns caring for Kailynn as they each build programs that deepen support at encampments like Castro. As Outreach Team Leader, O’Neill will craft a dedicated team that provides peer-based problem solving and goal setting at Castro and elsewhere. Cyntha anticipates expanding her Shower Power Team Leader role as Richmond finds opportunities to further develop encampment services and deploy these at places such as Castro. |
Castro residents Dosha Arnold and Michael Tyner with Herman Martinez, SOS streets Team, pitched in March 23 in a safety and sanitation campaign
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Residents are making sweeping changes at Castro St. RV Camp.
Residents of the Castro St RV camp have been working with SOS Richmond and other organizations and city agencies to improve health and safety conditions there, while waiting for the chance to transition into more permanent housing. Over 30 Castro residents have been moved into transitional or permanent housing with the help of CORE teams from the County and Housing Coalition of the East Bay. Nine Castro residents are currently working for SOS as part of the Streets Team or Shower Power staff earning $18/hour and working 20 hours a week on average. Twenty one tons of trash have been removed since January 1, and 14 solar power stations for charging cell phones are now being installed. Nearly 200 showers have been provided by the SOS Shower Power trailer. Neighbor Aid, a local non-profit, delivers fresh water to the camp three times a week. Since September, over 60,000 gallons of water has been provided. Parking arrangements for existing vehicles have been reconfigured to allow for easier trash removal and to reduce fire hazards. Seven damaged or dangerous vehicles have been removed by city agencies. Concrete barriers are being installed to block new occupancy whenever a vehicle is removed. Six Castro residents pitched in March 24 along with SOS Streets team employees to sweep and remove trash throughout the small enclave. Work at the Castro RV encampment is funded by a Love Your Block Mini-Grant from the City of Richmond City Manager’s Office, Economic Development and Community Services Department. “Our long term goal is to end RV parking and camping on Castro St.” Said Antoine Williams, SOS Mobile Team Coordinator, but that means finding permanent housing for those still living here. That’s going to take months of effort. Meanwhile, we want the area to be as clean and safe as possible.” |
County and BNSF dismantle
Brookside homeless camp
Dec. 13---A self-managed homeless encampment near Brookside and Giant Rd. that has been peaceful and stable for over two years was bulldozed and destroyed by workers from Contra Costa County and BNSF railroad last Wednesday. Over a dozen long term residents of the camp were driven out. Some of the campsites were on city land and some had spilled over onto the railroad’s property. SOS staff and CORE workers from the County health department helped place two residents in transitional housing. But the majority of residents were forced to scour the surrounding neighborhood for a new out-of-the-way place to pitch their tents. SOS and Neighbor Aid raced to help residents salvage some of their property and keep it from being destroyed. Despite these efforts, 12 tent households were dismantled as tents, clothing, furniture, and personal possessions were scooped up in front loaders and hauled away in dumpsters. (Watch YouTube video.)
“These actions by BNSF and the County are completely unnecessary,” said Daniel Barth, SOS Director. “This was the cleanest and most stable encampment in all of Richmond. The people camped there were doing no harm to anyone. The County and the City need to step up their efforts to develop practical alternatives to encampments,” Barth said.
Brookside homeless camp
Dec. 13---A self-managed homeless encampment near Brookside and Giant Rd. that has been peaceful and stable for over two years was bulldozed and destroyed by workers from Contra Costa County and BNSF railroad last Wednesday. Over a dozen long term residents of the camp were driven out. Some of the campsites were on city land and some had spilled over onto the railroad’s property. SOS staff and CORE workers from the County health department helped place two residents in transitional housing. But the majority of residents were forced to scour the surrounding neighborhood for a new out-of-the-way place to pitch their tents. SOS and Neighbor Aid raced to help residents salvage some of their property and keep it from being destroyed. Despite these efforts, 12 tent households were dismantled as tents, clothing, furniture, and personal possessions were scooped up in front loaders and hauled away in dumpsters. (Watch YouTube video.)
“These actions by BNSF and the County are completely unnecessary,” said Daniel Barth, SOS Director. “This was the cleanest and most stable encampment in all of Richmond. The people camped there were doing no harm to anyone. The County and the City need to step up their efforts to develop practical alternatives to encampments,” Barth said.
Brookside camp resident Julius Jones refills his water supply.
SOS brings vital water supplies
To homeless camps
Dec. 5---One of the most critical needs of homeless people is getting a supply of fresh water. Available water can be a mile or more from where you pitched your tent or parked your RV. At 8 pounds per gallon, a few days' supply of water is a heavy load to be transporting on foot. Recently SOS has teamed up with NeighborAid to provide a steady supply of fresh water to to the Rydin and Castro RV communities and several Richmond tent camps.. We’ve installed portable 275 gallon tanks mounted on wooden platforms which are refilled as needed by the NeighborAid truck. Ryan Manka-White of NeighborAid leads the water project and is looking for volunteers to help with the deliveries.
To homeless camps
Dec. 5---One of the most critical needs of homeless people is getting a supply of fresh water. Available water can be a mile or more from where you pitched your tent or parked your RV. At 8 pounds per gallon, a few days' supply of water is a heavy load to be transporting on foot. Recently SOS has teamed up with NeighborAid to provide a steady supply of fresh water to to the Rydin and Castro RV communities and several Richmond tent camps.. We’ve installed portable 275 gallon tanks mounted on wooden platforms which are refilled as needed by the NeighborAid truck. Ryan Manka-White of NeighborAid leads the water project and is looking for volunteers to help with the deliveries.
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Volunteers Wash Towels
for SOS Shower Power Oct. 18---Volunteers from First United Methodist Church in Point Richmond launder dozens of towels every week that are used in the SOS Shower Power program. The portable shower unit visits homeless camps several times a week offering free showers to all comers. The used towels are delivered to the church and returned a few days later washed dried and folded. Volunteers include Dierdre Cerkanowicz, Shirley Butt, Rev. Jasey Pickens-Jones, Barbara Haley and Karen Buchanan. |
Streets Team and RFD Work on Castro Clean Up
Richmond Fire Marshall Eric Govan (center) joined SOS Streets Team members including Cyntha Simpson (left) and Tshombe Perkins to coordinate a major clean-up at the Castro St. RV encampment on Monday. "We're cleaning out a bunch of debris and removing some junked cars to try to reduce the fire danger here," Govan said. SOS staff members piled up several tons of debris ready to be hauled to the dump.
Funded by a Love Your Block Mini-Grant from the City of Richmond City Manager’s Office, Economic Development and Community Services Department.
Richmond Fire Marshall Eric Govan (center) joined SOS Streets Team members including Cyntha Simpson (left) and Tshombe Perkins to coordinate a major clean-up at the Castro St. RV encampment on Monday. "We're cleaning out a bunch of debris and removing some junked cars to try to reduce the fire danger here," Govan said. SOS staff members piled up several tons of debris ready to be hauled to the dump.
Funded by a Love Your Block Mini-Grant from the City of Richmond City Manager’s Office, Economic Development and Community Services Department.
Rainy Season is starting: SOS and NeighborAid are helping Weatherproof RVs and Trailers
Ryan Manka-White of NeighborAid and SOS staff members Scott Steckler and Marcus Ellinwood completed the weatherproofing of 6 RVs yesterday at the Castro RV encampment. The work will continue at Castro and Rydin RV encampment when the weather clears.
The team applies waterproof rubber paint and tape to roofs, and caulks window seals and other gaps in the RV exterior. Many households in the encampments are welcoming the help to keep the interiors warm and dry through the winter.
Ryan Manka-White of NeighborAid and SOS staff members Scott Steckler and Marcus Ellinwood completed the weatherproofing of 6 RVs yesterday at the Castro RV encampment. The work will continue at Castro and Rydin RV encampment when the weather clears.
The team applies waterproof rubber paint and tape to roofs, and caulks window seals and other gaps in the RV exterior. Many households in the encampments are welcoming the help to keep the interiors warm and dry through the winter.
Heroes of Rydin Rd.
Five members of the Rydin Rd. RV community teamed up to revive a dying man...a stranger who had parked near the managed RV encampment to do some drugs, but overdosed. Our SOS community liaison, gives a first person account of the crisis.
By Jessi Taran
I was returning from the edge of the dog park. A woman who doesn’t live here was standing next to a car, screaming "Help me! Help me!" At first I think that a guy is trying to pull her into the car -- but then I realized that she's trying to get a guy OUT of the car. I ask, "is this an overdose?" And she screams "Yes! An overdose! He's dying! Help me!" I say "I have Narcan. I'll be right back." I run to my bus screaming "Overdose! Overdose! He needs Narcan! Call 911!"
I open the bus and grab the Narcan from my locker. I try to run back to the car, but I'm winded and my back is hurting so I'm not going very fast.
Neph pulls up beside me in his car and says, "give me the stuff. I'll drive it there." I hand the Narcan to Neph and he puts his car in reverse all the way down the road, and then gives the 2 vials to Mike -- who sticks them up the guy's nose and deploys the spray. The guy is still unconscious when I get there, though -- his breathing is shallow and sporadic, his eyes are rolled back, and his skin is a blue/grey color around his mouth and cheeks.
His girl friend is cradling his head on her lap. I tell her to lift his head up -- at which point I pinch his nose closed and begin administering CPR.
I blow air into his lungs and after every breath he responds with a short/powerful gasp. I start doing chest compression and his eyes flutter open and color starts returning to his face. Louise says "He needs to stand up. We need to get him to his feet. He needs to walk around." So Doug, Mike and Neph lift him to his feet -- but he is still having a hard time staying awake -- so I start slapping him in the face. That seems to do the trick as his face shows annoyance/anger and he looks like he's about ready to start fighting. Mike says "Dude take it easy! You just overdosed!" The guy says "What??? No way!" Mike says "See all these people around you? They all just saved your life bro!" I head back to my bus thinking "Wow! We just succeeded in working together as a community! Amazing!"
Editor's note: See article below, "SOS staff learn what to do when someone OD's "
Five members of the Rydin Rd. RV community teamed up to revive a dying man...a stranger who had parked near the managed RV encampment to do some drugs, but overdosed. Our SOS community liaison, gives a first person account of the crisis.
By Jessi Taran
I was returning from the edge of the dog park. A woman who doesn’t live here was standing next to a car, screaming "Help me! Help me!" At first I think that a guy is trying to pull her into the car -- but then I realized that she's trying to get a guy OUT of the car. I ask, "is this an overdose?" And she screams "Yes! An overdose! He's dying! Help me!" I say "I have Narcan. I'll be right back." I run to my bus screaming "Overdose! Overdose! He needs Narcan! Call 911!"
I open the bus and grab the Narcan from my locker. I try to run back to the car, but I'm winded and my back is hurting so I'm not going very fast.
Neph pulls up beside me in his car and says, "give me the stuff. I'll drive it there." I hand the Narcan to Neph and he puts his car in reverse all the way down the road, and then gives the 2 vials to Mike -- who sticks them up the guy's nose and deploys the spray. The guy is still unconscious when I get there, though -- his breathing is shallow and sporadic, his eyes are rolled back, and his skin is a blue/grey color around his mouth and cheeks.
His girl friend is cradling his head on her lap. I tell her to lift his head up -- at which point I pinch his nose closed and begin administering CPR.
I blow air into his lungs and after every breath he responds with a short/powerful gasp. I start doing chest compression and his eyes flutter open and color starts returning to his face. Louise says "He needs to stand up. We need to get him to his feet. He needs to walk around." So Doug, Mike and Neph lift him to his feet -- but he is still having a hard time staying awake -- so I start slapping him in the face. That seems to do the trick as his face shows annoyance/anger and he looks like he's about ready to start fighting. Mike says "Dude take it easy! You just overdosed!" The guy says "What??? No way!" Mike says "See all these people around you? They all just saved your life bro!" I head back to my bus thinking "Wow! We just succeeded in working together as a community! Amazing!"
Editor's note: See article below, "SOS staff learn what to do when someone OD's "
SOS staff learn what to do when someone OD's
A workshop in using Narcan (Naloxone nasal spray) to revive drug overdose victims was held at the SOS staff meeting September 9. Twenty current and potential mobile team members who come in daily contact with drug use in homeless communities attended the workshop led by Nabila Sher-Oliver from Bay Area Community Resources. The team also brainstormed on staff training priorities, with the support of program partner and staff training consultants, Empathy In Action, led by Corinna Espino and Sascha Owens. The team also explores the expansion of its mobile teams, shower power and clean-up programs. Left, John Palmer shows the Narcan dispenser that all SOS staff members will be carrying from now on.
A workshop in using Narcan (Naloxone nasal spray) to revive drug overdose victims was held at the SOS staff meeting September 9. Twenty current and potential mobile team members who come in daily contact with drug use in homeless communities attended the workshop led by Nabila Sher-Oliver from Bay Area Community Resources. The team also brainstormed on staff training priorities, with the support of program partner and staff training consultants, Empathy In Action, led by Corinna Espino and Sascha Owens. The team also explores the expansion of its mobile teams, shower power and clean-up programs. Left, John Palmer shows the Narcan dispenser that all SOS staff members will be carrying from now on.
Left, Gretel and Wilson with Sergio Espinoza,
former owner of the trailer.
Community concern and action results in a new home-on-wheels for a San Pablo couple
Gretel Fernandez and Wilson Auyon-Maldonado are living in a new trailer, instead of sleeping in the front seat of their pick-up truck thanks to a concerned neighbor, a generous community and SOS! Richmond. See their story here: https://youtu.be/ImYpb6t53zM
Gretel Fernandez and Wilson Auyon-Maldonado are living in a new trailer, instead of sleeping in the front seat of their pick-up truck thanks to a concerned neighbor, a generous community and SOS! Richmond. See their story here: https://youtu.be/ImYpb6t53zM