In the News
“When compared to other jurisdictions, San Francisco reportedly has the highest percentage of shelter guests with severe mental illness or addiction. But shelter operators say they don’t have enough funding or resources to support their high-needs clients or to address street conditions outside their buildings.”
The group of volunteers make about 2,000 meals a year. This batch will be going to the Mentone, a permanent supportive housing site in the city’s Tenderloin.
“Research consistently shows supportive housing — like the kind [ECS resident] Bukenya is receiving — leads not only to positive changes in residents’ lives, but to cost savings for taxpayers, too.”
Read the full KQED story here.
“Folks can just come to the front door, because they need to be in a safe place, out of the inclement weather. They just want to be able to walk in, have a bed for the night and leave in the morning,” said Beth Stokes, executive director of Episcopal Community Services.
“…he spoke to a small gathering of his neighbors at 1064 Mission St., the city’s largest site of permanent supportive housing, which the government makes available to formerly homeless tenants. Episcopal Community Services, which operates the site, and the Department of Elections had arranged a voter education workshop for residents.
“[permanent supportive housing] is so much more affordable in comparison to incarceration or long-term hospitalization or literally the cost of one emergency room visit,” said Travis Hamilton, associate director of housing services for Episcopal Community Services, which owns and operates Bukenya’s building.
“Earlier this year, All Home and NPH had conversations with community partners in the housing justice field to learn more about their needs around storytelling — a powerful strategy that can be hard to do well. All Home and NPH designed their initiative to help meet those needs, and put out a call to organizations interested in participating in the storytelling initiative.”
“Residents of a supportive housing complex in Larkspur attended an inaugural health fair this week. The permanent housing facility at 1251 S. Eliseo Drive is a 43-room complex built for formerly homeless people. It was funded by the state’s Homekey Program and is operated by Episcopal Community Services.”
“It took three years for Garcia to receive government support. During this time, he relied on San Francisco’s general assistance and avoided sleeping on streets by staying in parks or shelters. Eventually, he found help through Episcopal Community Services (ECS).”
“Caseworkers with the agency from Episcopal Community Services, along with other supportive services workers, would paddle out to his boat and bring him things like candy bars and supplies, and it eventually won him over. Romanowsky said the whole process took about a month, and the caseworkers helped him with every step, even getting emotional support credentials for his dog, Toby.”
