SOS Richmond

We are thrilled to announce that SOS Richmond has been named the 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year for District AD-14! This recognition celebrates our ongoing efforts to support housed and unhoused neighbors in West Contra Costa County. Thank you to Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and CalNonprofits for this honor! #CommunityEmpowerment #EquityForAll #CalNOTY2024 #caleg #NonprofitPower #sosrichmond #bayarea #eastbay #RichmondCA #contracostacounty CalNonprofits

🎬 VIDEO RELEASE!!! 🎬 What IS peer accompaniment? Starring Angie Pena and other staff members. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://lnkd.in/gFpn93mw When we think about homelessness in our neighborhoods, it's normal to feel a combination of uncomfortable emotions, but we all want solutions. SOS Richmond is innovating compassionate and effective responses based on "peer accompaniment" to help folks navigate from tent to home. We have a new video (produced through All Home's Storytelling Initiative) that explains what this means and some information about what you can do to contribute to the well-being of our entire community. Check it out! We had an amazing cohort of fellow participants... @stmaryscenteroakland Puente de la Costa Sur (PUENTE) San Francisco Community Land Trust @midpenhousing @canalalliance Thank you to... @allhomecalifornia @Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California @meredithfentonconsulting #sosrichmond #communityofcare #endhomelessness #bayarea #eastbay @contracostacounty #richmondca #housing #housingjustice

Cooperation Among Street-level Agencies Essential to Human-focused Encampment Resolutions In a recent encampment resolution at Target, it became evident that cooperation among street-level agencies is a critical factor in a successful, human-focused response to homelessness. For weeks, city and county public agencies, along with BART, planned the resolution of this long-standing encampment. This resolution was notable for the focused effort to repeatedly engage with each individual, meeting with them in person and encouraging them to take steps toward relocating. On the day of the abatement, many people were still in the process of deciding their next steps. Public agencies allowed enough time for street-level workers from C.O.R.E., Community Crisis Response Program, and SOS to assist people in finalizing their decisions and making plans. The city listened to each individual's needs and did its best to meet them. In one case, an individual “B” was supported all the way through the process of deciding whether to enter substance treatment and access interim housing – a path he chose. “B” has been in daily communication with SOS's care coordinator to inform him of his status and keep reminding SOS that he is interested in employment. This location has been abated between 12-15 times over the last five years, but this time, an unprecedented level of care was provided to support people. The result was a far more compassionate and dignified process which will yield more lasting results over time. Photo: SOS’s Logistics Manager, Tshombe Perkins, and staff member, Salvador Espinoza, accompanying an unhoused neighbor (not in photo) in their relocation from the Target encampment. Photo by Maurice Tierney. #sosrichmond #unhoused #communityofcare #endhomelessness #eastbay #bayarea #bayarearapidtransit #cityofrichmondca

Study Shows Distinguishing Illegal Dumping from Encampment Trash Difficult Preliminary findings from Dr. Costanza Rampini's research at San Jose State University shed new light on the ongoing debate about trash accumulation along creeksides. Contrary to popular belief, garbage found in these areas may not come from homeless encampments to the degree once thought. Instead, Rampini’s research points to a higher level of illegal dumping—often construction debris and other bulk waste that would not be possible solely from homeless encampments. In fact, illegal dumping may be taking place intentionally adjacent to encampments, although the mechanisms for this remain unknown. In areas where encampments were provided with nearby trash management services, such as dumpsters and regular pickup, residents used them responsibly. This finding highlights that when unhoused individuals are given access to basic services, they are willing to contribute to keeping the environment clean. SOS regularly picks encampment trash left at curbsides across Richmond for the Streets Team to pick up. Rampini’s work challenges the misconception that encampments are the primary source of trash along creeksides. While homeless communities often bear the brunt of public criticism, these findings reveal a major issue with individuals and businesses engaging in illegal dumping. The study brings forth the importance of targeted enforcement of illegal waste disposal. By addressing illegal dumping and providing trash services where needed, we can take a more effective (and possibly more affordable) approach to preserving our creeks and keeping communities, housed and unhoused alike, cleaner and safer. Coastal Cleanup Day is September 21, 2024. To find a cleanup near you, go to: https://lnkd.in/eD8ncGf Don’t forget that SOS hosts two local cleanups per month. For more on this, subscribe to our newsletter at https://lnkd.in/ernQR-Jm. https://lnkd.in/ernQR-Jm #CoastalCleanupDay #sjsu #unhoused #housing #environment #bayarea #socialjustice #communityofcare @thecaliforniacoast @costanzarampini @sjsu

SOS Richmond is excited and proud to announce the expansion of our Board of Directors, a team dedicated to driving our mission forward with fresh perspectives and passionate leadership. Together we'll enhance our impact, strengthen our community partnerships, and bring innovative solutions to the challenges we face. Welcome aboard to Crystal Lee Delany (Digital Realty), Loris Mattox (CA Department of Public Health), Na’ama Raz-Yaseef (The Watershed Project), Peter Mu (Wealth Cairn), Ryan Wythe (LifeLong Medical Care), and Whitney Villa Greswold (Strategic Energy Innovations). When asked about the role that the board sees SOS having in the broader community, Interim Board Chair Peter Mu replied, “The board envisions SOS as a cornerstone of support and hope in the broader Richmond community. We see SOS not only as a provider of essential services but as a catalyst for social change, fostering collaboration, resilience, and empowerment. Our role is to bridge gaps and build a stronger, more inclusive community.” Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this journey!

MEET THE TEAM! Janny Castillo is the SOS Workforce Manager developing and delivering curriculum and resources specific to the employment needs of Richmond’s curbside community members. Janny comes to SOS with 9 years of lived experience as a young mother experiencing homelessness, and 25 years of work experience helping individuals and families improve their quality of life through autonomous support. Along with informational workshops on public speaking, safety and wellness, she authored a housing education class that breaks down the complicated landscape of affordable and mainstream housing opportunities making them accessible to persons with multi-faceted barriers to permanent housing. Janny works part-time for the Computer Technology Resource Center, an e-waste recycler that donates free refurbished computers to low income households and nonprofits. She is Vice-Chair of the City of Oakland Homeless Commission, Board member to the Oakland Housing Authority and United Seniors of Alameda County and sits on the Steering Committee of the Homeless Advocacy Working Group. A community organizer at heart, she stands as an example to actively participate in making our communities safe and healthy for ALL. “To do nothing exasperates the epidemic of homelessness, so do what you can consistently, courageously, compassionately, with actions that do no more harm.” To learn more about who we are, visit https://lnkd.in/ePpTFKxn #sosrichmond #communityofcare #endhomelessness #housing #MeetTheTeamMonday #eastbay #bayarea #contracostacounty

PLEASE SHARE! We at SOS Richmond are stunned by Governor Gavin Newsom's order calling for the removal of homeless encampments across California. While encampments may be moved, human beings cannot be removed from our cities and towns. By criminalizing our most vulnerable neighbors, the governor is pursuing a misguided and cruel policy. Forcing the unhoused community out of encampments does not address the root causes of homelessness; it further marginalizes vulnerable individuals, pushing them into more dangerous and unstable situations by uprooting their tenuous stability and their connection with supportive organizations like SOS. The most effective way to respond to homelessness is through comprehensive, caring support that includes unhoused and recently housed neighbors through peer-to-peer support. This helps people on their journey from tent to home. Sweeping away encampments without providing community and essential services fails to offer a real solution and merely shifts the problem to the next encampment location. The order does not consider the voices and experiences of those who are directly affected and are most able to support their peers. Our unhoused neighbors have valuable insights and the interpersonal relationships to best address people’s needs. Any policy aimed at resolving homelessness must include their input and prioritize their dignity and humanity. We urge Governor Newsom and state officials to reconsider this order and focus on long-term, compassionate solutions. By investing in affordable housing and robust social services we create a more just and equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to survive and thrive. SOS Richmond remains committed to working with our community – housed and unhoused – to find sustainable and humane solutions to homelessness that scale to address this crisis. We stand in solidarity with our unhoused neighbors and advocate for their rights and well-being. Photo: Staff member Leyla connecting with an unhoused neighbor through street-level outreach. Photo credit: Maurice Tierney #bayarea #cahousingcrisis #housing #GavinNewsom #eastbay #contraconstacounty #fightforthebay #housingjustice

MEET THE TEAM! Leyla Williams is the Site Manager for The Warm Hand Wellness & Resource Center. She has had a long, satisfying career working with animals as a veterinary assistant. She also loves and plays music, specifically percussion instruments like the guitar and the flute. She is a native of the Bay Area and has lived in Contra Costa County for six years. Leyla enjoys helping people, making her a good fit for SOS. She is integral to the mobile shower team and The Warm Hand, intuitively developing trusting relationships with participants. Leyla's aspirations are not just personal but also inspirational. Her goal is to build a stable future for her daughter and secure a permanent home for both of them. She plans to enroll in Contra Costa College's Spirit Program, an intensive recovery-oriented peer support provider training. Leyla's desire to continue helping people and return to caring for animals is a testament to her resilience and determination. She even envisions starting a dog boarding nonprofit that helps incarcerated people reconnect with their pets after their release, a truly inspiring goal. Learn more about who we are on our website at https://lnkd.in/ePpTFKxn Photo by Maurice Tierney #sosrichmond #communityofcare #endhomelessness #MeetTheTeamMonday #eastbay #bayarea #nonprofit #housing #contracostacounty

On June 20, 2024, SOS Richmond celebrated a milestone with the graduation of its first cohort from the 90 Day Job Readiness Program. Three graduates were honored at a joyous ceremony at the SOS Yard, each receiving their certificates of completion. “The program prioritizes meeting people where they are,” said trainer Tomi Nagai-Rothe, Director of Strategy and Operations, “with skill challenges and plenty of support ‒ in addition to a job and life-readiness curriculum.” Tomi noted that success begins with individuals understanding their current reality and focusing on changing their internal narratives. The program has made significant strides by guiding them to develop essential behaviors, attitudes, and skills. People who have been unemployed for long periods of time need practice environments. To overcome the barriers to employment, intermediate steps (similar to intermediate housing) are more sustainable and empowering than launching directly into mainstream work. Despite the barriers, our graduates have made remarkable progress. The program’s core mission is to walk alongside individuals on their journey, offering the support they need to apply for, gain, and keep jobs. After a successful pilot, SOS will begin with a second cohort in July. If you have a lead on jobs for our graduates, drop em in the comments. #sosrichmond #contracostacounty #richmondca #communityofcare #eastbay #housing #bayarea #bayareahomelessness

SOS Richmond is thrilled to announce the donation of a Freightliner RV by Bobby Winston from Bay Crossings. This generous gift marks a significant step forward as we expand. The RV will be parked under the 580 freeway structure, serving as a central gathering spot for our staff. It offers improved safety, sound dampening, insulation from the cold, and a notable upgrade in style. These enhancements will make our operations more effective and comfortable. When asked about his inspiration to donate, Bobby replied, "I am deeply inspired by SOS Richmond's dedication to helping humanity. SOS turns toward challenges many turn away from, which resonates with me profoundly. Donating this RV is a heartfelt gesture of gratitude for the work SOS does every day, on the streets and in our neighborhoods." We are deeply honored by Bobby’s belief in our mission and are grateful for this meaningful contribution. For more information about making in-kind donations, visit https://lnkd.in/dM6wPeCp #sosrichmond #donor #community #support #communitysupport #endhomelessness #eastbay #bayarea #bayareahomelessness #housing #contracostacounty #richmondca