Downtown Streets Team

#Employed Sammy joined our workshops and Success Meetings in Berkeley, determined to secure a job to support his daughter’s health needs. Despite being on a waitlist for the Team, he never lost hope. He made the trek from El Sobrante to Berkeley every week, always with a smile and eagerly anticipating the moment he could wear one of our coveted yellow shirts! When he joined us as a Team Member, Sammy instantly impressed everyone with his teamwork and enthusiasm. He took initiative to create a resume and call job opportunities daily with our Employment Specialist, Ari. His hard work paid off when he landed an interview at UC Theatre for a Floor Staff/Care Crew position and was quickly hired! Now about a month later, Sammy reports that he is still there, loving his job—especially the shows! 🎭 “DST has shown me love and action like no one else. You’ve helped me in ways I never expected. I love my job, and I feel like I’m part of a family here.” - Sammy He continues to attend DST Berkeley’s workshops and volunteers for clean-ups when he can, in addition to applying for more part-time employment with Ari. Congratulations and great work, Sammy! 🎉 #DowntownStreetsTeam #HardWork #Employment #Opportunity #Success #Solutions

NEWS – In partnership with Downtown Streets Team, the City of Modesto received the Helen Putnam Award for the remarkable success of the Camp2Home program, which has effectively ended homelessness and created job opportunities for numerous individuals in Modesto. The Helen Putnam Award for Excellence presented by the League of California Cities recognizes outstanding achievements of California cities who have made unique contributions to the community and promoted innovative solutions by city governments. DST is honored to be part of the positive change in so many lives. We extend our gratitude to our dedicated Staff, Team Members, and Participant Employees. Congrats to our Modesto Team and our local partnerships that made this possible! #DowntownStreetsTeam #HelenPutnamAward #Excellence #Modesto #EndHomelessness #Camp2Home

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Raymond Gonzales, HQ - *Senior Director of Contract Compliance Before joining DST, Raymond was the Director of Student Services and Housing at a for-profit college outside California. When the opportunity to relocate to San Francisco arose, he was warned about the rising homelessness in the area, but that did not deter him. He soon became an Employment Specialist at DST, driven by the belief that DST was a "one-stop shop" doing whatever it takes to resolve issues and provide support. Within a year, he was promoted to Program Manager, then Lead Program Manager. His career continued to advance as he moved into the role of Senior Program Compliance Manager, and he was recently promoted to Senior Director of Contract Compliance. As Sr. Director of Contract Compliance, Raymond collaborates with Program Directors and the Finance Team to ensure that contracts are compliant and beneficial for all parties involved. He manages contract renewals, reviews budgets, and ensures that the organization has the necessary policies and procedures in place. When initiating or renewing contracts, Raymond focuses on securing favorable terms that will support the long-term success of our programs. His role is crucial to the organization’s sustainability, as he helps maintain funding and supports growth by assessing risks on a larger scale. Raymond’s favorite memory with DST is when he felt deeply supported by the DST family during a life-threatening health crisis. He recalls a particularly meaningful moment when DST’s Founder visited him in the hospital after surgery, and DST staff showed him immense grace as the situation ultimately led to the discovery of cancer. Raymond felt genuinely cared for and supported. This experience reflects the company culture at DST—one of care, compassion, and a sense of comfort among colleagues. As Raymond progresses in his career, he envisions himself stepping into a COO role at a nonprofit. He enjoys overseeing operations from behind the scenes and is eager to expand his skills across various industries. We are incredibly proud and appreciative to have Raymond’s special talents at DST. Shoutout to Raymond! 💚 🧡 💜 #DowntownStreetsTeam #EmployeeSpotlight #ProfessionalDevelopment #InternalGrowthOpportunities #Programs #ProgramManager #SocialServices #Director #Compliance #NonProfit #EndingHomelessness

🌍 Today, October 10th, is World Homeless Day – a day to raise awareness, celebrate progress, and advocate for systemic change to end homelessness. At Downtown Streets Team, we’re changing negative perceptions of homelessness engaging unhoused and at-risk individuals in community beautification and employment opportunities. We not only honor the people we serve and those who have lost their lives to homelessness, but also the dedicated individuals who work day in and day out to provide essential services, create pathways to housing and employment, and advocate for long-term change. ❤️ #WorldHomelessDay #EndHomelessness #CommunityImpact #DowntownStreetsTeam #Homelessness #HousingForAll #AdvocateForChange

For #NationalRecoveringMonth, we highlight the impact of addiction and resources that support recovery. Meet Terry from DST Petaluma. He is only one of the MILLIONS of people struggling with addiction in the U.S. and wants to share his story in hopes that it will inspire others to improve their own lives. Terry’s addiction started over 50 years ago when he was a young boy facing abuse in a broken home. He remembers “youngsters” being given alcohol for entertainment. After serving in the Army and Army Reserve for several years, he relapsed and began getting into trouble more often.  Terry joined us in 2022 after years of being in and out of prison. Recognizing the challenges of getting a job with a criminal record, his friend referred him to Downtown Streets Team (DST) because it “keeps you busy and out of trouble.” He soon started working with our supportive employment program, Streets Team Enterprises, but struggled with his addiction and was eventually incarcerated again.  While trying to stay clean, he sought out housing, employment, and self-improvement groups. He managed to stay sober and hold a job for a year, but he relapsed when he thought he was healthy enough to have a beer, which triggered his addiction. He says that substance use is his biggest challenge because it changes how he sees life, increases his aggression, and disrupts his stability.  Recovering from substance use is not easy and often takes multiple attempts before one can achieve lasting sobriety. Terry’s new path to recovery includes “learning to be accountable again and doing the right thing when no one is looking.” He recommends Narcotics/Alcoholics Anonymous groups and DST for those who are struggling with addiction.   DST provided Terry with daily meaningful activity allowing him a pathway out of homelessness and into recovery. He’s currently working with Hannah, DST Employment Specialist, to apply for jobs and stay on track. He says, “[DST] genuinely cares about us, and you can tell that they like the work they do. They're not just doing a job– they care about where we go and what we’re doing.”  🌟 Terry is 115 days sober and counting. Terry, we are so proud of you! 🌟 #DowntownStreetsTeam

Did you know that DST has collected 29,085,055 gallons of trash since 2013– the equivalent to filling 2,693 standard sized pools? 🤯🚮 ➡️ Swipe to see how many times that amount of trash could fill an NFL football field! 🏈 #DowntownStreetsTeam #EnvironmentalImpact #CleanUp #Trash #Waste #Litter #IllegalDumping #PositiveChange

For #WorldCleanUpDay, we’re celebrating all of our Team Members and Participant Employees who make our communities cleaner and safer! 💚🧡💜 We’re changing negative perceptions of homelessness by engaging unhoused and at-risk individuals in community beautification projects across Northern and Central California. We can all work together to make our environment more sustainable. #WorldCleanupDay2024 #CleanUpDay #GetInvolved #DowntownStreetsTeam #PositiveChange

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Tatiana Mora Liautaud, Programs - Petaluma Senior Program Manager Before joining DST, Tatiana spent nearly a decade in Haiti, committed to rebuilding efforts following the major earthquake in 2010. She rapidly advanced to the role of Director of Projects at a local nonprofit. Upon relocating to the Bay Area in 2020, she felt that DST’s Project Manager position was tailor-made for her. Not only did she secure the role, but she also launched the program in the Petaluma community amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Tatiana describes her role as Sr. Program Manager as connecting with Staff, Team Members, and the community. She identifies growth opportunities for the Petaluma program by seeking funding, forming partnerships, and exploring relationship-building opportunities for the Petaluma Showers program. Program Managers are crucial to our organization because they are responsible for upholding the structure of the Streets Team Volunteer Program (STVP) which includes tracking and reporting project data to contractors, managing Team Members and Participant Employees, leading weekly Success Meetings, and essentially bridging all individuals involved in the program. Tatiana’s favorite memory at DST is the moment the Petaluma Team secured its first housing placement. This milestone was not only significant as the program’s initial success, but also for the challenges and victories it represented. Initially receiving 1 Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV), Tatiana’s advocacy efforts led to securing 8 EHVs. The Petaluma Team then faced the intense task of finding suitable housing. Tatiana recalls overcoming obstacles like getting a unit up to code and registered with the city, which she then assisted the landlord with registration and even went to Home Depot to help fix the unit. Tatiana has a passion for service and says, “This role mirrors my personal life because impacting people in a positive way is something that I do anyway, and I want to see it continue grow.” She hopes to help expand DST’s efforts in Sonoma County as a Director. We are very appreciative of Tatiana’s dedication and support to DST and the community. Shoutout to Tatiana! 💚 🧡 💜 #DowntownStreetsTeam #EmployeeSpotlight #ProfessionalDevelopment #InternalGrowthOpportunities #Programs #ProgramManager #SocialServices #NonProfit #EndingHomelessness

Shoutout to our Salinas Team for their hard work and dedication to making this partnership and event happen alongside the Housing Authority of Monterey County! This event was held to distribute 1000 Housing Choice Vouchers over the course of just 3 days. Our Salinas Staff were helping to complete online certifications, obtain and upload vital documents, and provide general support for the event. Go Team!

We are thrilled to announce the release of our Fiscal Year 2024 Impact Report! Discover how Downtown Streets Team is transforming lives and communities through innovative programs and wraparound care. Check out our collective accomplishments and see the difference we’re making together!! 💚🧡💜 👉 Read the full report on our home page at streetsteam.org or https://lnkd.in/gZWpNjN8. #ImpactReport #FY24 #DowntownStreetsTeam #CommunityChange #Nonprofit