I’m Elida, the ARGP Shelter Case Manager at Hospitality House. ARGP stands for Adult Re-Entry Grant Program, which, in the easiest of terms, means I help people with minor criminal offenses who are also struggling with homelessness. My main priority is to help homeless individuals transition back into housing, and I’m always looking for creative and permanent housing solutions.
I want to share a story with you about a client who I will call Ben.
I first met Ben eight months ago when he was referred to me by Granite Wellness Centers. Ben had a background of substance abuse and chronic homelessness. As an older individual with a long pattern of behavior, it was harder for Ben to change, but his resolve was exceptional. He was sober and ready for a new start.
After completing treatment, I provided Ben with case management services. First, I connected him with Spirit Peer Empowerment Center, where he could do laundry and have mail delivered – little things to help him regain some normality into his life and help him be more independent. From there, I assisted him with housing applications. He also worked with a counseling group to help him through the housing search process. Then, after many applications and much persistence, Ben found permanent housing last month!
Ben is still sober, newly housed, and enjoying his new life in Nevada County. Throughout the whole process, all the case managers who worked with Ben were amazed by his resilience and desire to change after a life of substance use disorder and homelessness. Ben is an excellent example of someone ready to transform their life, but who needed a little assistance provided by Hospitality House. We’re all thrilled to see him housed!
If you’d like to help more individuals reach housing, now through December 15, three local families are matching all donations to Hospitality House, up to $30,000! One dollar becomes $2 and can help provide two struggling locals with fuel and nourishment for the day. A $31 donation, when doubled right now, is enough to provide a night of emergency shelter, three hearty meals, clothing, and personalized case management for one person. Donate today!
Night of Giving is right around the corner! Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 18 at 7 pm. We want to thank Telestream, KVMR, Dignity Health, and Clientworks for sponsoring Night of Giving AGAIN this year. Learn more about the event.
Normally at this time, we thank all the cook groups who came and cooked over the last week, but to keep our shelter safe, our cooking groups are supporting our meals by donating financial support and food, and Chef Gina is safely cooking all meals instead. We’d like to thank Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, Sierra Presbyterian, Saint Patrick’s Side Kicks, Sierra Pines, Kitchen KutUps, Repeat Offenders, BriarPatch Food Co-Op, and SPD Markets for all their recent help.
To everyone who donated our most needed items last week, thank you as well! Here is a list of items currently needed at the shelter:
- Blankets- twin size!!! VERY URGENT NEED
- Portable oxygen concentrator (1 needed)
- Toilet paper
- Ponchos
- PPE masks (paper disposable or neck gators)
- Men’s and women’s sweatpants
- Pillows (new only)
- Headphones
- Bottled water
- Travel bags/ duffle bags/ backpacks
- Leggings
- Plastic utensils
- Paper plates/ bowls
- Hairbrushes
- Men’s and women’s underwear, size small and medium
- Handwarmers
- Gloves
- Ibuprofen / Tylenol
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Topical tooth pain reliever
- Men’s shoes 9 1/2 and up; also size 12 -14
- Women’s medium to 2xl long sleeve shirts
- Women’s shoes 8 and up
- Hairbrushes
- Men’s and women’s deodorant
- Men’s pants size 48
- Men and women’s S-XXL Depends
- Men’s pants size 34×32 and 32×32
- Men’s deodorant
For increased safety and to streamline our donation process, donations are no longer being accepted at our shelter. Please drop off your items Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm at our admin office, located at 488 Crown Point Circle, Suite 100, Grass Valley, Ca 95945 (the admin office is closed on all major holidays). We greatly appreciate the community’s help at such times of uncertainty. In the words of Utah Phillips, “If we all stick together, we’ll get what we need.” Thank you!