I’m Bill, Outreach Case Manager at Hospitality House. I help Veterans and individuals who suffer from substance abuse find programs and a place for treatment. I also help homeless individuals find the needed medical and financial resources to help them get back on their feet and into housing.
I want to share with you a story about a Vietnam veteran who has encountered hard times and now benefits from services offered by Hospitality House. I’ll call him Tom. He was referred to me from the Emergency Room at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital after he was involved in a traffic accident. He had been homeless for 4-5 months. In his 70s, Tom suffered from serious medical issues that preceded the accident, and he wasn’t getting the medical attention he needed. I contacted our nurse on the Homeless Outreach and Medical Engagement Team (aka HOME), who got Tom connected with the VA. We set him up in a motel room, initially paid for with County assistance before Tom was able to take care of the motel fees himself, which continue to be difficult for him. Recently we discovered an available apartment intended specifically for a veteran, which could meet Tom’s needs; however, the room is upstairs, and Tom’s disabilities would impede easy access. Given his condition, the possibility of a serious fall is a real concern, so it wasn’t a good fit for him.
In the meantime, Tom receives other Hospitality House services, and we maintain daily contact. He is a prime example of a local resident who is struggling with some harsh realities of aging, illness, financial lack, and the sometimes depressive emotional overtones those things can bring. Tom is a member of our community, a veteran, in need of a suitable place to live where he can heal and resume functional living. If you know of such a place, please contact me: Bill Davis, (530) 615-7873.
If you would like to help Tom or additional men, women and children in need, this month we have an ambitious goal to welcome 25 new Hearts & Hands Club members. Hearts & Hands is a group of individuals who donate every month to support the efforts of Hospitality House. Club donations are allocated toward the greatest needs each month, including but not limited to shelter, food, clothing, outreach, housing assistance, case management, job training and emergency preparedness in response to COVID-19. You can become an honored club member by donating as little as $5 per month and change a life in the process. Learn more about the club at hhshelter.org/hearts-hands-club/ and sign up today!
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 Wolf Creek Co-housing, St. Mary’s School, Unity in the Gold Country, Meals by Heels, Elevation 2477, First Baptist NC, BriarPatch Food Co-Op, and SPD Markets for all their recent help.
Due to increased COVID-19 cases and a construction project at Utah’s Place, donations of goods are still temporarily suspended to protect the people we serve and the greater community. Thanks to the members of our community who gave so generously during the holidays, we are able to enter this pause in donations with well-stocked shelves. In place of donations of goods, we encourage those who are still interested in giving to consider making a financial contribution at hhshelter.org/donate. 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!