My name is Fred Skeen. I’m an RN case manager at Hospitality House. My job is to assist guests with qualifying for social services benefits, arranging medical care referrals, and eventually getting them into independent housing. We make every effort to guide our guests in their transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency and housing.
I’d like to share a story regarding two of our newest guests, a couple that I will call Fionna and Irving
Fionna and Irving grew up right here in Nevada County. They first found themselves as guests at Hospitality House back in 2016. At that time, we were able to provide wraparound case management services that lead both to steady employment and permanent housing.
Irving and Fionna are both hard-working, energetic individuals in their late 30s. Irving has been employed as a roofer for the past few years and Fionna was working part time for local manufactures.
Despite maintaining employment, Fionna and Irving needed a Housing Choice Voucher (formerly Section-8) to afford their housing, but when their rental unit experienced a change in property management and no longer accepted housing choice vouchers, they lost their home
Now back at Hospitality House, Fionna is looking for more consistent employment. She is amenable to doing many types of work and has a vehicle for transportation. Fiona has been participating in resume preparation tutoring and I’ve been assisting her with her job search.
Fionna and Irving are both non-smokers and have a pet cat. We are working with them to find a new living situation and are exploring both subsidized rental locations and private landlord living opportunities close to town. Both are eager to return to independent living. I will continue to work with them until this goal is achieved. If anyone has housing leads for Fionna and Irving, please call me directly at (530) 559-5411, or please consider a donation to further our work.
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. Chef Gina is safely cooking all meals instead. We’d like to thank Alta Sierra Latter Day Saints, Twin Cities Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, Mountain Stream Meditation Center, The Gourmet Squad, Abundant Life Church, and 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!
The urgent needs for the shelter this week are:
- Twin-sized blankets – CRITICAL NEED
- Pillows
- Toilet paper
- Bathroom scale (2 needed)
- Hairbrushes
- PPE masks (paper disposable or neck gators)
- Ibuprofen/Tylenol
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Topical tooth pain reliever
- Men’s and women’s deodorant
- Men’s and women’s small – xxlarge Depends
- Headphones
- Ponchos
- Sweatpants (men’s and women’s)
- Men’s pants size 48
- Women’s shoes size 8 and up
- Men’s shoes size 9.5 and up (urgent need for size 12-14)
- Women’s medium to xxlarge long sleeve shirts
- Leggings
- Sweatshirts/Hoodies
- Underwear (men’s and women’s, size small and medium)
- Jackets (larger sizes)
- Handwarmers
- Gloves
- Plastic utensils
- Paper plates and bowls
- Bottled water
- Travel bags/duffle bags/backpacks
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!