My name is Fred Skeen, I am a Shelter Case Manager and RN. I primarily work with unhoused guests who come through Hospitality House’s Recuperative Care Dorm, seeking a safe place to recover after a medical procedure. This week, I have some wonderful news to share about our longtime client whom I will refer to as Craig.
Craig came to Hospitality House nearly a year ago. Due to unaddressed mental health issues, substance use disorder, the loss of his job, and a debilitating hand injury, Craig quickly found himself homeless and struggling like so many others. The hand injury led to a complicated series of surgeries, throughout which we helped Craig every step of the way. We drove him to doctors’ appointments and connected him to local mental health services, ensuring he always had a safe place to stay. With this support, Craig was able to regain control of his life.
As Craig made progress and his hand healed, we noticed that other aspects of his life started to improve as well. He became motivated to rebuild his life, make new friends, devoted himself to doing chores regularly at the Shelter, and sought employment.
This week, Craig met with various hiring managers in the area and now has two jobs lined up. We are very proud of how far he has come and how hard and persistently he has worked on his way back to housing and stability.
Congratulations to Craig!
Not all Hospitality House guest stories end with a job and permanent housing, however. We measure success in many ways, always meeting people where they are at in order to help them work toward a better future. A happy ending for one individual can mean stable employment and a home of their own, while for another, it means recovery from years of addiction or finding the courage to take one single step when all has been lost.
If you would like to help homeless individuals like Craig realize their unique success story, please consider joining our Hearts & Hands Club, where giving as little as $10 per month can add up to a big impact over the year. To learn more, please click here or call 530-615-0852. Also, stay tuned for our upcoming May Match Challenge, where a donation in any amount can change the lives of twice as many of our unhoused neighbors.
A big thank you to our volunteers and partners for providing ongoing food and/or financial support: Interfaith Food Ministry, the Bishop Store (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nevada City) and Food Bank of Nevada County. To everyone who donated our most needed items last week, thank you as well! We are incredibly grateful to all of you who give your time, energy and compassion to the most vulnerable in our community.
The shelter’s wish list for the week:
• Towels (any size, always welcome)
• Twin-size bed sheets (urgent need)
• Soap (liquid or bar)
DONATION HOURS AND DROP-OFF LOCATION: Donations from our needs list above and all unexpired/store-bought foods are accepted at Hospitality House Administration Office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am – 3pm at 488 Crown Point Circle, #100, Grass Valley, CA 95945.
Thank you for your generosity and support!