Hospitality House is the only emergency homeless shelter in Nevada County, with 69 beds for homeless men, women and children.
I’m Tyson Powers, and I’m the Housing Specialist at Hospitality House. 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 with you all the story of a guest who I will call Mike. Mike is 80-years old, and a widower. He has been battling a rare form of cancer for a while. He currently undergoes treatment with Stanford University Medical Center, with top doctors in the country.
Mike came to Hospitality House two-weeks ago but has been homeless for a total of five-year now. Due to Mike’s age, he is considered high on the vulnerability list, making him a top priority for housing placement, and will be housed next month. He receives social security and retirement income that will go towards his new affordable room rental in an ample house shared with six other male roommates. Mike is a little worried about living with other people as he doesn’t know any of his roommates, and this is the first time that he will share a living space with anyone other than his wife. I will personally provide him with monthly case management visitations to ensure that he has a good living situation. I want to make sure that he feels welcomed and comfortable in his new home. Also, our Case Manager Nicole Lescher will provide wraparound services to ensure that he continues to connect with medical services.
Per the United States Interagency Council of Homelessness, a recent study found that half of older adults experiencing homelessness in Oakland, CA, first experienced homelessness after age 50. For vulnerable older adults like Mike, the loss of housing may occur after the death of a loved one, or when age-related illness or illness results in the loss of employment and income.
If anyone listening right now might have an interest in helping individuals like Mike by renting a room, studio, apartment or house I invite you to call me, Tyson. I can be reached directly at 530-798-6465.
Did you know? Santa Claus is taking a break from the North Pole and heading to Bread & Roses Thrift and More for a special Santa event. Santa will greet everyone that comes through Bread & Roses Thrift and More tomorrow, August 31 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.! Patrons will be treated to complimentary cookies, prepared by our culinary students, refreshments, Christmas music and the opportunity to take pictures with Santa in his swaggy summer attire. No purchase is necessary to meet Santa. All proceeds benefit Hospitality House Community Shelter.
This past week, we were blessed by many caring individuals who prepared meals and we are beyond grateful. I’d like to give a big thank you to Wolf Creek, Telestream, ETEAM, Meals by Heels, Peace Lutheran Church, The Home Team and First Baptist Church for coming out to cook. To everyone who donated our most needed items last week, thank you as well!
Now down to the nitty gritty needs of the shelter for this week…
- Men’s T-shirts, sizes L
- Men’s boxer shorts, sizes M and L
- Men’s sleep pants, size M and L
- Cotton socks
- Blankets
- Razors
- Very Important, we have 2 young guests attending college, and each are in need of backpacks, #2 pencils, pens, highlighters, college lined paper notebooks, calculators, and reusable water bottles.
Please drop off urgent items to Utah’s Place, located in Brunswick Basin, past the DMV, at 1262 Sutton Way. For all other donations that may benefit a homeless guest or the shelter in general, please take them to the backdoor of Bread & Roses, our thrift shop, located at 840 E Main Street, directly next door to Sierra Cinemas. Guests at our shelter are given shopping vouchers for the store to buy what they need, so your donation directly helps them. All other items are sold with 100% of the sales supporting the shelter’s operations. If we all stick together, we’ll get what we need. Thank you.