Hi, I’m Desarae. I am a housing case manager at Utah’s Place. I work with clients to help them transition from homelessness to housing by addressing their individual needs, connecting them to critical care and much-needed community resources.
I’d like to share a bit about Joe, a guest I recently worked with at Utah’s Place. A 63-year-old former carpenter, Joe is a very friendly, funny and considerate person. He doesn’t have kids of his own but adores the grandkids in his extended family.
As a result of his first stroke in 2017, Joe became unable to work regularly and began falling behind on rent payments. Following a second stroke in 2022, he came to stay full-time in Hospitality House’s Recuperative Care Dorm at Utah’s Place, where he was able to heal in a safe, compassionate environment. As Joe recovered, we connected him to essential services, various community resources and secured disability income for him. Joe was always very grateful, very polite and willing to do anything to improve his situation.
In March 2023, I noticed a significant decline in Joe’s health. He was showing signs of unusual memory loss and mental health and mobility issues. Multiple doctor’s appointments determined that Joe would need to be placed in an assisted-living facility.
I am thrilled to say that after six months of searching and applying, Joe has finally found a home in an assisted living facility that addresses all his needs.
I still keep in touch with Joe, checking in two times a week to see how he’s doing and if he needs any of our services. So happy to see another client get the care and housing he desperately needed!
Thanks to people like you, Hospitality House is able to remain committed to guests, being a constant source of hope and guidance for those working their way back to permanent housing. If you’d like to be a part of the impactful effort of helping individuals like Joe on his path to housing, 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 go to: https://hhshelter.org/giving/hearts-hands-club/ or call 530-615-0852.
I’d also like to thank all our volunteers who have recently joined our cook team this month! A special thanks also to our partners for providing ongoing food and/or financial support: SPD Markets, 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 those who need it most.
The shelter’s wish list for the week:
• Women’s undergarments
• Washable, reuseable utensils
• Toiletries-razors, toothbrushes, shampoo and conditioner
DONATION HOURS AND DROPOFF LOCATION: Donations from our needs list above and all unexpired/store-bought foods are accepted at Utah’s Place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am – 3:30pm and Saturdays from 10am – 2pm.
Our shelter is located at 1262 Sutton Way, Grass Valley, CA 95945.
Thank you for sharing in our important work!