November 2021 NEWSLETTER

November Homeless Action Sonoma Newsletter

Wow, November is upon us and until a week ago winter felt stalled with no rain, then the skies opened up.

What’s New. 
First: THE BIG THING is that the County has unanimously voted to be our sponsoring entity for Homekey funding.  This could potentially fund our facility for the next 4 years.  Our grant writer is working around the clock to get our application in with lots of help from the state, County, and team. Does anyone have any experience with grant proposals?  If so let me know, it is a daunting job.
Second:  We have been working closely with the County to expedite the process for winter shelter.  MIG, Inc. from Berkeley has signed on to help us with outreach, planning and permitting, as well as working with Homekey.
Third:   We have reached an agreement with the property seller and should close escrow maybe tomorrow or the next day, how exciting!
Fourth:  We have a contract with Quick Haven Houses to start delivery as soon as the property is graded and fenced.  Can’t happen soon enough for the unhoused with winter weather upon us.

Other Items:

• We are doing outreach in the Springs community.  We have talked with MAC, the Springs Advisory Board, to let them know our plans, and will be the speaker at the December MAC meeting. 
• We have talked with FISH, and La Luz to discussed working together in the future.  La Luz is letting us use Booker Hall for our Sunday night dinners.  A nice warm inside place to continue our Sunday get togethers.  Everyone is welcome to check us out and have Sunday dinner.  5 PM – 6:30 PM.
• We are talking with Art Escape and other members of the Springs to agree on paint colors and design for the Quick Haven Houses to keep them in the style of the Springs.  We could use more input if you have thoughts and ideas on paint colors and design.
•  We are planning a Springs town hall type meeting to talk to all members of the community wanting to know what we are doing!
• We are talking with Sonoma Applied Village Services (SAVS)  about having them do the wrap around services for winter shelter in rented space behind Baker and Cook. 
• We now have an office over the Sebastiani Theatre and our first employee, Valli Viere, to keep me from going crazy.  She and the volunteer staff are there working like crazy and if you want to help you would be very welcome.  Our normal hours are 10 AM to 2 PM.
• We have a lovely team, that could use help, distributing brochures, doing outreach and arranging speaking engagements in both the Springs and Sonoma City community.
• We have a team that is putting together a community fundraiser.

Now For the BIG picture. 

• We raised $30K at the garage sale that has grown to $100 because of all the media exposure.  We raised another $50K through the contributions of 4 Family Foundations.  This $150K is enough to secure the property, get the final studies done, and give Quick Haven a deposit.  Hopefully, December 7th we will be awarded some money from a county grant to complete winter shelter.
• We need to raise another $500 to get the winter shelter completely set up and ready for move in.  To accomplish this is an impossible sounding task. Our team is researching local foundations and fundraiser options, as well as an ASK to all of you.  With everyone’s help I know we can reach this goal.  Again if you have experience in fundraising or just want to help contact me.

How can you Help Right Now?
Many people got washed out in the rains.  We always need warm socks.  We will need 18 single mattresses, pillows, and considering bunk beds  (sleep up and storage under or sleep under and storage up.)  We will be talking to the people who have signed up for the shelters and asking type furnishings they would like to have.  When I know I get this data I will put it out there.
Volunteer Services We Can Use.

• A plumber to help with problems with the space behind Baker and Cook.
• Someone with a wood chipper and the willingness to supervise at the site cleanup.
• Guest chefs at the Sunday dinners.
• Volunteers to help clean up on the cleanup day.
• Artists to paint the Quick Havens.
• People to come to Sunday dinners that are willing to share a meal and make friends (It is the only way we can know what our unhoused friends really need.)
• Someone to help a young man get his grandfather’s old pick up running and drivable, it does need a lot of work. There has got to be a classic truck lover out there.  (it is a 1960 something Chevy).

Finally but not last:
We will be having a ribbon cutting ceremony in the near future followed by a lot cleanup day involving the community.  We will need a lot of volunteers for the cleanup and trucks to make dump runs.  If this is to work, we will need to pull together.
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Thank you all for your continued support.
Annie Falandes
Homeless Action Sonoma, Inc.
hassonoma.org
hassonomaorg@gmail.com
707 304-0502