“Bridges Out of Homelessness:

Vocations, Health, and Housing”

May 10, 2010, Craneway Pavilion
Richmond, CA

Our first annual conference "opened the door" for new, employment-focused solutions to homelessness in the Bay Area. "Bridges Out of Homelessness: Vocations, Health and Housing" on May 10, 2010 at the Craneway Pavilion, brought local stakeholders and regional and national experts together for a unique, unconference-like event. Along with new and useful information on key elements of the homeless challenge there was live music, good food, and opportunities for community leaders and professionals to network.

Results of our on-site "Overall Evaluation" conference participant questionnaire show the value of "Bridges Out of Homelessness." Who participated: More than 200 conference participants included a wide range of professionals and others working with or in frequent contact with homeless people in Richmond, other West Contra Costa communities, and communities throughout the Bay Area.

Their areas of professional expertise included health care, law enforcement, public education, and workforce development. Their job titles included education and training specialist, social worker, counselor, program coordinator, teen-parent coordinator, volunteer, and others. Conference participants also had diverse educational backgrounds, including a variety of social science and health care bachelor's and master's degrees, with licensed clinical social workers and other certified specialties, and at least one with a background in information technology and business systems consultation.

Questionnaire respondents had considerable other conference experience: All had attended at least one conference in the past year and more than a quarter (28%) had attended as many as four conferences. They chose to attend "Bridges Out of Homelessness" for a variety of reasons, with "professional development" (36%), "workshops" (21%), and "recommendation of colleague or employer" (21%) ranking highest.

Their opinion of the conference: Results of the questionnaire showed that 100% of respondents rated the overall quality of "Bridges Out of Homelessness" as "excellent" (67%) or "good" (33%). No one rated the conference quality as "average," "below average," or "poor." Respondents especially appreciated the quality of the conference workshops, with 100% of respondents rating the workshop quality "excellent" (71%) or "good" (29%).

All respondents approved the timing of the conference (Monday in early to mid May) as "excellent" (17%) or "good" (83%). There was a wider range of response among other general conference questions, but still the overwhelming response to the conference was positive.

Professional-level education in Richmond: "Bridges Out of Homelessness" met all its goals and provided an extraordinary opportunity for many to participate in the highest quality learning about homelessness. For professionals and others working with the homeless in Richmond and other West Contra Costa communities, our conference was an opportunity for professional-level education and networking without having to travel far or pay a lot.

"Bridges Out of Homelessness" took place in Richmond, which remains home to one of the highest concentrations of poor and homeless people in the Bay Area. As Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin pointed out, Saffron Strand's conference was a great example of the great things that are possible in "a city of unlimited possibilities."

For the brochure and other information about the 2010 Conference: Click here