Monday, June 12

Creative Housing Solutions:

Stabilization in Preparation for Employment

Conference Welcome Team

“Welcome to the Homeless Workforce Conference” — Gayle McLaughlin (Conference Co-Chair and City Council Member, Richmond, CA). Many times former Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin has said, “We do not look away from homelessness. We do not turn away from our fellow citizens…. Rather, we acknowledge and respect their valuable human potential.” She encouraged Saffron Strand from the beginning in 2009 and has served four years as Conference Co-Chair. City Council Member McLaughlin embraces the Saffron Strand vision, advocating for Richmond’s extraordinary civic leadership through the Homeless Workforce Conference.

“Welcome to Contra Costa County” — John Gioia (District 1 Supervisor, Contra Costa County, CA). Supervisor Gioia grew up in West County and has served on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors since 1999. He recently announced a new Health, Housing and Homeless Services Division to better integrate County services, partnering with school districts, housing providers, law enforcement, and social service agencies to develop innovative strategies to help Contra Costa’s most vulnerable residents.

Monday Plenary Moderator — Mary Fenelon (Convener of the Social Justice Council, Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, Walnut Creek, CA). Mary also is a member of the Board of Directors of Trinity Center and Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, which provides permanent housing and other services for homeless families. In addition, she is an active leader at state and national levels in support of innovative housing solutions for homeless people and others who are extremely poor and vulnerable.

Keynote — “Restorer of Streets to Live in: Homelessness in the Age of Trump” — Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie (Director of the Center for Peace and Spirituality, University Chaplain, and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR). Rev. Dr. Currie’s career “covers the waterfront” of homeless issues, including housing, violence, and lack of healthcare. He is a former board member of the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington, D.C., a former chair of the Multnomah County Community Action Commission, and a former board member of Burnside Community Council (Baloney Joe’s). At Portland’s First United Methodist Church he was the director of community outreach and the executive director of the Goose Hollow Family Shelter. He also worked with community non-profits such as Outside In and Transition Projects. Rev. Dr. Currie brings insight and inspiration on building coalitions among vulnerable populations who must work upstream together in order to achieve positive change in preventing homelessness.

“Impact of the New Housing Laws on the Bay Area’s Low-Income Communities” — Rachele Trigueros (Policy Manager, Bay Area Council, San Francisco, CA). New state laws — SB 1069 (Accessory Dwelling Units) and AB 2406 (Junior Accessory Dwelling Units) — create more opportunity for those at risk of homelessness and the working homeless to self-sustain, rather than become or remain dependent on others. What are the opportunities and challenges for homeowners and low-income renters, including those on the brink or working their way out of homelessness?

“Helping Homeowners Increase the Housing Supply” — Ellen Nicosia (Director of Finance and Operations, Lilypad Homes, Marin County, CA). California’s new housing legislation allows individual homeowners and those in need of housing to be able to help each other. Non-profit Lilypad Homes educates, advocates, consults with municipalities and agencies, and offers services to take homeowners through the ADU/JADU financing, permitting, design, construction, and rental process.

Our plenary speakers also joined in a panel discussion focused on low-income housing solutions that can help provide the stability necessary to sustain employment and prevent homelessness.

Networking Luncheon

“Progressive Cities: Forging A Different Path for People In Need” — Steve Early (author and journalist, Richmond, CA)

Steve Early has worked as a labor journalist, lawyer, organizer, or union representative since 1972. For 27 years, he was a Boston-based national staff member of the Communications Workers of America. As a CWA official, he helped both private and public sector employees bargain about wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Mr. Early’s free-lance writing about labor relations and workplace issues has appeared in The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Nation, The Progressive, Washington Monthly, and many other publications.

His fourth book, published by Beacon Press in January, is about Richmond — Refinery Town: Big Oil, Big Money, and the Remaking of an American City. The new book includes a short history of the city and an account of recent public policy controversies involving jobs and development, housing, taxation, police accountability, local labor and environmental standards, and municipal elections in Richmond.

A Richmond resident for the last five years, Mr. Early volunteers as a writer coach at Richmond High School and serves as an appointed member of the city’s Personnel Board.

Tuesday, June 13

Working Upstream with At-Risk Youth:

What Can We Do Now?

Ben Franklin’s 280-year-old axiom “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” especially holds true for young people. Homeless, runaway, and foster care youth are at greatest risk.

However, these young people also have the greatest opportunity to benefit when professionals and front-line workers, program managers, civic leaders, and volunteers are “working upstream” with strategies that help prevent extreme poverty and homelessness later.

Our Tuesday Plenary addressed the challenge: What can we do now to ensure education, housing, health care, and sustainable employment for the future of at-risk young people?

“Welcome to Working Upstream with At-Risk Youth” — Jael Myrick (Council Member, City of Richmond, Richmond, CA). Former Vice Mayor Myrick has been involved in the planning and implementation of Saffron Strand’s Annual Homeless Workforce Conference since the first Conference in 2010. He has been the Chair of Saffron Strand and Field Representative of the Office of California Assembly Member Nancy Skinner. For the past four years, he has led our Tuesday plenary focus on engaging homeless and at-risk youth, preparing them through education and training, and getting them into the workforce in jobs that pave the way to careers.

Tuesday Plenary Moderator — Don Schweitzer, PhD (Associate Professor of Social Work, Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR). Dr. Schweitzer’s pioneering research on homeless, runaway, and foster care youth pointed up the disturbing fact that many avoid involvement in the programs and services designed to meet their needs and keep them safe. Because they lacked job skills and employment, these young people were vulnerable to exploitation, including illicit drug trafficking and sex work. Dr. Schweitzer has taken a lead, working upstream to inform social, healthcare, and employment services for at-risk youth.

“New Tools for Assessing Risk and Resilience of Homeless Youth” — Robin Petering, MSW (PhD candidate, University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Los Angeles, CA). Ms. Petering is developing new tools, including artificial intelligence techniques, for assessing homeless youth and helping to prevent risk prone behavior. She is a co-Primary Investigator on a multi-city study assessing the health risks and resilience of young people who are homeless or unstably housed. Her work also includes research on gang involved homeless youth, which is supported by the National Institutes of Health, and research under the California HIV/AIDS Research Program (CHRP) through a grant entitled “Peers and Social Media to Promote HIV Testing and Treatment for Homeless Youth.”

“Taste the Hope: Working Upstream with Youth at New City Kitchen” — C. Paul Schroeder, MDiv (social entrepreneur, author, teacher, and journalist, Minneapolis, Minnesota). Mr. Schroeder founded New City Initiative, a non-profit in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to helping people who experience homelessness achieve their full human potential. He also launched New City Kitchen, a social enterprise catering business that provides “smart second chances to people who have demonstrated they want to work and have what it takes to succeed in the workforce.” That includes homeless and at-risk youth who “work upstream” in their own lives through training at New City Kitchen to develop the deeper skills and work experience necessary to secure employment in the private sector. Mr. Schroeder also presents the keynote at the Advocacy Luncheon.

“Richmond Promise 101 and Vision Forward” — Jessie Stewart (Executive Director, Richmond Promise, Richmond, CA). Learn more about the Richmond Promise, including our mission, vision, scholarship, and other programming to support Richmond young people access higher education, excel from high school to higher education, attain a post-secondary degree or certification, thrive in the field of their choice, and become a leader of positive change in their community and world.

“How Youth M.O.V.E. Oregon Keeps At-Risk Youth Moving toward Adulthood” — Martin Rafferty (Executive Director, Youth M.O.V.E. Oregon, Eugene, Oregon). At-risk young people, including homeless young adults, often tire of adult interference in youth-serving systems. An alternative, Mr. Rafferty believes, is to use the power of “peer-delivered” services: “The most effective way to support the young adult population is for young people to reach out to and support each other.” Mr. Rafferty experienced homelessness throughout his childhood and into his teen years and was diagnosed with depression, attention deficit disorder, and bipolar disorder. He found that what helped him the most was “community-based treatment” and he went to work for an organization focused on homeless and runaway populations, eventually joining the non-profit Youth M.O.V.E. Oregon (YMO). Under his leadership, YMO established drop-in centers, programs, and support services across the state of Oregon. Mr. Rafferty believes one of YMO’s greatest strengths is the ability to give young people the skills and opportunities necessary for a successful transition into adulthood.

Advocacy Luncheon

“Preventing Homelessness: Practice Makes PURPOSE” — C. Paul Schroeder, MDiv (social entrepreneur, author, teacher,  and journalist, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Paul Schroeder has 20 years of experience working at the intersection of spirituality and social change. He is the founder of New City Initiative (www.newcityinitiative.net), a nonprofit organization in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to helping people who experience homelessness achieve their full human potential. As the organization’s director, he launched New City Kitchen (www.newcitykitchen.com), a social enterprise offering job training and placement in the food service industry “for people seeking a second chance in the workforce.” He currently serves as CEO of HOURCAR, a non-profit car-sharing company with an environmental and equity mission based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Mr. Schroeder is a former Greek Orthodox priest and the author of the forthcoming book Practice Makes PURPOSE: Six Spiritual Practices that Will Change Your Life and Transform Your Community.

Conference participants received professional training in 90-minute workshops that expanded on plenary themes and provided other support for front line workers in housing, healthcare, and employment services for vulnerable populations.

Monday Afternoon, June 12

“Moderating Burnout in Social Service Workers” — Don Schweitzer, PhD (Associate Professor of Social Work, Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR). Findings from a survey of social workers in Oregon suggest there are a variety of ways programs can help moderate social work burnout. This workshop provided participants with ideas they can apply themselves and/or advocate for their agencies to implement. Even with very tight budgets, there are other forms of compensation that can help stressed front line workers.

“Intro to EFT / Tapping” — Steven Kessler, MFT (Psychotherapist, EFT Therapy Center, Albany, CA) In a warm, friendly group, participants saw why so many people say Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is the best tool for clearing trauma out of the body. They saw its effectiveness first-hand, experienced it themselves, and learned a few basic techniques to use on themselves and with the homeless people they serve. The workshop experienced group demonstrations of two simple EFT techniques for reducing stress and calming present-moment upsets, followed by instruction and practice in how to apply each technique.

“Make Your Program a Magnet: How To Engage And Retain Homeless Youth And Adults!” — Larry Robbin (Executive Director, Robbin and Associates, Oakland, CA). Many homeless youth and adults access our services, but many of them drop out without taking advantage of all that we have to offer them. This workshop helped both front line workers and program managers to understand the often hidden program “bumpers” that cause people to drop out of our programs. “Learn from surveys of homeless youth and adults why they leave and what you can do about it,” workshop presenter Larry Robbin said. “Find out about the eight levels of engagement with people in your program and what you can do to increase engagement so they stay with you to get all of the help that they need. You will leave this workshop with a completely new toolbox of ideas that will make your program a magnet for homeless youth and adults!”

“Close Connections: Exploring Well-Being within Individuals, Communities, and Organizations” — Gretchen Blais (Surrealist Artist, Arts of Point Richmond, Richmond, CA). “Working upstream” and pushing against barriers to solve the issue of homelessness can be taxing, said artist Gretchen Blais: “What people need, whether they are service providers or the recipients of those services, is ways to maintain their energy and focus. The focus of this workshop will be an understanding of some issues to help reduce stress so the swimming upstream becomes a fulfilling process, no matter what shows up.”

“What an Employee Needs to Know About Workplace Bullying” — Susan Forster, MEd, SPHR, SHRM-SCP (Founder, CORE Change Work Consulting, San Francisco Bay Area, CA). This workshop explained why workplace bullying is a serious health hazard for the employee and a serious business hazard for the employer. It took the perspective of an employee and predict the perilous journey the employee faces when targeted by a bullying supervisor. It covered why institutional bullying can be pervasive, perpetuated, and normalized; and it discussed options for support, the importance of self-care, and what to do when the bullying does not stop. Workshop participants learned:

• Bullying is interpersonal violence and leads to severe health damages.
• What abusive conduct tactics are, how tactics are used to control, and how to respond.
• Why bullying is not illegal in the U.S.
• Why the targets of bullying avoid reporting the behavior.
• Why it is the employer’s responsibility to expect professional behavior from employees.
• Why workplace bullying is so damaging and costly for the employer.

Tuesday Afternoon, June 13

“Health Risk Factors and Social Networks among Homeless Former Foster Care Youth” — Amanda Yoshioka-Maxwell, MSW (PhD Candidate, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA). New research helps to identify risk factors surrounding foster care involvement and homelessness, particularly HIV-related outcomes, which are important to front line workers serving at-risk youth. This workshop also offered insights on the social networks of homeless, foster care, and other at-risk youth, which can aid individual case management.

“The Uber of WASTE” — Martin Rafferty (Executive Director, Youth M.O.V.E. Oregon, Eugene, Oregon). An app was developed by “hackers” at the request of a City Manager to help address youth homelessness resources. The RAN (Resource Allocation Network) is an application made for programs to connect and cut into the massive amount of resources that go unused or thrown away. In this workshop, Martin examined the early success of the application and discussed practical aspects of better using “low hanging fruit.”

“The Importance of Juvenile Justice Reform” — Don Schweitzer, PhD (Associate Professor of Social Work, Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR). Continued overcrowding in the nation’s jails and prisons — despite years of declining crime rates — is only one obvious indicator of profound problems in the U.S. criminal justice system. A key element is the juvenile justice system, which deals with homeless and at-risk youth but often treats minors more like adults than the children they are. Restorative discipline and other pro-active approaches can offer better ways to work with young people than punishment through incarceration.

“College 101” — Jessica Rodriguez (Program Manager, Richmond Promise, Richmond, CA). Come learn about college, including different types of colleges and entrance requirements, the cost of college, and financial aid, said workshop presenter Jessica Rodriguez. Participants learned about available scholarships, including those specifically for homeless and foster youth. They were encouraged to share this college knowledge with the young people they work with to support them begin to prepare for or start their college and career journey!

Advocacy Luncheon & Awards Ceremony, Tuesday, June 13

“Welcome and Introductions” — Melvin Willis, Master of Ceremonies (Council Member, City of Richmond, CA). Born and raised in Richmond, City Council Member Willis attended local schools and worked for six years as a Community Organizer with Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. He also served as a Richmond Planning Commissioner (2012-2014) and was honored Io receive the 17th annual “Mario Savio Young Activist Award.”

“Preventing Homelessness: Practice Makes PURPOSE” — C. Paul Schroeder, MDiv (social entrepreneur, author, teacher,  and journalist, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Paul Schroeder has 20 years of experience working at the intersection of spirituality and social change. He is the founder of New City Initiative (www.newcityinitiative.net), a nonprofit organization in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to helping people who experience homelessness achieve their full human potential. As the organization’s director, he launched New City Kitchen (www.newcitykitchen.com), a social enterprise offering job training and placement in the food service industry “for people seeking a second chance in the workforce.” He currently serves as CEO of HOURCAR, a non-profit car-sharing company with an environmental and equity mission based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Mr. Schroeder is a former Greek Orthodox priest and the author of the forthcoming book Practice Makes PURPOSE: Six Spiritual Practices that Will Change Your Life and Transform Your Community.

Awards for Reducing Homelessness

Each year Saffron Strand, in collaboration with the City of Richmond, honors individuals and groups who are making a positive difference in the lives of homeless people and those at risk.

Gayle McLaughlin (Council Member, City of Richmond, Richmond, CA) tells how the Jesse Curtis Awards honor the memory of a humble but remarkable member of the Richmond community. Jesse lived into her 90’s and died in Richmond, homeless and alone. Despite her own homelessness, she helped many others who were homeless in Richmond. Jesse’s extraordinary kindness in action built a bridge to a better life for many who worked their way out of homelessness. Her memory lives on in many hearts she touched.

“Here in Richmond,” Gayle said, “we do not look away from homelessness. We do not turn away from our fellow citizens who have lost almost everything. Thanks to all the recipients of the 2017 Jesse Curtis Awards for Reducing Homelessness!”

During the Advocacy Luncheon, Gayle presented the 2017 Jesse Curtis Awards for Reducing Homelessness:

Homeless Citizen Achievement Award — honoring a homeless citizen who has made extraordinary progress, against all odds, in improving his or her job skills, employability, and economic independence — Joel Gill

Homelessness Advocacy in Action Award — honoring a member of the community who has been highly effective in advocating and achieving positive results with responsible, actionable, and sustainable solutions for homelessness — Don Schweitzer

Homelessness Program Achievement Award — honoring a government, non-profit, or faith-based program’s extraordinary performance  in helping to reduce homelessness — Roots Community Health Center

Homelessness Program Achievement Award — honoring a government, non-profit, or faith-based program’s extraordinary performance  in helping to reduce homelessness — Downtown Streets Team

Outstanding Volunteer Award — honoring a member of the community whose selfless, voluntary work has benefited the homeless and provided a great example to us all — Sara Glaser

Chair’s Award — presented by the Chair of the Saffron Strand Board of Directors, honoring a dedicated and compassionate member of the community who has worked tirelessly and quietly behind the scenes to reduce homelessness — Margaret Jordan

For previous Jesse Curtis Award recipients, see the programs of Past Homeless Workforce Conferences.

For more information — or to make future Jesse Curtis Awards nominations — please contact Saffron Strand at info@saffronstrand.org.

“Welcome Home” — Each “Home It” modular dwelling unit is a prefabricated, secure, and sound-proof structure available in various sizes for installation inside an existing building or outside. The ceiling, floor, and walls have 4 inches of insulation with metal skins that can be decontaminated. A Home It unit can be assembled for use or disassembled for reuse in an hour or less. The Conference exhibit featured a full-size 8×10-foot model as illustrated.

Authors & Their Books — Conference participants met nationally acclaimed authors and browsed their most recent books on display in the Conference exhibit area:

• C. Paul Schroeder, MDiv — Practice Makes PURPOSE: Six Spiritual Practices that Will Change Your Life and Transform Your Community.
• Steven Kessler, MFT — The 5 Personality Patterns — a simple, clear, true-to-life map of personality that provides a key to understanding people and communicating with them effectively.
• Steve Early — Refinery Town: Big Oil, Big Money, and the Remaking of an American City — the story of the City of Richmond, California and the more than 100-year-old Chevron refinery that transformed a rural agriculture and fishing community near San Francisco into a company town that now has one of the highest concentrations of homeless people in the Bay Area.
  

Safe Time Home Sharing, Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit corporation that recognizes the potential of human kindness and the space available in underutilized homes in Contra Costa County. “Our primary function is to recruit volunteer hosts and provide their profiles to registered local service agencies. The service agencies will contact a volunteer host when they have a client that might be a fit. Our immediate goal for Safe Time is to help prevent the tragedy of homelessness in Contra Costa County.”

The homeless, hard-to-employ, and long-term unemployed need stable housing as a platform for employment. They also need job skills and work-related social skills to match employers’ needs in a dynamic, technologically sophisticated job market. Health care is a priority, too.

Our 2017 Conference provided public education and professional training available in no other forum. Participants learned about new opportunities for stable housing and supportive health care for vulnerable populations. They also gained professional skills to help all vulnerable people develop valuable work skills, get jobs they can sustain, and develop long-term careers.

Conference Goals

1. Engage stakeholders in cost-effective, employment-focused solutions to homelessness, including the workforce of homeless and at-risk members of our communities
2. Identify gaps, incentives, and disincentives in existing housing, health care, and employment programs for the homeless and practical ways to integrate new solutions
3. Apply traditional and new best practices in the continuum of care and transition
4. Focus on programs to optimize employability and career potential of homeless persons
5. Use Richmond — where the homeless face every possible challenge — as the proving ground for new, employment-focused solutions to homelessness

Who Could Benefit from Attending

• Housing and employment development agencies, Workforce Investment Boards, and One-Stops
• Housing and employment specialists, job developers, and vocational rehabilitation specialists
• Local and state homeless program administrators and executive staff
• Public health providers, outreach staff, case managers, and social workers
• Primary and emergency medical care, substance abuse, and mental health providers
• State legislators, their legislative staff, and local elected officials
• Family, drug, and criminal court judges and law enforcement leaders and police
• Non-profit organizations, advocates for the homeless, philanthropic foundations
• Community health center and hospital executives, staff, and board members
• Public housing providers, landlords, and tenants
• Local businesses affected by the homeless or concerned about increasing homelessness
• People who have experienced homelessness and want to share their own solutions