Saffron Strand’s Debut at Project Homeless Connect 4, June 17th in Richmond, Featured in Contra Costa Times

Project Homeless Connect 4 (PHC4), organized by Contra Costa County health services, took place on June 17th at the Civic Center in Richmond. The mission of PHC4 was to provide vital services for Contra Costa’s homeless population “under one roof.”

For its first offering of personal care and wellness services to West County’s homeless persons, Saffron Strand recruited 12 volunteers who are owners and employees of local small businesses in the personal care and wellness industry (see businesses below).

These volunteers included Saffron Strand Board Members and Advisors who operate businesses such as salons, spas, and barber shops. They offered their services free of charge to the homeless, providing haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and massages continuously for a period of 6 hours (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.).

At PHC4, Saffron Strand occupied the stage area of the auditorium, the busiest and most popular area of the event. In all, Saffron Strand served more than 100 persons, donating professional services worth thousands of dollars at no cost to the county or those who were served.

Contra Costa County’s first Project Homeless Connect took place in Richmond in December 2006. Organizers envisioned the event as a “one-day, one-stop shop to offer a variety of services to people experiencing homelessness, connecting them with benefits, medical care, substance abuse and mental health counseling, social services, housing and shelter.”

The Contra Costa Health Services Homeless Program coordinated the 2006 event in conjunction with the City of Richmond, the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program, and other partners. At that time, authorities estimated that “15,000 people experience homelessness in Contra Costa each year, with 900 families and more than 4,800 individuals enduring it each night.” Figures available from authorities in advance of PHC4 offered the same estimate for people who experience homelessness each year and estimated that some 4,000 were homeless “on any given night.”

Please give special thanks—and patronage!—to the volunteer PHC4 personal care and wellness professionals:

Grace Shocron Panache The Spa 1539 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA 94709	Joe Escobedo The Glam Box
Nuzat Iqbal Zen Organic Salon 6333 Fairmont Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530	Ray Martinez Zen Organic Salon 6333 Fairmont Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530
Matilde Pastor Fantastic’s Beauty Salon 1581 Sycamore Avenue Hercules, CA 94547	Maria Picemo Lupitas Picemo Beauty Salon 1829 Rumrill Boulevard San Pablo, CA 94806
Hisako Oba Living Well 1159 Hearst Avenue, Suite A Berkeley, CA 94702