CALIFORNIA NEWS MEET ROBERT It Takes a Village PAGE 13 SUNNYDALE UPDATE Doing More by Doing It Together PAGE 5 A Note from Our Partners In Hope: New Directions for Veterans PAGE 8 HOME OF THE BRAVE PAGE 6 SUMMER 2017 VOLUNTEER LETTER FROM BOARD CHAIR TANGERINE BRIGHAM HEALTH AND HOUSING CORNER ew veterans think We must view the lack of affordable that leaving home housing as an epidemic. Combating Paving the Way for We are always in need of to serve in the the spread of any epidemic requires volunteers of all ages and armed forces can both treatment (in this case, more Community Partnerships skill levels! mean coming back affordable housing) and prevention to homelessness. (policies that prevent people from ocial determinants of health We’re looking for enthusiastic Unfortunately, becoming homeless in the first place). — such as economic stability, people to help with a variety homelessness is physical environment, of programs, such as: more likely to strike Mercy Housing California has a strong, and access to social support veterans than other proven treatment for the epidemic of systems — play a larger role in After school programs populations; veterans make up 7% of veteran homelessness — permanent determining a person’s health for kids the U.S. general population, but almost supportive housing. It dramatically than their genes or biology. In Art therapy classes for 13% of the adult homeless population. transforms the lives of those who have recognition of this fact, both people with special needs Every night, thousands of homeless bravely served our country, but now healthcare organizations and community developers are rethinking Physical exercise classes veterans sleep in parks, shelters, cars, live with little hope on our streets. how to improve health and economic outcomes for the nation’s for seniors and on the streets. most vulnerable populations. and more... We’re not alone in our quest to Mercy Housing California is committed help end veteran homelessness; we Housing is a major social Individuals, groups, and to reversing this trend. We have collaborate with public agencies and We are prepared as a determinant of health, but there businesses welcome! partnered with several communities service providers to deliver innovative are often barriers to successful Volunteer groups can leave to develop housing specifically for and successful supportive programs. society to pay millions for collaboration between the a lasting impact at Mercy homeless and at-risk veterans. In this The community of partners and housing and healthcare sectors, Housing by participating issue of Mercy Housing California News, friends committed to ending veteran pharmaceuticals that are including a lack of shared in a property upkeep or you’ll meet Robert, a veteran who after a homelessness continues to grow and not nearly as impactful language and silos at local, beautification project, helping hard-fought battle with substance abuse, we’re grateful to work alongside others state, and federal levels. with a community meal, became sober and moved into Mather on this collective effort. on health as housing. or assisting with holiday Veterans Village in Rancho Cordova, What will it take for us At April’s Innovations in Health celebrations. Each activity California. You’ll also learn about how As Chair of the Mercy Housing and Housing Convening in generally accommodates our partnerships and programs help California Board, I was given the to decide to make the Los Angeles, Mercy Housing 10 - 15 volunteers. veterans across the state. opportunity to write this letter during joined health, housing, finance, the sabbatical of Doug Shoemaker, investment in housing? and policy experts to discuss As someone who works in the Mercy Housing California President. - Steven Henry, United HealthCare ways in which the health and If you’re interested healthcare field, I have seen firsthand Doug returns in late summer to housing sectors can collaborate in giving back to your how housing promotes better health. continue our fight for more affordable on creative solutions to tackle community, visit When you don’t have a clean, safe, housing for those who need it most. current obstacles and promote community health. The convening mercyhousing.org/ stable home, it’s nearly impossible to You’ll hear from him in our next issue. was co-hosted by The California Endowment, The Kresge Foundation, california/volunteer or manage your health. For veterans who Mercy Housing, and the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF). email Rebekah Kornblum at are homeless, suffering from post- Live in Hope, [email protected] traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/ In July, Mercy Housing worked with these groups to publish a report or struggling with substance abuse, exploring some of the most promising strategies. The report profiles taking care of yourself becomes even Tangerine Brigham nine case studies in which healthcare and housing sectors partner to more difficult. Chair, Mercy Housing California Board bring housing and better health to the most vulnerable populations. Read more about the report at mercyhousing.org/Publications 2 | MERCY HOUSING CALIFORNIA SUMMER 2017 | 3 SUNNYDALE UPDATES The ‘Home is Just the Beginning’ Event his summer has been a special season for the residents of San Francisco’s Sunnydale neighborhood, thanks to the success of Mercy Housing California’s Home is Just the Beginning event PHILANTHROPY this past March. With the CORNER first phase of construction scheduled to begin in early 2018, we’re thrilled to share A huge thank you to these what’s ahead as we partner new first-time corporate with the more than 700 Doing More and foundation donors to families who call Sunnydale Mercy Housing California! home in preparation for the By Doing It Together transformative work that Bothin Foundation will forever strengthen their long with local partners, residents, and community groups, neighborhood. Photos from the ‘Home is Just the Beginning’ event Mercy Housing is transforming the Sunnydale neighborhood California Health Care and the Visitacion Valley community in southeast San Foundation Francisco. In partnership with the community and with people like you, we’re finding new ways to improve educational and Century Housing Growing Hope: health outcomes, make the streets safer, and help connect residents to the economic prosperity that surrounds them. The Freda B. Runyon A Community Garden Foundation We know we can do more by working together, leveraging unnydale’s community important work experience. everyone’s skills and resources. To help build unity and Give Something Back garden provides Perhaps most importantly, by improve public safety, more than a beautiful working side-by-side, residents we’re collaborating with New Directions for Veterans space; it gives residents of all ages and backgrounds local churches, community Want to learn more via LISC nutritious food, job skills, can build relationships with activists, law enforcement about Sunnydale? and an opportunity to build one another and make their officials, and others to provide The River Cats Foundation relationships. The garden’s community stronger. creative outlets for teens and Would you or your employer like benefits are many: thanks young adults. This summer, to join us in the efforts? The Sundt Foundation to cooking classes offered As Sunnydale undergoes the neighborhood coalition Contact Mary Kelley to see how onsite, residents are better significant construction and helped teens find summer you, your friends, family, and TCA Architects equipped to cook healthy change over the next several jobs and adults prepare for contacts can be a part of the meals with their produce. The years, the garden will provide full-time employment in the transformation in Sunnydale: William G. Irwin Charity garden will also employ five a safe and stable community physical reconstruction of [email protected] Foundation resident leaders, giving them space for the neighborhood. Sunnydale. 4 | MERCY HOUSING CALIFORNIA SUMMER 2017 | 5 SPOTLIGHT ON VETERAN HOUSING HOME OF THE BRAVE ne in four homeless veterans in the United States lives in California, spending their nights under overpasses, on streets, and in encampments on Skid Row in Los Angeles and in the Tenderloin in San Francisco. Nearly 10,000 veterans are homeless in California — more than anywhere else in our nation. Nationally, more than 1.4 million veterans live below the poverty line, and another 1.4 million live slightly above it. Mental health conditions such as depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affect veterans at a higher rate than civilians. Poverty, mental health conditions, and physical disabilities put many veterans at especially high risk of becoming homeless. Though veterans continue to be overrepresented among those experiencing homelessness, there’s hope. Since 2009, proven models such as permanent supportive housing and innovative service partnerships have reduced the number of homeless veterans by 46% across our nation. Permanent supportive housing combines affordable housing, health care, and supportive services designed to meet the unique and heightened needs of the most vulnerable: the chronically homeless and those with multiple barriers to housing, including veterans. Partnering with leading veterans service providers, Mercy Housing offers integrated care and community-based support to our veterans. Since opening in 2014 and 2016, respectively, El Monte Veterans Village and Mather Veterans Village provide homes