30 Nights with the Martinez/Pacheco Homeless Outreach — Project Homeless Connect

Day 25

7 a.m.

Today was a special day for the county serving our homeless community — it was Project Homeless Connect. Basically the county homeless service brings every service provider together plus services like hair cuts, vet services, lunch, doctors, court, the Department of Motor Vehicles, etc. It normally serves around 700 homeless in our county. Today it was in Richmond; they change the venue every year. Last year it was Antioch.

Every year I do transportation as an outreach service provider. I have been taking the folks from Martinez for years now. This year I let people know I would be doing hourly transportation pickups in Martinez for days now. Then after lunch I would bring folks back so there were no excuses why people couldn't go. As the morning started I was sorely disappointed in our local homeless; everyone I took was from local programs. I made five trips there and two to the Concord shelter for the bus from there. I had a great turnout from people already getting services, but as far as our local homeless only one went — yes, one. I couldn't believe it; there was no reason for them not to go, they just wanted to hang out and do nothing. So after the third trip I walked around to see; I asked people to come. They were busy with their busy schedule; this was a great chance to get everything they needed, plus lunch from Kinders.

I know some of you will disagree with this next statement but it was how I was feeling at the time, being so bummed. I really felt like I had made progress here in Martinez until today, when no one went. I felt like I haven't done enough and maybe the answer is a good dose of police intervention. Some days it makes me wonder why I try harder than they do; I guess it is because everyone deserves a good quality of life and everyone deserves a chance. But the question I pose to you is: How long do I give chances to help someone? The homeless in Martinez are blessed that someone offers help nightly and today I felt let down and that I hadn't done a good enough job for them or the city.

Before I go I want to congratulate Cynthia Belon, our county homeless director and her staff; they did an amazing job. I have been to every PHC and I think every year it gets better. Every one of these people should be commended for the job they did; the whole event is volunteer based and I believe a lot of people were helped, just not from our city. One thing I never mention is how good of a job the county shelters do. They are great to work with. Arturo Castillo and Debbie Keenan do a great job of running the shelters and they always make room when I really need it. To them I say thank you.

Oh I forgot — in the middle of all of the rides I took a call with mental health and Martinez police. We were able to get a guy services and I also took one call from the police on Alhambra Avenue and was able to take that lady to PHC and she received services. But I don't count her even though she was in Martinez. She was from Bay Point and let out of the hospital.

Only five days left on this blog.