Every week at All Saints Church we put our faith into action. This week we are asking everyone to send a letter to Pasadena’s Planning & Community Development Department in support of Safe Haven’s application for a Minor Conditional Use Permit.

The Safe Haven program was started to provide temporary shelter for unhoused people in our community, following the 75% reduction of shelter space in Pasadena during the COVID crisis. The letter makes the following points:

• All people have a right to safe, affordable housing and that homelessness is not only a particular individual’s or family’s problem. It is a city and community problem and we have the responsibility for eradicating the conditions of homelessness.
• Safe Haven has excellent and experienced leadership. The program was developed in partnership with Union Station Homeless Services, the leading organization in the San Gabriel Valley, with years of expertise and knowledge about the condition of homelessness.
• Safe Haven follows the “housing first” model of ameliorating the conditions of homelessness. The housing first model used by Union Station that has a 97% success rate in placing unhoused people into permanent housing.
• There is a critical shortage of affordable housing in Pasadena, and a shortage of mental health services in the Los Angeles area in general. The Safe Haven program provides twelve individuals at a time with a safe, interim place to sleep and store essential items, until they can find permanent housing. Each participant is also connected to a caseworker and housing advocate to gain access to medical, mental health, and other resources, as well as to navigate the process towards permanent sustained housing.
• Safe Haven improves the health and safety of the whole city of Pasadena.
• Safe Haven is effective. To date through Safe Haven, 6 people gave obtained permanent housing and 4 have gotten into long term temporary housing.
• Safe Haven participants take pride and ownership of the space offered to them, and they keep our campus clean.
• The Safe Haven Program works in partnership with our neighbors like The Maryland, Alexander’s Steak House, and Fuller Seminary.
• Lastly, we want the City of Pasadena to be an innovative leader in ending the condition of homelessness. Union Station and members of the city governance tell us that the Safe Haven Bridge to Housing Program is a stellar model they hope will be emulated by other faith communities and cities.

COVID has taught us that our health and well-being depends on the health and well-being of all. Please take action and support granting Safe Haven Bridge to Housing a Minor Conditional Use Permit, so that they we can continue our work together to end the conditions of homelessness. Click on this link to get a copy of the letter, edit it, then sign and send the letter to the City of Pasadena at the address given on the letter.