On Sunday, October 25 during the Coffee Hour between our 11:15 and 1:00 services, Sally Howard will offer an update and lead a conversation on our Safe Haven-Bridge to Housing Project. Here is some history of the project and some updates to inform that conversation. 

Background: The Safe Haven Bridge to Housing model was developed in mid-May of 2020 in collaboration with our partners at Union Station to address a severe shortage in shelter capacity and day centers, and the closing of City Hall, during the pandemic.  The program follows the “housing first model” which is by far the most successful intervention nationwide for ameliorating the condition of homelessness. And from its inception the program aimed to reduce the numbers of those experiencing homelessness on the All Saints campus.

Recognizing that having a safe place to sleep and keep some essential belongings without worry can be a first step in recovery from homelessness, our goal is to provide safe sleeping space for up to twelve individuals, with lockers for storage of a limited number of personal items during the day. 

The program will be limited to up to twelve people who will be followed by a Union Station or LAHSA caseworker.  Each person will be registered and agree to campus and community rules that allow their participation.  Violation of these rules will constitute grounds for dismissal from the program, at which point Union Station will work to find other placement if possible.  These individuals will be allowed to sleep in designated spaces only, from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., at which point all belongings except a backpack will stored in a locker. 

Lockers also have a practical benefit for us as we move towards a multi-use campus again.  With locker storage, the campus will be free of personal belongings from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., actualizing a clean and neat campus.   They also enable us to identify and remove anything on campus that does not belong to Safe Haven participants. 

When implemented, the Safe Haven program will result in a return to our pre-COVID  situation of an open campus where individuals sleep on campus at night, but with all the added support and expertise of Union Station to move these participants to permanent housing.

Update: All of this is a work in progress — and here is a Q&A update on our progress:

Q: How did we decide to host the Safe Haven Bridge to Housing community on our campus?

• In pre-COVID times, although you may not have seen them, there were always unhoused people sleeping on the All Saints campus. You might recognize some of these people because you might have seen them at the well-remembered Sunday food table.

• When COVID struck, the homeless shelters were required to reduce their population by 75%.  Many unhoused persons were put out into the streets, with no place to sleep, and found a place at All Saints. 
  
  
• In response, we have worked to create a community which wants to be part of All Saints, a community which has made the All Saints campus its temporary home — a community we hope will continue to be with us, even after permanent sustained housing is offered.

• In concert with All Saints’ values of Radical Inclusion and Courageous Justice, we are providing a bridge to these folks with a safe, interim place to sleep and feel safe until they can find permanent housing.
  
  
• This follows the “housing first” model of ameliorating the conditions of homelessness. Union Station has a 97% success rate with the housing first model in placing people in permanent sustained housing and two people in our program have been placed so far, with a third to be placed soon. 

• The formation of this community has been done with support from various people and agencies:

• Union Station
  • Security personnel
  • Parishioner food and drink support
  • Pasadena Community Foundation
  • Social workers
  • Housing navigators
  • HOPE team
  • Approval by the Vestry
  • Pastoral care team
  • etc.

Q: Where are we at in our plan?

• Twelve participants have been selected, using the following criteria:

• Working with an outreach worker, care coordinator, housing navigator, and others from Union Station, LAHSA
• Participation includes requirement to sign an 18-point covenant, which includes, but is not limited to:
  • No drugs
  • No smoking
  • No alcohol
  • No weapons
  • … within a 1/2 mile radius of campus

• The campus has been cleaned and is power-washed on a regular basis.  For the time being, the south (chapel side) of the campus is designated as a non-gathering space.
• Union Station has applied to the city for a grant that would fund caseworker to work with participants at All Saints and First United Methodist Church, and we are hopeful that this will be approved.
• Bicycle lockers have been installed in Mike’s old parking space, to the west of the OCC trailer.
• We continue to work with the Pasadena Hope team, police department and fire department to maintain a safe campus
• We are working closely with the city to obtain a conditional use permit.

Q: How are we keeping the participants safe?

• Each participant was issued an ID card.
• The community self-polices and works in conjunction with our security provider.

Q: How are we keeping the church property safe?

• Currently we have a relationship with a security company that provides varying levels of service.
• We have installed security cameras.
• Any reported damages are repaired, working with our various contractors.

Our neighbors at the Maryland Apartments just south of ASC on Euclid have expressed their appreciation for our work and have agreed to meet monthly with our Safe Haven community leaders and leaders of the church to discuss issues and get to know each other.

Q:  Who paid for the lockers and other program expenses?

• We were fortunate to receive a $25,000 grant from the Pasadena Community Foundation to purchase the lockers.
• We have also received a $25,000 gift from a non-parishioner.

Q: What does the broader community think about it?

• First United Methodist Church has decided to join us in the Safe Haven Bridge to Housing Program.

Safe Haven Bridge to Housing Committee:

Erica Tamblyn – chair
Gloria Antall
Marilyn Coffman
Sharyn Delahousie
Emily Eaguirre
Kim Farnham
Max Molina
Shawn Morrissey
Rise Worthy-Deamer
Alfredo Feregrino & Sally Howard – staff