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Feature
Article
HOME AT LAST
Making a Lasting Impact on Homelessness in
the Valley
By Sherri Gagliardi

CATHEDRAL CITY — Have you ever thought
about how a homeless person actually goes about changing their
lifestyle? Even once they gain basic life-coping skills, they
are caught in the “Catch 22” of the real world.
How do you apply for a job without a home address? How do
you get a home address without a job to obtain the funds needed
for first and last month’s rent and a security deposit?
It is a daunting cycle which makes it extremely difficult
for the homeless to overcome their already challenging circumstances.
The Salvation Army’s HOME AT LAST program, working closely
with other Coachella Valley charities, has an answer for these
puzzling questions. Gary Tellez, a Riverside County social
worker, devotes much of his time to our local Salvation Army.
Last year at this time, Gary received word that the Cathedral
City Salvation Army was being awarded the SIEBEL grant. This
grant is how HOME AT LAST got started. It provides much-needed
funds to help people who are homeless or living in shelters
get on their feet and into a place of their “own.”
Through this program, homeless individuals and families are
provided with first month’s rent and security deposits
for a house, apartment or a room in a private home. In Riverside
County security deposits for rentals are allowed to be equal
to one full month’s rent. This high price is a huge
stumbling block for these rehabilitated homeless folks who
are ready to move on from a shelter or temporary housing and
into a place of their own.
Lothar Vasholz, Chair of the Advisory Board of The Salvation
Army, says that during the first year of this program there
have been 145 home placements! At least 35 of those have been
families, some with young children. The program’s success
is almost entirely due to several local non-profit organizations
working jointly on this project, cooperating and joining forces
in the effort to help.
HOME AT LAST is administered by The Salvation Army working
closely with organizations such as Coachella Valley Rescue
Mission in Coachella, Martha’s Village and Kitchen in
Indio, Episcopal Community Services in Palm Springs, and The
Riverside Family Preservation organization. Most of the candidates
for the program come from these organizations which have live-in
facilities and long-term shelters.
To qualify for the program, the individuals must be mentally
and physically capable of maintaining their own place. They
must be employed with sufficient income to maintain a monthly
rent. They must also go through lifestyle rehabilitation and
turn-around programs including Bible studies, classes on anger
management, money management and, when applicable, drug or
alcohol rehabilitation.
Tellez says, “I didn’t work a lot with the homeless
until this grant came along and I am learning so much.”
Mr. Tellez and Captain Saul Doria at the Salvation Army, along
with the volunteers and non-profit workers who oversee each
case, decide when someone is ready to move on from a shelter
and into a rental unit. Once a person or family is ready for
this step, HOME AT LAST helps to secure housing for them without
their having to come up with the daunting sum of money for
the first month’s rent, and security and utility deposits.
This is a chance that would not be possible for so many if
not for the SIEBEL grant and the Cathedral City Salvation
Army working together with other non-profit organizations.
Kathleen Killian from The C.V. Rescue Mission says, “One
of the biggest hindrances we encounter (in the program) is
helping the clients find gainful employment and finding affordable
housing.” Killian sums it up well, saying, “The
people in this program have shown tremendous growth and have
made great strides towards cleaning up the wreckage of their
pasts. They deserve a second chance at a good life.”
Jesus Christ is all about second chances and because of Him
this program gives hope and a future to once destitute and
downcast citizens in our valley.
The biggest area of need is for affordable housing that can
be rented to those in the program. Cash donations to supplement
the grant are extremely helpful as well. For more information
about the program, to make a donation, or to recommend a rental
unit for the program contact Gary Tellez or Captain Saul Doria
at The Salvation Army at (760) 324-2275.
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