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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.