“I had an apartment, but I still felt like I was on the edge of the abyss,” Bullock said. “I moved away from the only community I had.”

When her daughter's school went on summer vacation, she couldn't afford a babysitter and had no choice but to quit her job, she said. She was soon kicked out of her apartment and found herself living on the streets of San Francisco again.

“They give you the voucher and you're on your own,” Bullock said. “I only went to Napa to be forgotten.”

It took another three years before she found another apartment – ​​this time in San Francisco.

Between 2020 and 2023, at least 596 families and individuals, or 13% of all clients in the program, ended up living on the streets or in shelters again, according to the data. The city's homeless services department does not know what happened to another 738 clients because it did not collect their data.

The rate of clients returning to homelessness improved between 2021 and 2023, falling from 20% to just 8% of all outcomes, as about 63% of the program's clients transitioned into permanent supportive housing last year. However, data from the first four months of 2024 show that the rate of returning to homelessness has increased again to 12%, while transitions to permanent housing have fallen to 58% of all outcomes.

The department said all program participants are offered the opportunity to meet with a case manager weekly for the first 90 days after they move in, and twice a month thereafter. Participants also go through “exit planning” 90 days before their subsidies expire to ensure they do not become homeless again, the department said.

The post San Francisco strikes Black households out greater than some other race appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Christmas came early for some children at an elementary school in San Francisco’s Chinatown Sunday, at an event which hosted a toy giveaway and celebrated families successfully moving into affordable housing. 

The event was back in full force this year after some challenges due to the pandemic, according to the Executive Director of the Chinatown Community Development Center, Malcolm Yeung. 

“Today is our special super Sunday for our families living in single room occupancy hotels. We have about 100 families coming and will be distributing about 250 gifts to children of these families,” he said. 

It’s been a couple of challenging years for the community, according to Yeung. 

“I think we’re finally starting to feel like things are beginning to turn around and events like this are just symbolic of that,” he said.

The gifts given out Sunday were all donated. 

NBC Bay Area spoke with one parent there through an interpreter. 

“This is her first Christmas in America,” they said. “And it means a lot to her because everyone is coming together.”

They also thanked Mayor London Breed, who attended the event, and city for their work in helping to move some families from one-room units to affordable housing. 

The Salvation Army San Francisco said it’s seen an increase in need for toys this year. 

“We will be giving toys to about 1,600 children, which is a 30% increase from last year so we definitely need toys,” Divisional Communications Director of the Salvation Army, Jennifer Byrd said.

Distribution is set for Dec. 19. Ways to help can be found on their website. 

“This coming week, we start packing them and make sure every child gets the toy that they want, but definitely the sooner, the better so we can make sure they get all under the Christmas tree,” Byrd said.

The post San Francisco Chinatown toy giveaway celebrates shifting households into reasonably priced housing – NBC Bay Space appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Christmas came early for some children at an elementary school in San Francisco’s Chinatown Sunday, at an event which hosted a toy giveaway and celebrated families successfully moving into affordable housing. 

The event was back in full force this year after some challenges due to the pandemic, according to the Executive Director of the Chinatown Community Development Center, Malcolm Yeung. 

“Today is our special super Sunday for our families living in single room occupancy hotels. We have about 100 families coming and will be distributing about 250 gifts to children of these families,” he said. 

It’s been a couple of challenging years for the community, according to Yeung. 

“I think we’re finally starting to feel like things are beginning to turn around and events like this are just symbolic of that,” he said.

The gifts given out Sunday were all donated. 

NBC Bay Area spoke with one parent there through an interpreter. 

“This is her first Christmas in America,” they said. “And it means a lot to her because everyone is coming together.”

They also thanked Mayor London Breed, who attended the event, and city for their work in helping to move some families from one-room units to affordable housing. 

The Salvation Army San Francisco said it’s seen an increase in need for toys this year. 

“We will be giving toys to about 1,600 children, which is a 30% increase from last year so we definitely need toys,” Divisional Communications Director of the Salvation Army, Jennifer Byrd said.

Distribution is set for Dec. 19. Ways to help can be found on their website. 

“This coming week, we start packing them and make sure every child gets the toy that they want, but definitely the sooner, the better so we can make sure they get all under the Christmas tree,” Byrd said.

The post San Francisco Chinatown toy giveaway celebrates transferring households into reasonably priced housing – NBC Bay Space appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

• By Kevin Shoesmith
• BBC News

26 September 2022

Image source, Nick Hannam

Image caption,

Chimney sweep Nick Hannam said people were reinstating old fireplaces in response to gas prices

Households are bringing boarded-up fires and stoves back into use to reduce their energy bills, chimney sweeps have said.

One West Yorkshire couple said they had reinstated an old stove, unused since they moved in.

Campaign group Fuel Poverty Action said people were “resorting to all sorts of measures” to stay warm.

Typical household energy bills are being capped by the government at £2,500 a year from 1 October.

Chimney sweeping firm owner Michelle Farrelly said she had seen an increase in people seeking help to return to solid fuel.

She said one in three inquiries now relate to reinstating boarded-up fires or stoves due to rising energy prices.

Mrs Farrelly said: “It’s genuine panic. People are very concerned about how they are going to keep warm this winter. I have not known anything like it.”

The former firefighter, who runs Holderness Chimney Sweep in East Yorkshire with husband Matthew, said people were “burning anything and everything”.

She explained some wood, including material coated in chemicals such as creosote, is unsuitable for burning because it can give off toxic fumes.

Image source, Marie McHale

Image caption,

Marie McHale intends to use the multi-fuel stove to keep warm this winter

The homeowner

Marie McHale, a compliance manager from Castleford, West Yorkshire, said she and her husband recently hired a chimney sweep.

She said: “We moved into the property in late 2018. We have decided to bring the stove back into use to cut down our gas central heating usage.”

Ms McHale said she was deeply concerned about fuel hikes and rising inflation hitting weekly grocery bills.

“It’s pretty dreadful,” she said.

Weighing up the cost of smokeless fuel and wood chips against the price of gas and electricity, Ms McHale is confident they will make a saving.

She said: “At the moment, our gas and electric bill is £456 per month but we worked out we’d be paying about £800 per month this winter.

“By using the multi-fuel stove we can warm up pretty much the whole of the downstairs, reducing the amount we pay for gas.”

Nick Hannam, owner of Wakefield-based Cosysweep, reported a similar picture.

He said: “I am getting lots of phone calls.

“Before, fires and stoves were decorative. Now people are bringing them back into use because of the high cost of gas.”

Alex Leonard, owner of Hull-based Leonards and Airlievac, said: “We are taking bookings a month in advance with people saying they are opening up, and using, fires again.

“They are doing so because of the high cost of gas. A lot of people are going on to solid fuel to save money on gas.”

He urged people to hire a National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS) member to carry out checks bringing fires and stoves back into use.

“It’s possible that a cap has been put on the chimney,” he said. “You could have a bird nest or a dead bird in the flue.”

Image source, Getty Images / Richard A Lock

Image caption,

Many households are turning to solid fuel to heat their homes, say chimney sweeps

A spokeswoman for campaign group Fuel Poverty Action added alternatives to switching on central heating “should be unnecessary”.

The government has confirmed households will be given a one-off £400 discount on their fuel bills from October.

Further payments of £300 to pensioner households and £150 to disabled people will also go ahead.

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By JackQueen

(Reuters) – Liability waivers signed by passengers on a submersible lost at sea during a dive to the Titanic wreck may not protect the ship’s owner from potential lawsuits from victims’ families, legal experts say.

The Titan submersible disappeared Sunday after about two hours of diving and was found in parts on the seabed after a “catastrophic implosion” of its hyperbaric chamber occurred on Thursday, according to the US Coast Guard.

The passengers, who paid up to $250,000 each to travel 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) below the surface, are believed to have signed a liability waiver. A CBS reporter who made the trip with OceanGate Expeditions in July 2022 reported that the waiver he signed mentioned the possibility of death three times on the first page alone.

Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the terms of OceanGate’s waivers.

OceanGate did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.

Waivers are not always valid, and it is not uncommon for judges to reject them where there is evidence of gross negligence or danger that has not been fully disclosed.

“If there were aspects of the design or construction of this vessel that were withheld from passengers, or the vessel was knowingly operated despite being told that it was unsuitable for this dive, that would absolutely defeat the validity of the exemption,” he said Persons Damage Attorney and Maritime Law Expert Matthew D. Shaffer, who is based in Texas.

OceanGate was able to argue that there was no gross negligence and that the exemptions apply because they detail the dangers of exploring the deepest oceans in a minivan-sized submersible.

The extent of possible negligence and how this might affect the applicability of the exemptions depends on the causes of the disaster, which are still under investigation.

“There are so many different examples of what families might still be entitled to despite the waivers, but until we know the cause, we can’t determine if the waivers apply,” said California personal injury attorney Joseph Low.

The families could not be reached on Thursday. It is possible that none of them will sue.

OceanGate is a small company based in Everett, Wash., and it’s unclear if it has the resources to pay significant damages if awarded, but families could benefit from the company’s insurance policy, if one is available has.

Families could also seek damages from outside parties who designed, helped build, or manufactured components for the Titan if they are found to have acted negligently and caused the implosion.

“DEATH AT SEA”

OceanGate could try to protect itself from damages by filing a so-called limitation of liability suit under maritime law, which allows owners of ships involved in an accident to seek federal court to limit any damages to the ship’s present value. Since the Titan was destroyed, that would be zero.

However, OceanGate would have to prove that it was unaware of any possible defects in the submersible and would bear the burden of proof, which legal experts say is difficult to fulfil.

Should OceanGate fail in such a case, the families are free to file claims of negligence or first-degree manslaughter.

Another law of the sea, the Death on the High Seas Act, allows persons who were financially dependent on a person who died in a shipwreck to claim only that portion of that person’s future income that they would otherwise have received. In these cases, the plaintiffs cannot claim compensation for pain and suffering.

What OceanGate knew about the ship’s safety and what was communicated to passengers about it were the key questions during discovery, a process where parties share information about a case.

The plaintiffs may be able to cite allegations of security flaws at OceanGate made by a former employee in a 2018 lawsuit against the company in federal court in Washington. Staff member David Lochridge said he raised “serious safety concerns” but was ignored. That case was settled on undisclosed terms, court filings show.

A group of industry leaders also wrote to OceanGate in 2018, raising serious concerns about the safety of the ship and the company’s decision not to have Titan certified by third parties such as the American Bureau of Shipping, a leading classifier for submersibles.

(Reporting by Jack Queen; Editing by Amy Stevens and Daniel Wallis)

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Eine Verletzung zwang die fünfköpfige Familie, während einer der regenreichsten Jahreszeiten Kaliforniens seit Jahrzehnten in einem undichten Wohnmobil aus dem Jahr 1995 mit einem defekten Sanitärsystem zu leben.

Ana Franquis‘ Ehemann Oscar wurde vor etwa zwei Jahren entlassen, nachdem er sich bei seiner Arbeit als Tischler eine Rückenverletzung zugezogen hatte.

Da Oscar das einzige Einkommen ihres Haushalts sicherte, beantragten sie ein Mietstützungsprogramm aus der Zeit der Pandemie. Doch schließlich erhielten sie einen Räumungsbescheid. Ihre Kinder waren 2, 10 und 12 Jahre alt – und sie hatten drei Tage Zeit, ihre Wohnung in Seaside zu verlassen.

Es war ein weiteres Hindernis in einem Jahr voller Tragödien. Kurz vor der Räumung hörte Franquis aufgrund einer Krebsdiagnose auf zu arbeiten und ihr Vater starb.

„Wir waren verzweifelt und konnten nirgendwo hingehen“, sagte Franquis, dessen Kinder Schulen im Monterey Peninsula Unified District im nordkalifornischen Monterey County besuchen.

Ihre Familie ist eine von 2.220, die in diesem Schuljahr in ihrem Bezirk als Obdachlose identifiziert wurden, wobei fast 90 % in Doppelhäusern leben.

Monterey County weist mit 13,4 % die höchste Rate an obdachlosen Studenten unter den Landkreisen des Bundesstaates auf.

Der stärkste Anstieg unter den Bezirken ist an der Santa Rita Union Elementary zu verzeichnen, nur wenige Meilen von der Schule entfernt, wo Franquis‘ Kinder eingeschrieben sind. In diesem in der Stadt Salinas gelegenen Bezirk ist die Zahl obdachloser Studenten von 2014 bis 2020 nicht über 1,53 % oder 55 Studenten gestiegen. In diesem Jahr ist sie jedoch auf 22,24 % oder 718 Studenten gestiegen.

Salinas ist als landwirtschaftliches Zentrum mit üppigem Obst- und Gemüseanbau bekannt und wird von den Einwohnern seit langem als ein Ort beschrieben, an dem in einer Gegend mit hohen Lebenshaltungskosten niedrige Löhne herrschen. Das Zusammenleben oder das Zusammenleben von Familien ist keine Seltenheit.

Für Franquis‘ Familie im nahegelegenen Monterey, wohin sie inzwischen gezogen ist, kam die Unterstützung zunächst in Form von Gutscheinen für die Übernachtung in einem Motel, während sie über ihre nächsten Schritte nachdachten. Diese Gutscheine wurden mit Mitteln des Federal American Rescue Plan bezahlt, der laut landesweiten Verbindungsleuten obdachlosen Familien während der Pandemie und ihren wirtschaftlichen Folgen wichtige Unterstützung geleistet hat.

Die Pandemie führt zu einem Anstieg der Obdachlosigkeit unter Studenten

Vor der Pandemie nahm die Obdachlosigkeit aufgrund des Mangels an bezahlbarem Wohnraum zu. Aber Familien wurden durch die Inflation und die explodierenden Mieten nach dem Auslaufen des staatlichen Räumungsmoratoriums an den Rand des Abgrunds gebracht, sagten Verbindungsleute. Einige Gebiete haben auch durch Naturkatastrophen wie Waldbrände, Überschwemmungen und Erdbeben Wohnraum verloren.

Während die Einschreibungen in Kalifornien letztes Jahr zurückgingen, stieg die Zahl der obdachlosen Studenten um 9 %. Zuwächse in Küstenbezirken wie Humboldt, Monterey und Ventura sowie in Binnenbezirken wie Plumas, Mariposa und San Bernardino folgen Rückgängen in den letzten drei Jahren. Dies wurde weitgehend von Experten erwartet, die sagen, dass das Problem der Unterzählung obdachloser Schüler während des Fernunterrichts in der Pandemie-Ära besonders groß war; Das Schulpersonal verlässt sich auf persönliche Interaktionen, um obdachlose Schüler zu identifizieren. Angesichts der Massenrückkehr an die Universitäten liegt die Zahl der Obdachlosen landesweit auf dem Niveau vor der Pandemie.

Experten weisen darauf hin, dass Statistiken über obdachlose Schüler mehr darüber aussagen können, wie gut Schulen obdachlose Schüler identifizieren, als darüber, wie viele Schüler von Obdachlosigkeit betroffen sind.

„Ich glaube nicht, dass es so einfach ist wie: Die Zahlen steigen, die Obdachlosigkeit nimmt zu; Die Zahlen sind gesunken, die Obdachlosigkeit ist gesunken. Das sind nicht die Schulzahlen. Sie sind ein Maß dafür, wer identifiziert und in die Schule eingeschrieben ist“, sagte Barbara Duffield, Geschäftsführerin von Schoolhouse Connection, einer landesweiten Interessenvertretung für Obdachlose.

In der Santa Rita Union Elementary spiegelt der Anstieg in hohem Maße die erneuten Bemühungen des Bezirks wider, obdachlose Schüler zu identifizieren. In den letzten drei Jahren stellte der Bezirk zusätzliche Verbindungspersonen ein und eröffnete Ressourcenzentren, der Landkreis organisierte Identifizierungsschulungen für alle Mitarbeiter und begann, Familien anzurufen, die sich beim Ausfüllen der jährlichen Schulformulare möglicherweise nicht als obdachlos identifiziert hatten.

Spielzeug, Schuhe und Schulmaterial sind oft im Family Resource Center von Greenfield Unified im südlichen Monterey County zu finden.

Betty Márquez Rosales/EdSource

Zuvor reichten Büroangestellte die Ausweisformulare ein und telefonische Check-ins waren nicht die Norm. Seitdem sind die Zahlen sprunghaft angestiegen, aber man geht davon aus, dass noch immer nicht alle obdachlosen Schüler erreicht werden.

Die neuen Verbindungspersonen sind in Salinas aufgewachsen und haben daher ein tiefes Verständnis für die Familien, die dort leben.

„Sie werden wissen, dass die Martinezes mit den Lopezes zusammenleben und die Lopezes ‚Nein‘ geschrieben haben, aber.“ [the liaisons] „Ich weiß, dass sie ein Zimmer mieten, also bekommen sie einen Anruf“, sagte Summer Prather-Smith, die Obdachlosen-Verbindungsperson des Distrikts für die beiden von ihr eingestellten Mitarbeiter.

Verdoppelung

Verbindungsleute haben seit langem herausgefunden, dass die Mehrheit der obdachlosen Studenten in Monterey County – und im Rest des Bundesstaates – in Doppelhäusern lebt.

Dies kann eine Vielzahl von Situationen umfassen, sagte Jennifer Kottke, die Obdachlosen-Verbindungsperson des Los Angeles County. Es gibt kleine Häuser mit drei Schlafzimmern, in denen in jedem Schlafzimmer eine Familie lebt oder in einem Schlafzimmer 13 Personen leben. Manchmal leben Familien in einer Garage, einem provisorischen Unterstand an der Seite des Hauses oder in einem Wohnmobil.

Während Beobachter denken mögen, dass diese Studenten technisch gesehen keine Obdachlosen sind, entsprechen sie doch der bundesstaatlichen Definition von Familien, die eine stabile Unterkunft benötigen. „Wo finden (Schüler) eine ruhige Ecke, um ihre Schulaufgaben zu erledigen?“ sagte Cathi Nye, die Obdachlosen-Verbindungsperson des Ventura County. „Es ist nicht ausreichend.“

Monterey-Verbindungsleute stellten außerdem besorgniserregende neue Wohnungstrends fest.

Höhere Mieten drängen einige in günstigere Wohnungen, was andere in die Krise stürzt. Einige Verbindungsleute sagten, die früher von Wanderarbeitern und Landarbeitern mit geringem Einkommen genutzten Wohnungen würden nun oft von denjenigen übernommen, die aufgrund der Inflation und der Mieterhöhungen nicht mehr in teureren Wohnungen untergebracht werden könnten. Sie stellen fest, dass jede Veränderung in der Familiendynamik, wie Scheidung, Arbeitsplatzverlust oder Verletzung, zunehmend zur Obdachlosigkeit führt. Einige bereiten sich auf neue Obdachlosigkeit vor, weil die Erntesaison durch die jüngsten sintflutartigen Regenfälle verzögert wird. Arbeiterunterkünfte sind manchmal alleinstehenden Männern vorbehalten, und wenn sie sich länger als normal in einem Gebiet aufhalten, um die Ernte einzufahren, können Familien nicht einziehen.

Hygieneartikel für Spenden im Family Resource Center in Monterey Peninsula Unified im Monterey County.Betty Márquez Rosales/EdSource

Ohne die vom Bund finanzierten Gutscheine ist sich Franquis nicht sicher, wo sie in den ersten Nächten nach der Räumung geschlafen hätten. Sie standen auf der Warteliste für Obdachlosenunterkünfte und mussten fast ein Jahr lang warten.

„Wir haben alles verloren. Absolut alles“, sagte Franquis auf Spanisch. „Aber Herr Diaz war für uns wie ein Engel.“

COVID-Geld schafft Lebensadern

Das ist Carlos Diaz, der McKinney-Vento-Verbindungsmann des Bezirks. Er stellt sicher, dass obdachlose Studenten die Hilfe erhalten, die sie im Rahmen des McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act des Bundes benötigen.

Das Gesetz schreibt vor, dass jeder öffentliche Schulbezirk, jedes Bezirksamt für Bildung und jede Charterschule einen örtlichen Verbindungsmann beauftragen muss, um sicherzustellen, dass obdachlose Jugendliche identifiziert werden und über die Bildungsdienstleistungen verfügen, die sie für einen akademischen Erfolg benötigen. Pädagogen sagen jedoch, dass das Gesetz von 1987 nie ausreichend von der Landes- oder Bundesregierung finanziert wurde.

Schulen erhalten zusätzliche Mittel für obdachlose Schüler vom Staat über die lokale Kontrollfinanzierungsformel und einige Bundesmittel für die Bildung von Obdachlosen. Doch die Finanzierung ist gering und es gibt strenge Beschränkungen hinsichtlich der Verwendung.

Das änderte sich im Zuge der Pandemie. Kalifornien erhielt 800 Millionen US-Dollar aus dem American Rescue Plan, der sich speziell an obdachlose Kinder und Jugendliche richtet.

Diese Fonds sind flexibler als die Obdachlosenbildungsfinanzierung von McKinney-Vento und ermöglichen es Schulbezirken und Landkreisen, beispielsweise Hotelgutscheine für Familien zu bezahlen, die nirgendwo anders hingehen können. Die Mittel ermöglichten es den Schulbehörden auch, mehr der grundlegendsten und wichtigsten Aufgaben der Obdachlosenbildung zu übernehmen: die Identifizierung von Schülern, die Hilfe benötigen.

„Das sind Gelder, die wir schon sehr lange brauchen“, sagte Susanne Terry, Obdachlosen-Kontaktperson im San Diego County.

Die Mittel müssen jedoch bis Januar 2025 ausgegeben sein und es gibt keine Garantie dafür, dass sie wieder aufgefüllt werden.

Als das Geld erstmals bereitgestellt wurde, war Terry optimistisch, dass dieses neue Niveau beibehalten werden würde. Sie ist weniger zuversichtlich, was die Geschehnisse im Rahmen dieses Kongresses angeht. Der Gesetzgeber des Bundesstaates scheine erstmals bereit zu sein, Gelder für die Bildung von Obdachlosen bereitzustellen, aber die düsteren Finanzaussichten des Bundesstaates scheinen die Begeisterung für neue Mittel zu dämpfen, sagte sie.

„Wir steuern auf eine Klippe zu, an der die Dienste einfach eingestellt werden“, sagte Terry.

Leah Lamattina, Kontaktperson für Obdachlose im Humboldt County, macht sich Sorgen über die zukünftige Finanzierung, hofft jedoch, dass die Bewegung hin zu Gemeinschaftsschulen es den Schulen ermöglichen wird, obdachlose Schüler zu identifizieren und sie mit Diensten zu verbinden.

Im Moment sträuben sich die meisten Verbindungsleute davor, Personal einzustellen oder Programme zu starten, die nicht aufrechterhalten werden können, wenn diese Finanzierung aus der Zeit der Pandemie erschöpft ist.

San Diego trifft auf hohe Nachfrage

Aber San Diego County stellte neues Personal ein und startete ein Hotelgutscheinprogramm wie das von Monterey County. Terry war von der Nachfrage überwältigt.

Bevor das Programm startete, erhielt sie monatlich Anfragen für Notunterkünfte. Aber als sich das Programm herumsprach, erhielt der Landkreis täglich viele Anfragen. Innerhalb eines Jahres hat das Programm seitdem die Hotelzimmer von über 600 Familien finanziert.

Ein solches Programm würde Familien im Greenfield Union School District von Monterey County enorm helfen, sagte Tony Amezcua, Direktor für Familien- und Gemeindeengagement.

Sein Team erhält monatlich Anrufe von Familien, die verzweifelt Schutz suchen. In jüngster Zeit kamen einige Anrufe von Landarbeitern mit Migrationshintergrund aus Arizona und anderen landwirtschaftlichen Landkreisen Kaliforniens. Die starken Regenfälle des Winters verzögerten die Erntesaison und verzögerten die Arbeiten.

Das Family Resource Center in Greenfield. Der Schulbezirk liegt im südlichen Monterey County.

Betty Márquez Rosales/EdSource

Mit den wachsenden Anforderungen sind auch das Team von Amezcua und die von ihm bereitgestellten Ressourcen gewachsen. Sie haben zusätzliche Verbindungsleute eingestellt, darunter einen, der Triqui spricht, eine indigene Sprache, die im Süden Mexikos gesprochen wird. Sie begannen, Spenden für Babys anzubieten, damit obdachlose Familien früher identifiziert werden können, und installierten im Ressourcenzentrum eine Waschmaschine und einen Trockner, die Familien nutzen können.

Mit dem Geld des American Rescue Plan wollen sie außerdem Geschenkkarten für ein örtliches Schuhgeschäft erwerben, eine normalerweise verbotene Verwendung von Studentengeldern. Aber die Studenten brauchen sie, sagte Amezcua. An einem kürzlichen Dienstag umfassten die gespendeten Schuhe nur die Größen 1, 10, 11 und 13.

„Wenn Eltern sagen, dass sie mehr brauchen, sehen wir, dass wir mehr geben müssen“, sagte Amezcua.

Dann ist da noch die Frage des Vertrauens, das laut Verbindungsleuten von entscheidender Bedeutung ist, wenn man mit obdachlosen Familien in Kontakt tritt.

„Die historisch Benachteiligten haben aufgrund systemischer Unterdrückung ein Misstrauen gegenüber Systemen“, sagte Lamattina.

Dies war bei Franquis der Fall. Als ihre älteste Tochter ihrer Lehrerin anvertraute, dass sie vertrieben würden, hatte sie Angst, dass ihre Kinder mitgenommen würden. Es ist eine Angst, die laut Verbindungsleuten weit verbreitet ist.

Nach fast einem Jahr Obdachlosigkeit und zwei Jahren finanzieller Instabilität sicherte sich Franquis‘ Familie vor etwa zwei Monaten mithilfe eines Wohngutscheins gemäß Abschnitt 8 eine Wohnung mit zwei Schlafzimmern, ein Verfahren, von dem sie von ihrem Bezirksvermittler erfuhr.

Eine andere Kontaktperson meldete sie für ein Programm an, bei dem sie Zugang zu gespendeten Betten, Matratzen, Esszimmer, Essgeschirr und mehr erhielten. Sie sind auch in Familientherapie, um ihnen zu helfen, ihre Tortur zu verarbeiten.

Und sie haben eine neue Einnahmequelle: Franquis‘ Ehemann wurde vom Schulbezirk als Unterhaltsbeamter eingestellt. Sie teilen sich alle ein Fahrzeug – sie haben ihr Wohnmobil einer anderen bedürftigen Familie gespendet – und kommen immer noch wieder auf die Beine, aber Franquis blickt zuversichtlich in die Zukunft.

„Wir haben vom Bezirk viel mehr Hilfe erhalten als von anderen Orten“, sagte sie. „Deshalb bin ich so dankbar; Sie waren die einzigen, die uns schnell Unterstützung angeboten haben.“

Betty Márquez Rosales befasst sich mit Jugendgerichtsbarkeit, Jugendobdachlosigkeit und anderen Bildungsthemen für EdSource, einer unabhängigen gemeinnützigen Organisation, die Analysen zu zentralen Bildungsproblemen des Staates und der Nation bereitstellt. Emma Gallegos kümmert sich für EdSource um Gerechtigkeit in der Bildung. Daniel J. Willis ist Datenanalyst und Datenbankdesigner bei EdSource, wo dieser Artikel erstmals erschien. Kontakte: egallegos@edsource.org, dwillis@edsource.org. Twitter: @emmagallegos, @BayAreaData

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Point Bonita Lighthouse, Marin Headlands

With the spectacular weather we’ve had, now is the perfect time to get outside and explore Marin and the Bay Area with the kids! Here are some of our favorite local outdoor adventures that are perfect for families with young children. My kids have been visiting these places since they were little and still enjoy taking a family trip to them to this day.

Crissy Field is a fantastic destination for hiking, biking, kite flying or playing on the beach. It offers a boardwalk and hiking trails that are popular with dog walkers, runners, cyclists and families, and the water here is perfect for wading and playing in the gently lapping waves. Lawns and picnic tables, some with charcoal grills, are also available, so bring a picnic and your beach blanket and umbrella and get out for the day. The backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island and the Marin Headlands is simply stunning.

The Marin Headlands has lots to offer families and is one of our favorite destinations for a day of outdoor adventures. Wildlife, beaches, history, natural beauty, sweeping views of the Pacific and San Francisco – the Headlands has it all and more. The hike to Point Bonita Lighthouse is exciting and has amazing views, Rodeo Beach is always a great place to spend an afternoon exploring and watching the surfers and dolphins playing in the waves, and South Rodeo Beach is a remote place far less visited than its neighbor to the north.

China Camp State Park on San Pablo Bay in San Rafael is one of Marin’s hidden gems. Families with kids should hit the beach, explore the historic Chinese fishing village, and take an easy hike on the Turtle Back Nature Trail. The Quan Bros. Snack Shop in the village is open weekends for food, cold drinks and ice cream.

The Point Reyes Visitor Center near Olema is one of our favorite family adventure destinations. Walk the Earthquake Trail, which tells the story of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and its impact on Point Reyes, visit the Morgan Horse Ranch, view the exhibits at the Visitor Center, and have a picnic at the expansive grounds have picnic tables and charcoal grills.

The amazing Tolay Lake Regional Park near Petaluma is a great family outing with picnic areas, miles of trails and trails, and even some friendly farm animals (including goats, chickens, and Pete the miniature horse). Most of the hiking trails here are easy enough for families with children, and there’s always something to see. The park offers events throughout the year, including organized hikes, a “Family Farm Day” where children can help feed the animals, and the Tolay Fall Festival each October.

One of our favorite Marin County coastal destinations for families is Drakes Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore. Drakes Beach is sheltered from the weather, so when it’s windy, foggy and harsh at the Lighthouse or North Beach, Drakes is often warm and sunny. In the winter months you can often find giant northern elephant seals camping out here on the beach. It’s quite a sight to behold, and there are usually rangers or volunteers on site to help explain what’s going on.

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Point Bonita Lighthouse, Marin Headlands

With the spectacular weather we’ve been having, now is the perfect time to get outdoors and explore Marin and the Bay Area with the kiddos! Here are a few of our favorite local outdoor adventures that are perfect for families with small kids. My kids have been visiting these places since they were little and still enjoy going on a family outing to them today.

Crissy Field is a fantastic destination for walking, bicycling, kite flying, or playing at the beach. It offers a waterfront promenade and trails that are popular with dog walkers, runners, cyclists, and families, and the water here is perfect for wading and playing in the gently lapping waves. Lawn areas and picnic tables, some with charcoal grills, are available, too, so bring a picnic and your beach blanket and umbrella and spend the day. The backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the Marin Headlands is simply amazing, too.

The Marin Headlands has much to offer for families and is one of our favorite destinations for a day of outdoor adventure. Wildlife, beaches, history, natural beauty, sweeping vistas of the Pacific and San Francisco — the Headlands has all that and more. The hike to Point Bonita Lighthouse is exciting and has amazing views, Rodeo Beach is always a great place to spend an afternoon exploring and watching the surfers and dolphins playing in the waves, and South Rodeo Beach is a secluded spot that’s far less busy than its neighbor to the north.

China Camp State Park, located along San Pablo Bay in San Rafael, is one of Marin’s hidden gems. Families with kids will want to check out the beach, explore the historic Chinese fishing village, and take an easy hike on the Turtle Back Nature Trail. The Quan Bros. snack shop at the village is open on weekends for food, cold drinks, and ice cream.

The Point Reyes Visitor Center near Olema is one of our favorite destinations for a family adventure. Take a walk on the Earthquake Trail, which tells the story of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and its effects on Point Reyes, visit the Morgan Horse Ranch, check out the exhibits in the visitor center, and have a picnic on the sprawling grounds, which have picnic tables and charcoal grills.

The amazing Tolay Lake Regional Park near Petaluma is a great destination for a family outing with picnic areas, miles of paths and trails, and even some friendly farm animals to visit (including goats, chickens, and Pete the miniature horse). Most of the trails here are easy enough for families with kids, and there’s always something to see. The park offers events throughout the year, including organized hikes, a “family farm chores day” where kids can help feed the animals, and the Tolay Fall Festival each October.

One of our favorite Marin County coastal destinations for families is Drakes Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore. Drakes Beach is sheltered from the weather, so when it’s windy, foggy and inhospitable at the lighthouse or North Beach, it will often be warm and sunny at Drakes. During the months of winter, you’ll often find enormous northern elephant seals camped out on the beach here. It’s quite a sight to see, and there are usually rangers or volunteers on hand to help explain what’s going on.

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The new department is aiming to unify these resources and services. “Family [will] have access to the information that they need, not only around what’s available in their neighborhood or in the area that they’re looking for, but also what financing is available for their child care,” she said. This will allow families to see whether they are eligible for federal, state or local funding.

How will this new department work to ensure equity in the kinds of families that it serves?

“Our focus is always going to be families who are in greatest need,” Mezquita said. “We want to make sure that the services and supports are meaningful.”

Mezquita said their goal is to reduce or eliminate racial disparities. “We’re in this unique position where not only are we going to be funding child care, but we’re also looking at children in a holistic way,” she said. She said this will include looking at comprehensive services and ensuring there are no gaps or missing links to support children and their families.

When are you expecting expanded services to be available to families?

“We were just approved as a new department, so we’re building that infrastructure,” said Mezquita. “We’ve already expanded eligibility for families who are making up to 110% of area median income, meaning that if you’re making roughly around $120,000 or below, you may be eligible for child care financing through our department.”

How will families benefit from the merging of two separate departments?

Mezquita said the information will soon be in a centralized place, and the department will be able to provide families information in multiple languages, “not only for their child care, but also for their child’s well-being,” she added. “San Francisco has an array of services and supports for families. And one of the most difficult thing has been being able to find them.”

When can San Francisco families access the information?

Mezquita said she’s hoping it will be accessible in the next few months. “We already have a portal, which is where families can find child care: Early Learning San Francisco. You can easily find child care in your area. You can see what you’re eligible for in case you’re eligible for any financial assistance .”

How do I access the California State Preschool Program?

If your family is seeking access to the California State Preschool Program, you’re automatically eligible for the early education program if you’re already enrolled in Medi-Cal, CalFresh, WIC or Head Start.

Once your child is enrolled, the new law guarantees two years of care and education. Previously, families were granted only 12 months of service and had to reapply for an extension.

Where can I find affordable, quality child care elsewhere in California?

A new state-funded website helps match families struggling to find affordable, quality care with providers. Mychildcareplan.org launched on October 11, and lists every licensed provider in California and their safety record, including their history of inspections and any citations they may have received; their vacancies; the type of care they provide; and the language(s) spoken at their center.

The new website consolidates information from each of the state’s 58 local child care resource and referral agencies, connecting families to child care, financial aid and other services. It also aims to better serve parents and caregivers who may work in one county but live in another.

“You can enter your ZIP code, you could enter the city, and then it does radial search depending on … your filters,” said Linda Asato of the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network. “You’re no longer just bound by the information at that one agency.”

The website is free and does not charge a subscription fee for parents or providers. It can be used in English, Spanish, traditional Chinese and Vietnamese.

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A sparkling seven-story building on 12th Street could soon play a key role in not only getting homeless families into housing, but helping them avoid displacement outside of San Francisco.

Earlier this month, Mayor London Breed announced The City’s plans to buy City Gardens, a residential building South of Market that would provide permanent supportive housing to families experiencing homelessness.

If the Board of Supervisors approves the deal, it would be the first building The City has purchased and dedicated exclusively to families under Breed’s plan to add 1,500 units of permanent supportive housing to The City’s growing portfolio by June.

It’s long overdue, according to advocates and service providers for homeless families. Permanent supportive housing is a model that ensures tenants an affordable place to live, for as long as they would like, coupled with an array of social services such as mental health treatment.

For many families, permanent supportive housing can be preferable to options like rapid rehousing, a different support that provides short-term financial help to a person or family experiencing homelessness so that they can find a new home in the private market.

Rapid rehousing is intended as a quick fix that steps in when someone has an unexpected major issue, such as loss of a job or medical event that results in homelessness. While effective at mitigating homelessness in the near term, rapid rehousing has unintended consequences, advocates for homeless families point out.

Mary Kate Bacalao, director of external affairs and policy at Compass Family Services, said rapid rehousing can amount to “state-subsidized displacement.”

Because the financial assistance is temporary, it’s possible they could find a place in San Francisco but would be unable to pay for it once the money runs out, risking homelessness over again.

This issue is well-documented in high-cost housing markets in San Francisco. In 2018, the San Francisco Public Press reported most families that received rapid rehousing assistance were moving to more affordable housing markets throughout the Bay Area.

Rapid rehousing clients can end up as far away as Sacramento, according to Kyriell Noon, CEO of Hamilton Families, a nonprofit like Compass that connects families with rapid rehousing support. The distance makes it difficult to stay engaged with clients and ensure they’re connected to support services, Noon said. And, because people of color are disproportionately in need of housing support, the consequences are especially dramatic, Noon said.

“Rapid rehousing inadvertently is hastening the exodus of Black and brown low-income folks out of The City,” Noon said.

Advocates say rapid rehousing has its place, but it’s not the best fit for everyone. “The most vulnerable families need supportive housing,” Bacalao said.

And yet, in the absence of adequate permanent supportive housing, it’s the most vulnerable families that rise to the top of the priority list and thus are directed into rapid rehousing, Bacalao said. That’s why The City’s purchase of the building at 333 12th St. would be pivotal.

There’s a communal lounge and laundry room on every floor, an outdoor courtyard and even a place to store bicycles.

The building won’t come cheap — the proposed deal totals $145 million — but it’s essentially brand new, opening just last year. And it could be ready for new tenants in a matter of months.

Built as a co-living space, where single rooms are rented out and tenants share common spaces like kitchens, it’s replete with 200 units that The City views as a good fit for families experiencing homelessness.

And in San Francisco, there are hundreds of such families, often invisible because they’re living in cars or crashing on couches.

According to the most recent Point-in-Time Count, the biennial census of The City’s homeless population, there were 208 homeless families in 2019.

Advocates warn the actual number is probably much higher, as the Point-in-Time Count uses the narrow definition of homelessness set by the federal department of Housing and Urban Development.

Still, the 200 new units of supportive housing would be a welcome start.

“It’s not perfect, but it’s great and I’ll take it,” Noon said.

ashanks@sfexaminer.com

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