Posts Tagged ‘adult center’

Statistics Tell A Different Story

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Last fall, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported a 38% decrease in homelessness in Los Angeles County. However, our own statistics tell a different story. Since July 2009, Union Station has seen an average of 110 new clients a month, an increase of 5.3% over the same time period last year.

Quickly placing clients in shelter has proved challenging for staff at our Passageways Intake Center. Our own Adult Center and Family Center facilities are operating at capacity, with open beds filled within a day. Many agencies we have worked with in the past have closed, while others are operating at a lower capacity because of decreased funding.

This means that homeless clients are often put on waiting lists. They sleep on “emergency cots” at Union Station or other agencies until space is available in a shelter. What used to take no longer than two or three days is now a four to five day process. But there is hope.

In partnership with the federal government, Union Station is providing “Rapid Re-Housing” assistance to individuals and families who have recently become homeless due to the economy. Eligible clients are moved quickly from homelessness to housing and self-sufficiency, opening up space in our shelters for more people in need. Learn more here.

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A Little Cooking Brings Normalcy

Monday, November 16th, 2009

This past spring, Food Services Manager Charles Bedell started cooking classes for our Adult Center clients, as well as a separate class for children at the Family Center. The value of these classes to our homeless community members is far greater than the food preparation skills they learn. Read Charles’ take on the class below.

Every day as I walk into the Adult Center, a resident or day patron will stop me to ask when the next cooking class is. Never mind that the class is always scheduled for Wednesday and many of the people who ask don’t actually show up. Still, those who do show up are as attentive and enthusiastic as young children on their first day of school.

Amidst the disorders in their lives, for one day a week our clients find something to care about that is entirely their own choice. It is a personal interest that they get to pursue. It is neither a requirement nor an obligation, but something as simple as a hobby they enjoy.

For six weeks they learn cooking skills including basic food safety, sauces, methods of cooking meats, herbs and spices, and knife skills. We also move on to more advanced topics like international cuisine, desserts, and menu creation. Not only do participants gain knowledge needed to prepare healthy well-balanced meals for themselves, but they also learn marketable skills that they could use in future employment. In fact, many of our participants are actually aspiring to work in the restaurant business.

It is easy for our homeless residents and day patrons to be consumed with their state of homelessness. Most times, all they can think about is how to survive. The cooking class provides them a medium to enjoy the simple things that those of us who are not homeless take for granted. It brings normalcy to their lives. Besides helping our homeless clients to survive in the real world, we should also relentlessly remind them that being homeless does not mean one must abandon pursuing personal growth and happiness.

Charles Bedell
Food Services Manager

Interested in doing a little cooking of your own? Help Union Station by cooking turkeys for our Thanksgiving Dinner-in-the-Park. For more information visit our Dinner-in-the-Park webpage.

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Record of Success

Monday, September 28th, 2009

At the end of each fiscal year we look back at what Union Station Homeless Services and our clients have accomplished.  It is my pleasure to share this update with you.

This is our 2008-2009 Record of Success.

Passageways intake center, which serves as the sole entry point to Pasadena’s homeless services network, provided 1,594 homeless adults and children with intake, assessment, medical and mental health services, and referrals to shelter, housing and substance recovery programs. This is a 32% increase over last fiscal year.

The Adult Center, our 56-bed shelter for single adults, provided shelter, meals and supportive services for 169 homeless adults, including 113 men and 56 women. 59% of exiting adults moved on to stable housing.

The Family Center, our 50-bed shelter for homeless families, provided shelter, meals and supportive services for 126 people, including 70 children, 44 mothers, and 12 fathers. 94% of exiting families moved on to stable housing.

Euclid Villa, our transitional housing apartments, provided safe residence for 53 people, including 33 children, 17 mothers and 3 fathers. 100% of exciting families moved on to permanent housing.

Sources, our career development program, provided more than 7,500 hours of career counseling and job search assistance for 110 homeless and very low-income adults. Despite the tough economic climate, 53% of program graduates secured employment within 90 days.

To learn more about Union Station Homeless Services, visit www.unionstationhs.org.

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I Made it a Habit to Keep Calling Back

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

The story below is one of perseverance as told by a Union Station client.

After I came to Union Station’s Adult Center, I learned about the Sources Career Development Program at Union Station. It had been a long time since I had done a resume, and I knew that my skills needed some work. I was really willing to learn, and I wanted to get all I could out of it. After hearing about Sources from other people, I was eager to give it a try.

The Sources classes were informative. I found it really encouraging to think about goals and setting up a plan with steps to get my dream job. I wanted to be a certified nurse assistant. I had worked with disabled adults before, and it was important for me to have a job where I helped people. I was afraid that my past addiction would close doors, but now it looked like maybe I could get back into that field, eventually.

After I graduated from Sources, I started to look for work. I made it a habit to keep calling back and to go more than once to see a manager. I learned how to send my resume by email, and I applied for about a dozen jobs. I got hired through two temporary staffing agencies, but I wanted to find something with permanent and regular hours. So I kept looking. I explored different fields, but there were some issues from my past which blocked some of my options.

I had heard that the Salvation Army was hiring, so I put an application in. I went to their alumni dinners, chapel dinners and Sunday morning chapel services. I kept a record of my calls, like I had learned in Sources, and finally, a position opened. I was hired as a sales associate in a store in Pasadena. They said that I showed them that I really wanted the job.

I like my new job because I like working with the public. It is busy and I get to be of service to others in the program, showing them that we can all get jobs if we work hard at it. I am happy to recommend the Sources program to others. I now know that I can keep moving forward with my plan to get back into the medical field. Someday I will be a certified nurse assistant.

Learn more about our Sources Career Development Program.

View our NEW promotional video on YouTube!

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Success Story: Jason

Monday, August 17th, 2009

Jason* had lost everything by the time he made it to Union Station’s Passageways Intake Center. Initially, he lost his job due to the faltering economy, but a destructive lifestyle lead him to lose his family and his home as well. Jason found himself alone, homeless and in the grip of an alcohol addiction.

On the advice of a friend, Jason entered the doors of Passageways’ brick building on Arroyo Parkway with the hope of finding help. Jason listened to his options, as outlined by his case manager, and agreed to enter rehab. Upon his completion of rehab, Jason was referred to our Adult Center where he took the next step in rebuilding his life.

Today, Jason is employed, and most importantly, has begun to repair his relationship with his family. Jason now speaks out about his experiences in the hope of inspiring others. Jason’s story is similar to so many clients who come to Union Station. With the help of holistic programs such as the ones offered by Union Station Homeless Services, more people like Jason will have the opportunity for a second chance at life.

Operated as a partnership between Union Station Homeless Services and Pacific Clinics, Passageways Intake Center is the first stop for homeless people in need of assistance in Pasadena. Passageways serves as the entry-point to Pasadena’s homeless services network and provides the following services:

  • -Outreach to community members who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless
  • -Intake and needs assessment
  • -Medical and mental health services
  • -Benefits advocacy
  • -Shelter and housing resources
  • -Case management and referrals

For more information about Passageways visit the Union Station Homeless Services website or call 626.403.4888.

*Names have been changed to protect client confidentiality.

Join us for our Adult Center Showcase on September 10, 2009.

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