FEBRUARY AT INSIGHT HOUSING

Happy February from all of us at Insight Housing! This month, we hosted a panel on the intersection of federal housing funding and philanthropy, met up with a resident writing class at our Dwight Way Center, and began to distribute over 500 care kits donated to us from the Bob Woodruff Foundation (among many other happenings!).  

Our annual Community Champions Dinner is coming up on April 30th, and early-bird prices are still available! Click here to buy your ticket. As always, if there’s anything you liked or want to see more of, please reach out to us at philanthropy@insighthousing.org.

Panel on Federal Funding and Philanthropy for Housing at the Hope Center

This month, we co-hosted a panel with Bay Area Funders Together to End Homelessness (BAFTEH) titled “When They Step Back, We Step Up” to discuss exactly that: how our philanthropic partners can step up in these moments of uncertainty surrounding federal funding for housing and homelessness services. Two themes rose to the surface from this panel: flexibility and preservation. Flexibility from philanthropic partners allows housing and service providers to put dollars where they are most needed, when they are most needed. Preservation means funding that can protect the current residents, beds, and systems that are such an integral part of our communities and hard-won progress.

Thank you to the panelists, including our own CEO Calleene Egan and former program participant and now Insight staff member Johnny Austin. Stay tuned for announcements about similar events in the future! 

Calleene Egan, CEO (third from left) and Johnny Austin, former Insight Housing Participant and now kitchen staff member (third from right) speaking at the panel discussion

Poetry Group at Dwight Way

Helen Zou, former Berkeley High School English teacher, has started a poetry writing group for our Board and Care program at Dwight Way. Our Board and Care housing is for formerly homeless individuals with serious mental health diagnoses. Many of the residents at Dwight Way have been living with Insight for over ten years. It’s a strong community where residents receive wrap-around support services and medication management in addition to permanent housing.

“I enjoy hearing what everyone has to say,” said Zou. “Our society does not take care of people who might need more support... I feel like I wanted to do a little bit to make people feel a little happier, or that they have a place for self-expression, things like that.” Stay connected on our social media channels where you can find examples of art and writing by our residents! 

Helen Zou leading a poetry group with our Board and Care program at Dwight Way Center in Berkeley

500 Care Kits for Veterans 

This month, Insight received a donation of 500 care kits from the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF). The kits include items like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, toothbrush/toothpaste, deodorant, socks, gloves, beanies, blankets, hand warmers, and will be given out to our Veteran participants across the seven Bay Area counties we serve. Thank you so much to BWF for your continued support! You can check out their incredible work here.   

Aaron Sio, Facilities Maintenance Technician, and Mike Griffin, Facilities Supervisor, with boxes of care kits from BWF

Community Champions Dinner Tickets are Live!

Our annual Community Champions Dinner is right around the corner! Get your tickets now for an evening full of good food, music, and housing justice on April 30th at California Memorial Stadium from 5:30 – 8:30 PM. Early bird prices end soon, so click here to reserve your spot! Click here to learn more, and for event sponsorship information, please email Colette at clyman@insighthousing.org.