Dear friend,

As we come to the end of April and National Volunteer Month, I want to recognize our many dedicated volunteers and all they do to support our organization and the individuals and families we serve. On behalf of the entire Insight Housing team, I want to say thank you to each and every one of you who generously share your time, energy and compassion with our neighbors experiencing food or housing insecurity.

This month, we have the pleasure of introducing you to one of our newest volunteers, Stephen Shortell, a semi-retired UC Berkeley professor who’s been volunteering with us this year. See below for more of what he’s taking away from his volunteering experience.

We'll also share:

• All the details of our successful Community Champions Dinner
• A spotlight on a very special employee
• A sneak peek of some great stories we'll be highlighting over the next month

At Insight Housing, we know that there are countless ways to give back and make a difference in our community. Whether it’s helping us serve our daily Community Meal, donating essential items, contributing financially, or spreading awareness about our work, each act of kindness has a ripple effect of positivity and support throughout our community.

There are so many ways to be a good neighbor. Extending a hand of support, offering a kind word, or simply being present can make a world of difference. When we uplift each other, we all can thrive.

Thank you for your support. Thank you for being a good neighbor! Your commitment inspires us every day.

Together,

Calleene Egan
Chief Executive Officer

Community Champions Dinner a Success!

What a moving evening we had together at last week’s Community Champions Dinner! The outpouring of support and generosity from our community was awe-inspiring. We are thrilled to share that thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised an astounding $360,000 at the event! This would not have been possible without each and every one of you who attended and raised your paddle in support of our mission. A special thank you also goes to our board member Mark Stutzman for his generous matching donation, which doubled the impact of every dollar raised.

We were so inspired by guest speaker Michael Tubbs, whose powerful words resonated deeply with all in attendance. He reminded us that the high numbers of those experiencing homelessness “is not an accident,” adding that “we have decided that is tolerable.” Michael challenged us to consider what we were willing to do to ensure that everyone, regardless of who they are, has a place to call home.

It was a call to action that left us motivated and determined to continue our mission of serving and advocating for those longing for a place to call home. Together, we can ensure that everyone in our community has access to safe and stable housing.

Volunteering With Compassion & Insight

Meet Stephen Shortell, who has been volunteering with Insight Housing weekly to prepare lunches since the beginning of this year. Stephen is Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Management and former Dean of Berkeley's School of Public Health. Now semi-retired and with some flexibility in his schedule, he dedicates his time to share food and compassion with our neighbors.

Through his experiences at Insight Housing, Stephen has gained insight into the complexities of homelessness. He says that his time volunteering has underscored something he has come to understand over the last decade: Those experiencing homelessness are not a monolithic group, but rather individuals facing a diverse range of challenges that call for specific evidence-based interventions.

“It’s not a one solution for all,” he says. What resonates with Stephen about Insight Housing is our holistic approach to addressing food and housing insecurity. He appreciates that we recognize the multifaceted nature of these issues and strive to address them comprehensively. By looking at the broader picture and the root challenges facing our community, we can better tailor our interventions to create meaningful and sustainable change.

From Resident to Team Member: Johnny's Journey

Meet Johnny Austin, a dedicated member of the Insight Housing team whose journey with us began in 2020. Originally from Oakland, Johnny is a proud veteran who first connected with Insight Housing while residing at our Dwight Way interim housing and later at The Hope Center. Throughout his time living at these locations, Johnny volunteered and helped out whenever he could.

With the support of Insight Housing and his commitment and drive, Johnny achieved his goal of getting his own apartment and now lives not far from where he grew up in Oakland. He’s now officially a part of the team, serving as a kitchen assistant at The Hope Center. We are incredibly proud to have Johnny on our staff and look forward to witnessing the positive impact he continues to make in the lives of our residents and the broader community.

Real People, Real Stories

Behind every statistic or date point are real stories and real people looking for home. We’re thrilled to introduce you to some of your neighbors who have found respite and relief with Insight Housing and are now building the lives they envision for themselves. Over the next month, we’ll be sharing more of their inspiring stories of resilience and triumph.

Don’t miss out on Judith’s story – a former Army translator who medically separated after surviving blasts in combat and later had to flee an abusive marriage with only the clothes on her back. Stay tuned to learn about how temporary housing provided her the space to breathe and how she’s now creating a brighter future.

Whether it’s volunteering, attending one of our events or making a donation, there are tons of ways for you to be a part of Insight Housing’s impact. Click the button below to learn more.