June has been a month of growth and milestones at Insight Housing, and as budget cuts in the current political landscape continue to expand, I want to express how grateful we are for your support in helping those experiencing housing insecurity.
We are thrilled to announce that Alex Vondeling will serve as the new President of our Board of Directors beginning July 1. Alex has been the Vice President since 2016, and we are honored to have her continued expertise as part of our leadership. We also want to thank Thomas Peeks for a wonderful nine years as part of the board and four as the Board President. Thomas, we will miss you!
In addition, we celebrated the Summer Solstice at the Hope Center, caught up with a dedicated volunteer couple, launched our three-year strategic plan (stay tuned for the big reveal in July), and broke our annual record of community meals served.
Meanwhile, our team is working hard to navigate some tough state-level budget cuts to homeless housing programs so that we can keep our shelters open. You can read all about the wins we’re celebrating and the hurdles we’re overcoming and find out how to get more involved in the newsletter below. The strength of our community and the commitment of supporters like you make me certain that we will continue to serve those who need it most with dignity and compassion.
On the Summer Solstice, the first day of summer and the longest day of the year, we celebrated those who have overcome homelessness in our community. Last week, Insight Housing's Hope Center hosted a Summer Solstice party in partnership with Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless. This event, open to the public, brought together those who are experiencing housing insecurity, those who have become housed, and their allies to a catered lunch with music, raffles, prizes, and gifts. Individual community members with lived experience were recognized for their resilience in their journeys and their continued passion to keep helping those still facing housing insecurity. Thank you to Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless for organizing such a moving and welcoming event!
Summer Solstice celebration at the Hope Center.
Volunteer Spotlight: Retired Couple Gives Back as a Team
Meet Jill Stockwell and Joe Carlson, a local couple who make an enjoyable routine out of volunteering at the Hope Center every week. Jill and Joe, who recently retired from careers in editing and theoretical physics, respectively, decided they wanted to fill their time by giving back to the community. They googled "kitchen volunteering in Berkeley," found Insight Housing, and quickly became essential members of the volunteer team. "The staff in the kitchen is so nice, the other volunteers are so nice," says Jill. "We just really like coming here." Thank you for your time and commitment, Jill and Joe! Click here to learn more about how you can volunteer at Insight Housing!
Joe Carlson and Jill Stockwell in the Hope Center kitchen during their volunteer shift.
State Budget Reveal Cuts to Homelessness Funding
The California State Legislature has released their 2025-2026 budget, and it includes major cuts to homelessness services funding. The most severe cuts are to the Homeless Housing and Assistance Programs (HHAP) with no proposed funding this fiscal year. HHAP provides money to organizations and cities to help combat homelessness, and Insight Housing receives nearly half a million dollars per year from HHAP. These dollars allow our shelters to stay open 24/7 and support our case management services. Without these funds, many emergency housing services all over the state are at risk.
At Insight Housing, we are committed to providing stable housing for all our neighbors, and we encourage you to call your public officials and voice your concerns about funding cuts here.
Hope Center Kitchen Team and Volunteers Set New Community Meal Record
The Hope Center kitchen team and Kyomi Williams (far right), Senior Program Manager.
Since July 2024, we have served over 135,000 hot meals during our community Meal at the Hope Center! This is the most we have ever served over the course of a year. For 55 years, sharing Community Meal with our neighbors has been the heart of our work, and we couldn't be more grateful to Chef Andre and his team for their dedication to feeding and caring for our community. You can be a part of this tradition of service as a volunteer, too! Click here to sign up!
Save the Date for Community Conversations: October 2nd, 2025
Mark your calendars! Our annual fall event, Community Conversations, is coming up on October 2nd. This complimentary luncheon brings together housing experts from all over the Bay Area to share expertise and discuss what's next. Don't miss this opportunity to connect and be a part of the conversation. Stay tuned for more information soon!
Panelists at the 2024 Community Conversations event.
