Dear friend,

For the past two years, our women’s shelter has been in a temporary location in Emeryville. Like we learned from our Community Champion De’Borrah Willis last month (watch De’Borrah’s video here), many of our women’s shelter participants are fleeing from domestic violence situations and are looking for respite and an immediate secure place to sleep while working towards permanent housing. Last week, the women's shelter returned to our newly renovated Dwight Way facility. The space now includes on-site meal service, private indoor and outdoor areas, laundry access, and a more central location near jobs and public transit. Next month, we'll share more about the relaunch of additional services at Dwight Way, stay tuned!

This month’s newsletter includes key updates and highlights from the work happening at Insight Housing, including:

• Participant Spotlight
• Volunteers Needed in Our Kitchens!
• The Latest - Home, At Last Campaign Progress
• Mental Health Awareness Month - Board and Care Housing

Thank you for continuing to be a part of our ever-growing community at Insight Housing. By showing up for housing, you're making the community better for you and your neighbors!

In community,

Calleene Egan
Chief Executive Officer
Insight Housing

Participant Spotlight

Meet Alex, a Vietnam Veteran and Veterans Transitional Housing Program participant at the Hope Center. Alex was drafted into the Military and served in the artillery unit for 14 months starting in 1967. He first experienced housing insecurity in the Bay Area fifteen years ago. When he returned a few months back, he was again experiencing homelessness and reached out to a Veterans organization that had helped him previously. It was here that he was put in contact with Insight Housing, and within two weeks, Alex was moved into the Hope Center and was sleeping in a stable and safe environment. Alex remembers the day he found the Hope Center: “I said to myself: Today’s the day! Get your stuff… this is the right thing to get me back on track.”

Alex is comfortably living at the Hope Center while he waits to move into the Rio Vista Veterans Residence.

Mental Health Awareness Month: Board and Care Housing

May is Mental Health Awareness Month -- many of those who experience housing insecurity also struggle with mental health (much of it exacerbated by living outside or by previous environmental factors). One type of housing that we offer at Insight Housing is called Board and Care, or Permanent Supportive Housing + (PSH+). This type of housing offers: 

• Housing for those with complex mental illness in a residential setting
• Includes basic needs like daily meals, case management, and 24-hour services
• Help to accessing clinical care like doctors appointments and other hands-on care

Our Russell Street Residence includes 15 Board and Care beds, and Dwight Way has an additional 15 beds. Board and Care housing is crucial for helping those with mental health challenges avoid chronic homelessness. 

Volunteers Needed In Our Kitchens!

Calling ALL VOLUNTEERS!! The Hope Center in Downtown Berkeley needs your help! We’re serving free, nutritious Community Meals every weekday to neighbors experiencing food insecurity — and now we’re going greener with reusable plates and silverware for dine-in guests! We need extra hands to:

• Prep and serve meals
• Pack bagged lunches
• Help with daily clean-up

Volunteer Shifts: 

Weekdays: 2:30 - 4:30 PM

Weekends: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Sign up now or learn more here.

Let's serve good food and build a stronger community together!

The Latest - Home, At Last Campaign Progress

We are halfway to our $20,000 goal for our Home, At Last campaign, focused on preventing homelessness before it happens. When Veteran Scott Miller was at risk of losing his home, Insight Housing stepped in with the support he needed to stay housed and avoid homelessness. Catching our neighbors before they fall is crucial and the best way to create a stable community. You can be a part of the change and donate to our campaign here.