News from 51homes

August 2011

www.51homes.net

Greetings!

August has been exceptionally exciting for 51homes!

We have helped three amazing individuals move into housing, received phenomenal participation from volunteers and felt the strength of our community through the support of our collaborating agencies.

This month, we proudly share these and other inspiring stories and updates.

And as always, thank you for your continued commitment to 51homes!

Housewarmings

August 16

Rudy & Ron

The results of Registry Week back in April informed us that Ron was the #1 most medically-vulnerable person experiencing homelessness in our community.

Everyday that Ron was out of doors, years were being shaved from his life. Many people knew Ron from that time. They often saw him under the influence of alcohol and with a gloomy disposition.

Ron moved into his apartment and celebrated with a pot-luck Chinese food buffet. Several of our friends from Salvation Army Hospitality House joined in the housewarming. All of his friends were moved to see Ron sober, smiling and looking forward to his future.

August 18

Barbara & Donis

The rumor from the streets that Rudy heard when he first began outreach to locate Donis, was that Donis wasn't going to be found, and Rudy should stop looking.

Donis was known as a heavy user of alcohol and a bit of a trouble maker. But Rudy didn't stop looking.

By the time Donis moved into his apartment he was accompanied by a crowd of friends and supporters. The Salvation Army provided trays of Biscuits and Gravy as a thank you to Donis for all of the help he provided to their kitchen staff during his stay with them. Donis is described by his navigator as the guy who will go to the ends of the earth to get you what you need. Donis is also known as a great friend who looks out for his new buddy, Ron.

August 19

Glenn & Sarge

Patrick, better known as Sarge to his friends, is a decorated Army Veteran who is not shy about sharing war stories or street stories having spent five years homeless.

When outreach to engage Sarge began, he had just undergone triple bypass surgery and he discharged himself from the hospital against doctors' orders. Sarge spent that first weekend in a hotel not taking care of his health and his condition deteriorated until we was readmitted to the

hospital.

During those early weeks, Sarge changed his mind several times about wanting to receive assistance through 51homes. Through the kind persistence of his Navigator, Rudy, Sarge is now enjoying his morning coffee and evening news from the comforts of home. He is also the guy who calls his Navigator almost daily to just chat and keep in touch. He has recently begun thinking about reuniting with daughter by having her come spend a night or two in his home.

Save the Date

Friday September 30, 2011

TPCH

Registration Form

- Key note speaker: Ms. Ann Oliva, Director of SNAPS

- Community resource fair

- Personal success stories and testimonials

- Education and information on homelessness funding sources, trends, & policies

- Enjoy a continental breakfast & delicious lunch

- Participate in the silent auction

Location: Holiday Inn Palo Verde, 4550 S. Palo Verde rd. Tucson AZ 85714

Time: 8:00am to 4:00pm

Early bird registration is only $55 !!!, until September 9

Pre registration price is only $60 until September 23

After September 23 and at the door $70

All payment instructions are included in the attached flyers and registration forms. Please print and post on your bulletin board.

For more information contact Settle Madden at 797-9431 or Olivia Gutzman at olivia.gutzman@cpsa-rbha.org

Praise to 51homes Volunteers

We are pleased to introduce Naomi; another amazing 51homes volunteer! Naomi served as an interviewer during Registry Week and continues to serve as the website designer and editor. As a dedicated volunteer, we can't say thank you enough for all of her hard work. Naomi shares her experience and talents with us in her own words:

I had the wonderful opportunity to be a volunteer this year with 51homes, every moment was an eye-opening experience and will definitely continue volunteering in the future. Truly, there is no better gift to others than knowing that you have touched other's lives positively, if even for a moment.

Currently I work with CPSA, and am freelance photographer, website "dabbler", and am currently a student at Southwest University of Visual Arts (formerly known as The Art Center Design College - Tucson) completing my Advertising/Marketing Bachelor Degree with a minor in Photography.

I am a mother and grandmother and because of that special hat I wear, combined with my education and personal background I am truly passionate about what I do for others and hope that you enjoy the website created for 51homes. It is definitely more a blessing to me to assist in any way to help us reach our goal in housing those in our homeless community.

Thank you!

Naomi Martinez

More THANK YOUS

August 27

Thank you to the volunteers who gave 2 1/2 hours of their Saturday to help clean and organize the storage unit that holds donated 51homes furniture!

Among those who participated were: Comin' Home, Sonora House, Primavera Foundation, City of Tucson, CODAC, and many others!

51homes is not possible without help from community members like you!

Announcements

NEW Websites

http://www.azceh.org/

Visit today to find an overview of information about homelessness & solutions, special initiatives such as Project H3: VETS, and upcoming events, including the 18th Annual Statewide Conference on Ending Homelessness.

http://www.51homes.net

Visit today to learn about how our local initiative started, share stories from Registry Week and hear from newly housed individuals. Stay up to date on volunteer opportunities and how to stay involved.

How to Help