August 14, 2024

CSA Prepares for Impact of New Policy on Clearing Homeless Encampments

Following the June 28, 2024 Supreme Court decision in City of Grants Pass, Oregon vs Johnson upholding the ban against sleeping in public places, Governor Newsom on July 25, 2024 ordered state officials to begin dismantling homeless encampments and encouraged local authorities to do the same. 

In the wake of these policies, CSA is expecting an increase in the number of displaced unhoused individuals and families seeking services. In preparation, CSA is in the process of hiring an additional homeless services case manager and continuing to conduct outreach to unhoused members of the community. We are also partnering with local Emergency Assistance Network Agencies on regional solutions to the challenge. Finally, we are seeking additional sources of grant funding from the state and other funders.

“Amidst the uncertainty of this new policy, CSA is prepared to support those seeking to stabilize their housing situation,” says Amy Kaiser, Associate Director. 

CSA will keep the community informed about the impacts of this policy and reach out to our supporters as needed as circumstances become more clear.

CSA Invites All Supporters to Join Legacy Circle

Each August, we mark Make-A-Will month by inviting all our supporters to preserve the local safety net for generations to come at no cost today by naming CSA in their Estate Plan. Previous gifts have provided critical reserves for Senior Services and Homeless Services during challenging times.

We recently welcomed our newest member, Karen Fox, to CSA’s Legacy Circle. Fox, a professor who retired from Santa Clara University, wants people to know that anyone can leave a legacy, no matter the size of their estate. She says “I want to make sure the most vulnerable members of my community are cared for always.”

Have you already named CSA in your will or trust? Please let us know so we can include you in special events just for Legacy Circle members and recognize you in our annual report if you would like. Here is a free resource for creating a will or trust. 

If you have any questions about Planned Giving, please contact Development Director Simone Berkowitz.

CSA Welcomes New Board Members and New Officers

With the start of the new fiscal year, we are excited to announce the election of our new slate of board officers for the upcoming term. Dan Rich, the newly elected President and retired Mountain View City Manager, is poised to lead CSA’s board with vision and integrity. As Vice President, Tenny Tsai brings leadership experience and advocacy for the Asian community in real estate. Kuljeet Kalkat, continuing in the role of Treasurer, brings a robust financial background, including serving as Financial Commissioner of the City of Los Altos, as well as extensive nonprofit board service. Newly elected Secretary Mikaela Burkhardt, an attorney at Wilson Sonsini, came to the board from CSA’s Young Professionals group, formed to connect like-minded individuals with a passion for service.

We are also pleased to announce the election of two new members to our Board of Directors, Deb Blackburn and Aila Malik. Blackburn is a seasoned Human Resources leader and coach with over 25 years of experience working in both start-up and large tech companies. She has spent the last 10 years at Intuit as a strategic HR Business Partner partnering with senior leaders. Malik is an experienced leader who collaborates with venture-ready organizations to advance equity and justice. She has dedicated over 20 years to supporting and educating youth in various contexts, including homeless shelters, juvenile justice systems, and mainstream public schools. Blackburn and Malik’s extensive knowledge and passion for community service will be invaluable as we continue to address the needs of our community.