Marin County Homeless Union

12/21/2024

Novato compassion coalition is hosting a memorial March for all those lost while homeless and in solidarity for all those still fighting to survive...Novato 1605 grant Ave Lucky's parking lot March to city hall. Please join us refreshment will be served 3pm mar h to city hall for candle light ceremony and rally to follow !! We need your support pls join us !!!

11/07/2024

Before I even speak about this issue please know I have spoken w my friend Miss P at length about sharing her story with all of u.

Miss P is in her 70's and suffers from dementia. Her condition is further complicated due to alcoholism. She is incontinent of bladder and stool. She can barely walk and needs the support of her walker. She was brought to our homeless camp about a year ago by Community Action Marin s care team. Miss P is a Ritter house client w a medical case manager ....who never talks to her and from where me and my colleagues sit ...has done very little if anything to help her.

She was in a hotel thru the City of Novato after the fire. With the supports around her we managed ...but Miss P is getting weaker by the day. When the city ended the stay at the motel for Camp compassion residents burned out by the fire, we actually lost Miss P for a month and a half or so. Not one of us could find her and we were all very very concerned because we know her condition- probably better than anybody besides the care team through cam.

When I found out where she was at I was appalled she had been on the snake path or the Mahone Creek path in San Rafael on at the encampment there . Alone and struggling until a Community member who was a former outreach worker, placed her with a friend of our movement in her home. That lasted 2 weeks.

Unfortunately due to the dementia and the severity of her alcoholism evidently Miss P is a nightmare as a roommate. She had to leave this the friends home because she was putting out cigarette butts on a bedside table and her incontinence had ruined a brand new mattress. Miss P can also be very demanding because of the dementia. She can comes off as being rude or ornery and the roommates of our supporter were threatening to leave if Miss P didn't . So she's been back at the camp for the last month.

My colleagues and I have done everything we can think of to try to find a way for Miss P to get into a nursing or assisted living home where she can get the care and proper rehabilitation that she needs. We took her to centerpoint and she was denied due to mobility issues. We went to Ritter administration offices to try to speak to her medical case manager only to be schluffed off to a supervisor who said that they didn't have any voucher for her or any options basically. We then called adult protective services and inform them of Miss P's declining condition. We were given a 10-day window. 10 whole days seems a little excessive when you're calling about an elder in trouble , but okay that's the process so we waited. In the meantime Miss P has called the paramedics a half a dozen times for non-urgent things such as having soiled britches or being cold or simply not wanting to be at camp. It's so sad.

2 weeks and there's no response from APS .

A friend / volunteer of our sent me a message w contact info for the home safe program they adult protection services . I called and spoke to a gentleman at length . He was to call me back 6pm Monday evening. Nothing .

So yesterday morning I called this gentleman back who informed me that the problem was that Miss p goes to the hospital without any family because ,she has none, and then decides that she's going to leave against medical advice. So there's nothing anybody can do to help her basically is what he told me.

Okay so if that's what's happening and everybody knows it why is this poor woman still sleeping in a tent soaking wet in urine and often f***s ... Abusing emergency services by calling 911 multiple times a day- actually getting arrested for abusive services and trespassing and yet and still she's back in the camp screaming help and asking for somebody to kill her.

I Express to APS that she has suicidal ideations asking people to give her a razor blade or just kill her. She's not making sound decisions nor is she able to take care of herself and yet and still she remains at Camp compassion by the navato library.

I followed up today with an email to APS. As of 5:45 I have no answer from them.

Yesterday alone Miss P was in the emergency room at Novato Community on two separate occasions. And on the second occasion one of our campers who is in leadership position asked if he could with her to try to explain what's happening, see if he couldn't get her some help. He was told that since he's not her conservator he would not be allowed to advocate on her behalf.

So if Miss P can't have an advocate, and her medical case manager is not managing anything, and APS is turning a blind eye then what are we to do? How can we help her? She is getting weaker by the day- shoot by the minute. She is causing a lot of alarm and concern in our community because right next to the library you hear all day long "somebody help me" "somebody please kill me" "help help help" ... And the passers by do , they call 911 as anybody would and again the cycle repeats . The paramedics come, Miss P says she didn't call but yes she needs help, she goes back to the emergency room only to be discharged right back to the camp. She gets back there either by police bringing her back or by getting a cab or asking some stranger to drive her.

I am sharing in hopes that some are all of you will help us to make the powers that be be accountable for getting Miss P into some sort of assisted living or nursing home situation where she can have the care required to live in dignity and peace she was a successful business woman in San Francisco for many many years ..she has social security . I'm asking my friends, my family and my community followers to please stand up - call Ritter house and demand that somebody do something about Miss p at Camp compassion in Novato. Call the city of Novato and demand that the city of Novato do something to help Miss P get into assisted living or some sort of indoor living arrangement with help. My fear is if we don't act in getting the resources for Miss P's that she will indeed die in our homeless camp at the library by the park.

Let's make some noise and get Ms P the help she deserves and so desperately needs.

For more info or other ways you can help ...send me a message and I will let u know.

Thank u

Jenn

09/11/2024

F*CK I am exhausted ! I spent all afternoon w my friend Michael at Homeward Bound trying to get a respite bed for him in the transition to wellness program.

Nada . It seems they will not take the surgeons referral, and needs to come from a hospital social worker. Michaels surgery was at a surgery center in Fremont. Seems there are no exceptions to be made ...even w a surgery as massive as Michael had.

So I called in a favor from a dear friend and I will be taking Michael to his house in a few mins. Michael will crash at my friends until I return from my much needed vacation Sunday night.

So messed up that there is not any help to be had. Not one agency has any funding for sick beds or to offset motel expenses.

My friend who doesn't even know Michael is taking a huge risk as he is on housing and his property manager has stated no overnights what a huge risk for somebody he doesn't even know.....

Definition a good people if you ask me. One way or another we get it done and everybody that's been worried about Michael can rest easy that at least for the next couple days we got them he will be rested and not in as much pain as he's been and I can go and enjoy my vacation LOL thanks to everybody who donated and to everybody who followed his story stay tuned for updates

09/06/2024

So here we go again ...fair warning it's gonna be a long rant !!

Homeward bound holds keys to the respite beds for sick and elderly with in Marun County. I believe a total of six beds for this whole County.

The process for getting a respite bed is that the hospital social worker or Nurse at discharge calls to make the referral. There is no set criteria or level of dysfunction or sickness that is required just the referral.

The week prior to Michaels spine surgery , a representative from the Marin County Ca homeless Union chapter , wrote a letter advising the city of Novato that Michael was having this surgery that the next week and the need for him to stay in the motel program for former residents of Lee Garner Park.

In fact a few letters were sent that week regarding Michael and his extreme circumstance and the need to be allowed to stay at the hotel and recover and rest from this massive surgery he was undergoing.
The night of Michael's surgery his surgeon actually made the call to Homeward Bound to request respite bed for Michael. But due to the time of Michael's surgery Homeward Bound was already closed and nobody around to answer the phone.

The hotel stay ended the day after Michael had his surgery and he was forced to accept a bed at Homeward Bound in their shelte,r not respite.

The city had advised Michael that the only two options he had were to have his doctor call for a respite bed or go to the shelter or be exited from any support services at Lee Gardner Park. The union rep and other concerned parties who had addressed letters to the city to avoid their explicit concern regarding Michael and his health were told that they were appreciated for their efforts but Michael had been advised previous to the surgery that this was going to be his only option they were at a loss and had no way to help.

I'm very grateful to our community who stepped up to support Michael and his efforts of healing by donating to fund motel stays where he can lay all the way flat and get so much needed rest for his neck sadly all efforts to find a respite bed today to failed.

I got a message from my goal just a little bit ago who informed me that the person who does respite through Homeward Bound has been on vacation for over a week and there is no other point of contact. Michael has tried his physician has tried the union has tried to no avail What does it take??

I'm at such a loss for how to help. It feels like an insurmountable wall has been put in front of my colleagues and I to help those that used to reside at Lee Garner Park in the camp. Everything is so screwed up and all of our residents are spread in various places across Marin some of whom we don't know what happened to or where to find them. The majority of the people that lived at legerno Park are elderly and disabled and need extra help not a good fit for shelter per shelter standards they have too high of care level so where did they go. Did it go in a county that only has six respite beds that you have are forced to jump through every hoop and cut every piece of red tape in the entire world before you can access it I'm fairly healthy and exhausted in trying to find a way for Michael I can't imagine how he feels.

I may not have an answer today but what I do know is that my good neighbors and community members here in Novato enough of you care that if we band together we can make a difference and we can help this guy to ensure a speedy recovery by donating to a hotel room for him.

Today we have raised $400 and gained three nights in a hotel room. Michael is a smart man and doesn't want to give up his bed at the shelter because he knows that it's a direct link to services to get housing very commendable I think under the circumstances.

So tomorrow night Michael will be able to leave the shelter again for two nights and I'm hoping to be able to have enough funds gathered to give to Michael to get a hotel room for the two nights that he's allowed to be away from shelter before he loses his bed. Is two nights in a regular bed allow Michael the time that he needs to allow his body to rest and heal he can actually lay flat and stretch all the way out something he's unable to do putting undue stress on his neck at shelter the man is 6 ft 7 for god sakes.

I'm tenacious as hell and won't give up on finding Michael harassment placement in Marin County it just may take a little bit longer than I thought. I don't know how anybody can be expected to be sick or recovering from this massive surgery and have the energy and tenacity to follow up on this thing it shouldn't be this hard. But I will find a way to get Michael into respite program to ensure his health and safety.

If anybody is able to help please consider donating to Michael to cover the cost of a couple nights in a hotel room until we can get this thing sorted out myself and my colleagues will work diligently to gain access to the services that Michael's entitled to I'm hopeful that with the cooperation of the social worker and his physician will get it done before the end of next week in the meantime no contribution is too small. If you're not able to help financially maybe an offer a kind word that I can relate to Michael to let him know that his community sees him and that we care. It's very discouraging stressful and frustrating for Michael right now and he's really down feeling very hopeless and left behind. Michaels in Novato High graduate who played football here let's show him that we don't forget our own offer a kind word or even just a couple of dollars if that's all you can spare but let's show him how we step up and show out for our own thank you so much for taking the time to read this note and to care about those less fortunate than yourself it really could happen to anybody believe that.

Thanks for listening to my rant and all the support it really means a lot to my friend Michael and myself.

Love and light - Jenn

https://cash.app/$jenniferMallow

https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3069277858955264774&created=1725584752

Instantly exchange money for free on Cash App

09/04/2024

Hello friends and neighbors . I wanted to share an update on my friend Michael whom I spoke about earlier this week.

Michael is one of our own hometown heroes...played football for Novato High. Michael has had a string of bad luck that lead him to become disabled and in need of surgery for spinal fusion of his neck. That was last week. Michael had been a resident of our camp by the library prior to the arson. He was in motel leading up to the surgery and forced into Homeward Bound the day after his surgery.

That's where things got hard. Michael is a big dude ...I mean very tall at like 6'7. He can't lay all the way flat in the beds at the shelter. And respite beds are far and few between here in Marin . We haven't been able to get Michael into respite.

I turned to you guys, we asked for help. And my hometown has yet to disappoint . The support has been amazing!

I spoke with Michael just now and he asked me to let all of you know just how much he appreciates and is touched by the generosity of strangers. He sounds much better ...still in a lot of pain and recovery is going to be a long process. However , he was able to stay at the Extended Stay in San Rafael for the last 2 nights. He was able to actually get all the way stretched out and relieve some of he pressure on his neck, he was able to just rest. And he so needed that.

Michael is doing everything he can to get help with case management for housing . He has through this kept his spot in the shelter ...you can be gone for two days Max..so today he will go back to Homeward Bound and stay the night to keep his place and the needed support for housing.

The hope is that we can raise more funds for another couple days in a hotel while my colleagues and I try to find actual respite placement where Michael will be able to just be and heal.

The gratitude from Michael this morning was palatable. He asked several times that I share that with all of you. It's hard to have to ask for help ..to be judged by your community for things out of your control. Michael is an amazing guy and if you are able ..he could really use our in going support as we find placement. No donation is too small and All monies raised go directly to Michael for hotel expenses.

Thank you for helping me make a difference for Michael. I know it's one person .. but it trickles down to all those that feel forgotten and misjudged for being homeless.

This is a perfect example of how it could be anyone of us. Michael does get social security but can't afford rent ...it's just out of his reach due to being disabled.

Please let's help this guy to continue to get respite and be able to heal until we can find appropriate housing for him.

Thank you- please feel free to contact me for info on how to help ..415-879-7940.

U can send donation to me thru my venmo or cash app ..God bless and be well.

Jenn

https://cash.app/$jenniferMallow

https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3069277858955264774&created=1725472693

Instantly exchange money for free on Cash App

09/01/2024

I'm always touched my our community and how we come together to help our neighbors through hard times .. I'm here with another ask ....

Michael is a Novato High alumni who fell on hard times that were made more complicated by a severe neck injury that required a massive surgery last week to fuse several vertebrae. Unfortunately Michael was a resident of our camp by the library that burned to The ground by arson. Michael has been displaced from the camp just as he was getting ready for fusion.

In fact his hotel stay was ended the very next day following this spinal surgery.

Michael is a very tall gent ...like 6'7 and the shelter at Jonathon's place where the city placed him after the hotel stay just wasn't working for him for numerous reasons. For starts , being so tall and can find to a neck brace Michael wasn't able to sleep and when he was so exhausted that sleep took him over he would snore very loudly making the other men in the dorm unable to sleep . They would yell at Michael about his snoring like he could help it LOL I'm here today to ask our community my friends my neighbors my family if you can spare even $5 any dollars at all to contribute to a hotel room for Michael we've already got one day paid he's going to need several days in this hotel to get his strength back and to get this huge fusion healing in the right direction. We humbly ask for our neighbor's help no donation to big or small you can send directly to me at venmo or on my cash app I'm adding the links below you can also contact me with any questions or concerns on my cell phone number via text or phone 415-879-7940 I have faith in my neighbors and our community that together we can help this man to be on the right track towards healing instead of damaging his neck permanently from not being able to rest and he'll properly thank you so much in advance for all your help and support love and light

https://cash.app/$jenniferMallow

https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3069277858955264774&created=1725210239

Instantly exchange money for free on Cash App

08/31/2024

Hello Facebook friends and family ...so as many of u know I work l I had been helping at the encampment in Novato by the library....
I'm writing in hopes someone out there can help one of our residents , Michael. Michael was a resident of the camp when the camp was turned to Ash at the hands of an arsonist. Michael was at our camp awaiting a cervical fusion that had already been canceled several times. This surgery is crucial to Michael being able to regain housing and the ability to work.

All residents from camp were in hotel rooms for about a month, in fact up to the day after Michael's Spinal surgery everyone was in the hotel. Placement was found and everyone got into shelter including Michael! The day after this massive surgery, this last Wednesday Michael moved to the shelter Jonathon's place. He has praying for a respite bed, but timing is not in our favor and we haven't been able to get him there.

There are problems with Jonathon's Place and Michaels ability to rest and heal there. For starters he is a massively tall man at 6 ft seven inches ...the beds are too short and put too much of a strain on his neck. Additionally the angle of his neck combined with exhaustion from lack of adequate rest and the bodies attempt to heal is causing Michael to snore very loudly ..getting him yelled at by other men in the dorm also trying to rest.

It is important that Michael take it easy and gets appropriate rest and down time to heal...next to impossible at our shelter. I am reaching out to you to see if we could raise funds for a motel room for him. Anything helps ...all monies raised will go directly to the hotel and to pay for respite for this very gentle Giant .

If you are able and willing to help pls reach out here or via text 415 879 7940

Let's do what we can to help ...thanks for reading this

04/14/2024

04/13/2024

Hey if anyone has some free time tomorrow Camp Compassion in Novato at Lee Garner Park will be having a BBQ !! We invite people to come on by share some food and great conversation. Sunday 11-1 pm

03/12/2024

"If you really want to help someone, show them their superpowers, not yours"

Let that sink in a little...

Author unknown