The St. Patrick’s Church parking lot was overflowed with cars and a line of people snaked alongside the parish hall where inside it was booming with conversation, shared ideas and laughter during the fifth annual Empty Bowls Community Luncheon. The event is a fundraiser put on by the 5Cities Homeless Coalition.
“We are seeing twice the number of requests [for services] than we did last year,” said 5CHC Executive Director Janna Nichols. “In 2016, we have provided financial assistance to over 500 requests at $175,000. That is as of the first of September; we have a third of the year to go.”
The idea is a simple yet effective one—people pay $25 to eat soup donated by restaurants in take-home handmade ceramic bowls made by local artists and served by city dignitaries, law enforcement officials and other well-known personalities. This year, the event raised more than $30,000 for homeless programs and services in southern San Luis Obispo County.
“It is an incredible event,” said Arroyo Grande Police Chief Steve Annibali, who was serving clam chowder made by the Spyglass Inn. “Every year, it gets bigger and bigger. It is the best event I do all year round.
The fifth annual event nearly sold out, with more than 650 tickets sold, almost 100 gallons of soup from a score of local restaurants consumed, and only 50 bowls left of the 700 bowls that were handmade and donated by local artists.
The 5CHC began as an all-volunteer organization focused on finding a piece of property for a day-use facility to serve the homeless population. In 2012, the non-profit began offering services. In addition to being a source for information referrals and case management on a one-on-one basis, 5CHC arranges for funding to meet immediate personal and/or housing needs such as bus passes, gas vouchers, utilities, auto repairs, clothing, employment readiness, basic needs, and emergency food.
“My learning curve was not only understanding the true complexities of the human condition, particularly those who are homeless, but coming to grasp the ever changing services that are available by grant funding and the ever changing services that go away,” Nichols said. “Yet, with that there is a steady [flow] of service groups, the faith community, and community grassroots organizations that have been here doing good work and continue to do good. Our goal is to, one, not duplicate any services that are already being provided but also to identify gaps in services and try to step up to meet those demands.”
Some of those demands have led 5CHC to create a housing assistance program specific to veterans in partnership with the Good Samaritan Shelter. That partnership combined with Dignity Health has also created a medical respite program for people coming out of the hospital who are homeless and need recuperative care.
The organization is now facing a new hurdle. In some cases rental rates have gone up 25 percent in the last year, according to Nichols.
“We also have properties that are being turned over and retrofitted,” she said. “We have long-term residents, many of whom are seniors, who have fixed incomes and are being displaced. We are truly challenged to find them housing that they can afford.”
Another issue on the rise is a need for eviction prevention. Often people come up financially short for a brief period of time and keeping them in their homes is vital to preventing a host of other problems.
“Given the housing shortage and the stress to the community, and emotional and financial stress to families, if we can figure out a way to keep them in their home and stabilized and not lose their housing, in the long run is not only more cost effective, but is also less stressful and easier for the family,” Nichols said.
Working with like-minded groups, 5CHC has housed 90 families since last January.
“We have been able to work with landlords,” Nichols said. “They have stepped up to work with us. They appreciate working with us. In some cases, I think, the case management services that our case manager provides have really been beneficial. They have asked us to talk to their other tenants in terms of how to budget, how to make that dollar stretch.”
The veterans program has housed about 70 people in the same period of time.
“Helping people get in a home is ultimately what it is all about,” said Nichols.
Restaurants who donated gallons of their signature soups included Alphy’s Broiler, California Fresh, CJ’s Cafe, Coco’s, DePalo & Sons, Fin’s, Honeymoon Cafe, Jaffa Cafe, Lido, New Life Kitchen, Oceano Elks Club, Old Juan’s Cantina, Penny’s All American Cafe, Rooster Creek, Rosa’s, Spencer’s Fresh Markets, Splash Cafe, The Spoon Trade, and Spyglass Inn Restaurant. House of Bread donated bread.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the turnout and support from the local community,” said 5Cities Homeless Coalition Board member and event organizer Shelly Higginbotham in a press release. “We are grateful to St. Patrick’s Church and the many businesses, congregations and organizations who work hand in hand with us – not just on the event, but throughout the year to address homelessness.”
For more information, visit www.5chc.org.
Photos by www.PhotoByVivian.com
