Facing Christmas without a stable home is difficult, especially for children. Low-income families in our community are particularly vulnerable to homelessness. With the high cost of rent and child care, just one event such as a parent falling ill or being laid off can cause a family to lose their housing.
Haven Family House is a shelter in Menlo Park run by LifeMoves. Haven Family House provides families with an apartment and the resources they need to get back into stable housing. Caseworkers help parents increase their income and apply for affordable permanent housing.
To help parents focus on finding housing, without worrying about gifts for their kids, I joined the Veterans Commission to deliver gifts to Haven Family House. But, that is not all I am doing to help homeless families.
I am working with Supervisor Carole Groom on a homelessness ad-hoc committee that will prioritize long term solutions to homelessness. This effort will include increasing affordable housing, strengthening our rapid re-housing system, and finding innovative solutions to permanently end homelessness.