By Moryt Mio
In Santa Clara County, there are more than 10,000 homeless people trying to find their way back into the mainstream of life—a crisis that has grown by 63% in the last decade. Of that number, one third to more than 50% may be struggling with mental health issues.
For these individuals, street life can easily worsen their condition without medical treatment or resources. One nonprofit, The United Effort Organization, aims to assist people in need of safe housing or public benefits through hands-on support.
When someone becomes unhoused, “You suddenly feel like you need a Ph.D. in homelessness to get out of it,” said Shari Kipp, who spoke at the NAMI-SCC November General Meeting and works part-time as the chief marketing officer for the nonprofit.
Kipp said what makes the nonprofit unique is its persistence.
“When everyone else has told us ‘no’ we look for solutions and ways to redefine barriers because there is a way as long as the client works with us,” Kipp said.
The organization’s secret sauce is its relationship building. When someone asks a volunteer, “Can you get me into housing?” the answer goes beyond “yes.” The volunteer asks what else do they need, which is not a common practice, Kipp said.
This simple follow up may lead to a volunteer uncovering that the person is a veteran. Then the person could be steered toward VA services. But without asking there is no way to know.
“So, we profile first and then work up a very detailed intake,” Kipp added.
It’s one of the nonprofit’s defining principles—take a whole person approach.
What also makes the organization different is the number of available tools an individual can use on their own or with the assist of a volunteer. The nonprofit has a simple but detailed affordable housing tool.
Another available tool developed by the nonprofit helps individuals or families check eligibility for public benefits, such as CalFresh, CalWorks, VTA transit services, and even service dog allowances.
These tools can be daunting for a person just trying to find a hot meal and safe shelter. Volunteers are there to help steer a person through the gauntlet.
Kipp said the volunteers come from all walks of life—teachers, lawyers, clinicians, students, homemakers, and more—with one goal. They want their neighbors to have the necessary resources to find stability.
The United Effort Organization is based on three core values: dignity, collaboration, and persistence to help a person achieve self-empowerment and self-sufficiency.
Getting there means doing outreach in the field and speaking with people standing in line for a hot meal. The organization collaborates with other nonprofits and works with government agencies including Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing.
But Kipp said it has to be a two-way street. The client has to stay in contact frequently for a positive outcome. This is especially critical when an individual is considered “at risk” of becoming homeless due to a job layoff, a potential eviction, or being a victim of domestic violence.
“These clients are our neighbors,” Kipp said. “They may not be living in a house or apartment next door, but they are our neighbors, and they are facing extreme financial hardship. Many of the clients faced a single bad event that landed them on the streets.”
To learn more about The United Effort Organization and its online resource tools, click here.
To listen to Shari Kipp’s presentation, click here.
