It seems that every online news story about unemployment in the Bay Area is immediately met with a dozen or so user comments to the tune of “Why don’t these people just find jobs?”

To think that this simple solution works for everyone is misinformed. Many of the folks living on San Francisco streets face multiple barriers to homes, jobs, and other mainstays of “normal” life. Severe mental health issues, physical disabilities, old age, and addictive illness often hinder a person from employment.

But what about those abled bodied folks who can work? The most recent statistics from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) shows that for every open job, there were 4.1 jobless people. That means there are thousands more unemployed workers than job openings.

“I come in here five days a week and spend hours at a time filling out applications, sending in resumes, and following up with potential employers.” Robert, a client at St. Anthony Employment Program & Technology Lab told me yesterday. “I’ve lived and worked in San Francisco for 20 years. It’s never been this hard to find a job.”

As the lines at all of St. Anthony’s programs get longer we try to keep guests sustained and hopeful during these uncertain times. With thousands of applicants for every job opening in San Francisco, in a time when unemployment continues to rise, it might be awhile before everyone who can return to work will.

This being my second to last day here at St. Anthony’s, I thought I would take this opportunity to say a quick farewell and a thanks to everyone who has made my time here so special. It has been an honor working among people with such a tremendous generosity of spirit, from my coworkers, to our volunteers, and most importantly the guests we serve each day.

As the resident Clinic liaison, I have had the opportunity to get to know the inner workings of a first rate free medical clinic that serves as a medical home for thousands of uninsured patients. I have seen programs thrive, like our Chronic Care Managment Program, through which we help patients with diabetes or asthma learn to control their condition and improve their health. I have witnessed the arduous transition from an antiquated paper-based record system to a cutting-edge electronic medical record.  Recently, I took part in a move across the street to a vibrant new clinic with expanded capacity to meet the growing need for our care.

I’m sad to go but grateful for being a part of this work. These experiences have deepened my appreciation for St. Anthony’s and prompted my decision to pursue graduate studies in public health–a field in which I hope to improve the health of underserved communities like the Tenderloin. Thanks for being an inspiration!

That was quite the heatwave last week. Trying to get ready for work amid the 80 and near 90 degree heat, I realized I owned nothing even seemingly professional that would suffice in that weather.

Looking beyond my own needs, and comforts I thought about our guests at St. Anthony Foundation. So often, especially in our moderate San Francisco climate, we only think of the winter as a time to be concerned about clothing, about shelter, and the effects of severe weather.  However, homelessness and poverty do not discriminate based on the season.   St. Anthony’s services, especially our Clothing and Housewares Program, Social Work Center and Free Medical Clinic, are just as busy during the summer months.

Guests that come through the Clothing and Housewares Program are looking not only for work clothes, but for clothes that will protect them in weather on either side of the thermometer.  Summer months present health concerns of their own as well. Dehydration, heat stroke and malnourishment are a few of the health risks that the Clinic sees during these months that if left untreated can develop into critical health problems.  And, in these hotter months, utilities, rent and food do not get any cheaper.  Our Social Work Center, is still just as busy helping connect guests to the supportive services they need to maintain their benefits, access emergency food, and find housing.

Although images of charity in our minds may be focused on snow falling and holidays, in reality we can all find ways to help year round to bring more stability to those in need.

The Annual Penny Pitch & Auction are over. The auction featured deals and steals for fine hotel stays, dinner in fun and fancy restaurants, sports events, and days off at Fisherman’s Wharf and other spots.

Check in next year for raffle and auction prizes going at the Penny Pitch. You need not be present to win. But why not be present?

After a very Green Earth Day at St. Anthony’s Dining room, guests will be feasting on local vegetables from small family farms and delicious meat prepared in a variety of ways. As April comes to a close the foundation prepares for Hunger Action Day, which is held in Sacramento, with anti-hunger advocacy training at St. Anthony on May 13th, the actual event will take place on May 20th. In addition to those events there are thousands of guests that rely on St. Anthony every single day for a hearty meal. The menu this week is nutritional as always and includes some delicious local ingredients. Artichokes for example, used in Monday’s Mediterranean pasta, can be boiled or even put in the microwave for 8 minutes, and are simply delightful with just mayonnaise or melted butter.

April 27 Spring Mediterranean Pasta: with artichokes, tomatoes, and olives

April 28 Red Beans w/ Ham & Rice: served with slow cooked greens

April 29 Posole: turkey and hominy simmered in green chili sauce

April 30 Chef’s Choice

May 1 Thai Chicken w/Peanuts: with fresh vegetables and rice

May 2 New York Strip Steak w/Shallot Sauce: Greek salad and mashed potatoes

May 3 Artichoke & Chicken Frittata: vegetables, chicken and cheese baked with eggs

Check back for weekly installments of On The Menu!

The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s annual “Out Of Reach” report was released last week with information for 2009.

According to Out Of Reach 2009 (released last week by the National Low Income Housing Coalition), California’s “Housing Wage” is now $24.83 per hour. The Housing Wage is the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to afford rent and utilities for an average two-bedroom apartment. The typical renter in California earns $17.52 per hour. An individual earning minimum wage ($8.00 per hour) would have to work 124 hours per week to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment.

An estimated 58 percent of California renters do not earn enough to afford a two-bedroom apartment at the Fair Market Rent.

St. Anthony Dining Room believes every day should be Earth Day.

Every healthy and filling dish is created with 4,500 pounds of reclaimed food to serve 2,700 meals. Food that would otherwise thrown away such as second-harvest produce, or day old baked goods gets a second chance for usefulness at St. Anthony’s.

In addition to a stringent recycling policy, at the end of each day St. Anthony Dining Room composts all of the waste food items (from preperation scraps to unfinished meals), in a model system of ongiong efficency and sustainability. 70% of the waste matter of St. Anthony Dining Room is composted or recycled, which is used to enrich the soil at local farms.

Our values of respectful resource management and the conscious efforts of personal and material sustainability are an intrinsic part of the operations and culture of St. Anthony Dining Room.

Tell your story and influence lawmakers to support legislation that addresses hunger

The training for our Hunger Action Day in Sacramento will be held at St. Anthony Foundation on Wednesday May 13th, from 2:00 – 5:00 pm.

This training is designed to prepare you for Hunger Action Day in Sacramento, where you can talk with legislators about how to end hunger in California! Because we’ve had some great legislative successes last year, our Hunger Action Day training items will be a little different this year, so please come to the training if you’re planning on joining us for Hunger Action Day.

Hunger Action Day will be on Wednesday May 20th, and we will once again provide transportation to Sacramento and breakfast/lunch for all participants (thanks to financial support from California Hunger Action Coalition and Mazon Foundation.)

To sign up, call Colleen Rivecca at 415-592-2729 or email crivecca@stanthonysf.org

Hey again, Sam the intern here. So, I’ve lived in San Francisco for almost 4 years now, and man has it flown by. As I prepare to graduate from the University of San Francisco I have learned many things. What stands out to me the most is how tolerant and accepting this wonderful city is. San Francisco is a paradise for the dreamer, the hippie, the beats, the gays, the wealthy, the student … you get the picture. During the past four years it seems I can’t turn on the TV without hearing two words: homeless (and other variations of) and environmentally friendly. This incredibly progressive city has made it their mission to help the people who live there whether they are homeless addicts, organic growers, or Marina establishment owners, like our beloved celebrity Mayor Gavin Newsom.

“Hunger shouldn’t be an option,” says the SF Food Bank, but unfortunately 150,000 people in San Francisco struggle to find food everyday. Many of our guests are forced to skip meals, eat less – or eat less well, and even give up food in order to pay rent. During this week, which has become a worldwide celebration of our Mother Earth, also be a reminder of how many people struggle to avoid hunger every single day.

The first Earth Day was celebrated by 20 million people worldwide on April 22, 1970. Earth Day is now observed each year on April 22 by more than 500 million people and national governments in 175 countries. Earth Day has evolved since its 1970 inception into a global celebration of the environment and our commitment to its protection. On the 39th Annual Earth Day the Dining Room will be serving  delicious chicken and noodles spiced with paprika. Rich in vitamin C,  Paprika is a spice made from the grinding of many dried sweet red or green bell peppers, and added to many dishes for flavor and color.

April 20 Chicken Teriyaki: served with rice

April 21 Pasta w/Braised Pork: flavored with a lemon, rosemary, and caper sauce

April 22 Earth Day Chicken Paprika: served with noodles and fresh vegetables

April 23 Tuna Casserole: Angel hair pasta, peas, and carrots with a light cream sauce

April 24 Lemon Oregano Chicken w/Orza: fresh vegetables

April 25 Tuscan Pork Ragu: simmered with beans, tomatoes, olives, capers, and garlic

April 26 Jerked Chicken: served with rice and greens

Check back every Monday for that week’s installments of On The Menu!

The numbers from this year’s official homeless count are in, reflecting only a slight increase in the number of people without a home.  According to the report, there were 6,514 homeless people at the time of the count, up only 2% from the last count in 2007.

I’m certainly not the first to say it but it’s worth mentioning the potential flaws in the logic of the count.  For one, it’s taken on January 27, in the thick of San Francisco’s rainiest, coldest season, on a day when weather is likely to compel many to seek temporary shelter with family or friends, if available.  When those connections are worn thin, of course, people end up back on the streets or in shelters, though by then far from the gaze of homeless counters.  I wonder what the count would be like on, say, a sunny day in August.

Which brings me to the second point: how are we to get an accurate impression of the homeless population from just one day of counting?  And, without actually talking to people–volunteers are instructed to count solely by sight–how are we to be sure the count is accurate?  I would think that an average of several days of counting, coupled with subject interviews, would yield a more accurate number and a more comprehensive understanding of the issues facing the homeless.

It will be interesting to see how the count pans out during the next pass, as the economy forces more out of their homes and into marginal housing or the streets.  Will these people count, or will they remain invisible?