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.

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?

Recently, C.W. Nevius posed the age-old ‘chicken or the egg’ question in his twice weekly column.  As so many people do, he wonders,  why is it that there is such a concentration of homeless services in the Tenderloin?

“The question is,” Nevius asks, “Do the homeless and low-income people flock to the Tenderloin because there are so many services, or have the charitable groups been drawn to the neighborhood because so many residents need help?”

As with any questions regarding social services, the answer depends on the person’s beliefs of who “deserves” services.   At St. Anthony Foundation, we firmly believe in each person’s right to eat, to have affordable health care, warm clothing, to have shelter and to have the opportunities to build employment skills, and find community to overcome addiction.

As service providers city-wide brace for impact of the budget crisis, it is becoming clearer that privately funded non-profits will fiscally weather the storm, but more and more of the clients who sought help from city services will be turning to us for help.

What tragically some people see as the “easy work” of feeding the hungry, mentioned in Nevius’ article, what they are missing is that the children and young adults who partake in service-learning will have a deeper understanding of the issues of homelessness and poverty.  That direct experiential learning will more greatly impact youth than any fifth period lecture on the economy, and they will carry those stories to the family members, and friends, continuing the dialogue.

It is through volunteering, through service-learning and education and that greater issues of homelessness and poverty are understood and approached with insight.  Not through columns written outside looking in, questioning whether or not we might scare the tourists.

35th Million Meal served by Historic Non-Profit as USDA estimates that 35 Million went hungry last year

SAN FRANCISCO, CA February 6th, 2009 Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a long time volunteer and supporter of St. Anthony’s, will be at St. Anthony’s on Sunday, February 8th to serve the organization’s historic 35th million meal, with a press conference following. California State Senator Mark Leno will also be on hand to participate in the momentous event. With recent findings by the USDA that 35 million people (12 percent of Americans) could not put food on the table at least part of last year, and with a pending Economic Recovery Package that has passed in the House and is moving forward in the Senate, the Speaker’s visit is both timely and appropriate.

“There are different ways to serve the poor – you can serve food to the hungry on the front lines or you can support legislation that will help keep people from getting in the food line in the first place. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is showing that she wants to do both. That is good news for organizations like St. Anthony’s, which are today serving more meals than we ever have. ” noted Fr. John Hardin of St. Anthony Foundation.

For 58 years St. Anthony Foundation has helped heal individuals and families by providing free, life sustaining support for the poor and homeless. St. Anthony Foundation’s programs offer gateways to escaping poverty by addressing immediate needs such as hunger and clothing, as well as long term needs such as employment, drug and alcohol addiction, and physical and mental health. St. Anthony Foundation does not accept any federal, state, or local government money, and is entirely funded by private donations.

MEDIA ALERT
SPEAKER of the HOUSE NANCY PELOSI and STATE SENATOR MARK LENO
AT ST. ANTHONY’S on SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8th
WHERE: St. Anthony Dining Room
45 Jones Street (near Golden Gate)
DATE: Sunday, February 8, 2009
TIME: 12:00 p.m. Blessing by Fr. John Hardin, OFM
12:10 p.m. Serving of the 35th Millionth Meal
12:30 p.m. Press Conference*

Oldest San Francisco Dining Room For The Poor Prepares For Toughest Christmas Ever

SAN FRANCISCO, CA December 22nd, 2008 Every guest that walks through the door at St. Anthony Foundation Dining Room on Christmas Day will be served a Christmas meal of glazed ham and mashed potatoes, thanks to a donation of 3,300 pounds of ham from a long time St. Anthony’s volunteer. Donations like this are making the difference for San Francisco’s oldest private social services agency which is dedicated to serving the poor.

“We have weathered 7 recessions since we opened our doors in 1950” noted St. Anthony Foundation Executive Director Fr. John Hardin, OFM. “Instead of the 2,600 meals that we serve every day, we are looking at serving closer to 4,000 on Christmas. Fortunately, our volunteers and donors have really stepped up to help us meet the need, which is growing every day.”

Christmas Day marks the last day of St. Anthony’s Curbside Holiday Drive, where donations of food, clothing, and monetary donations can be made by driving up at curbside, so donors don’t even have to leave their cars, from 9am to 3pm. Donated items are distributed free of charge to San Francisco’s most needy residents.

For 58 years St. Anthony Foundation has provided free, life sustaining support for the poor and homeless. St. Anthony Foundation’s programs help heal individuals and families by providing a gateway to solutions to poverty, including a Dining Room which serves 2,600 meals every day, a Technology Lab/Employment Program, a Drug and Alcohol Recovery Program, and a Free Medical Clinic. St. Anthony Foundation does not accept any federal, state, or local government money for its programs, and is entirely funded by private donations.

Reality Is That Donation Are Still Needed

SAN FRANCISCO, CA December 18th, 2008 St. Anthony’s is still glowing from the gift of $35,000 and set of new Technology Lab computer monitors from Gurbaksh Chahal, “secret millionaire”, as recently featured on Fox network’s new reality show by the same name. But with December marking the highest one-week filing rate of unemployment claims in the last 26-years, and the temperature dropping daily, St. Anthony’s is still stretching to meet the demand of those seeking food, warm clothing, and medical care.

To help meet the need, St. Anthony’s is preparing for its 21st anniversary of St. Anthony’s Curbside Holiday Drive. St. Anthony Foundation staff and volunteers, wearing easily identifiable red jackets, will take delivery of food, clothing, and monetary donations at curbside, so donors won’t even have to leave their cars. Donated items are distributed free of charge to San Francisco’s most needy residents.

“Whether you drive a Lamborghini or a Toyota, donations are critical to meeting the need this holiday season. In November we served 14% more meals in our Dining Room than November of  last year. We have 40% more people coming to our Free Medical Clinic than this time last year. And our Clothing Program has been unable to serve all the families that are coming to us for warm clothing,” noted St. Anthony Foundation Executive Director Fr. John Hardin.

St. Anthony Foundation’s programs help heal individuals and families by providing a gateway for solutions to poverty, including a Dining Room which serves 2600 meals every day, a free Clothing and Housewares program, an Employment Program/ Technology Lab,  Residential Drug and Alcohol Recovery Program, and a Free Medical Clinic. St. Anthony Foundation does not accept any federal, state, or local government money for its programs, and is entirely funded by private donations.

Today, San Francisco Chronicle columnist C.W. Nevius writes about the growing number of families entering homelessness during what has been one of the coldest Decembers San Francisco has seen in years.

The timing couldn’t be worse.

San Francisco is in the worst budget crisis it has seen in 70 years. According to City Homeless Policy Director, Dariush Kayhan, the number of families requesting assistance is currently up “50 percent more than we had one year ago.”

We’ve been seeing the numbers slowly increase for a year now. Families of all shapes and sizes are coming to St. Anthony Foundation for food, clothing, medical care and assistance in navigating through the already over crowded social service system.

Because St. Anthony’s doesn’t accept government funding of any kind we can respond quickly to emergencies like this. And because we are supported entirely by private donations we aren’t in jeopardy when the city is in financial crisis at the same time as it’s people.

Undemployment Up And Stock Market Down Means A Longer Line At St. Anthony’s

SAN FRANCISCO, CA November 25th, 2008 St. Anthony Dining Room will serve more than 3,500 turkey dinners to the poor and homeless on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27th. And on the Wednesday prior (November 26th), St. Anthony staff and volunteers will together be carving turkeys, making pumpkin pies, and mashing potatoes to ensure that when the doors open at 9:45 A.M. on Thanksgiving morning, there is plenty for everyone.

“With unemployment up and the stockmarket down, it is no wonder that more people will be spending Thanksgiving at St. Anthony’s. ” noted St. Anthony Executive Director Fr. John Hardin. “We are serving 20% more people in our programs than we were 5 years ago, and like everyone, our costs have gone up.”
St. Anthony’s has been running a special “drive by” food and clothing donation drive to help meet the crisis of increased demand, as more and more people turn to the 58 year old non profit for basic necessities as a result of the current economic crisis. Clean, cared-for warm clothing and canned or dried bulk foods, are especially needed.

For 57 years St. Anthony Foundation has provided free, life sustaining support for the poor and homeless. St. Anthony Foundation’s programs help heal individuals and families by providing a gateway to solutions to poverty, including a Dining Room which serves 2600 meals every day, an Employment Program/ Technology Lab, Drug and Alcohol Recovery Program, and a Free Medical Clinic. St. Anthony Foundation does not accept any federal, state, or local government money, and is entirely funded by private donations.