What better gift for a mother who is homeless, than knowing she is doing all she can, and succeeding, at getting her child out of homelessness.

It is a rare and splendid thing for a person to receive, on consecutive days, an AA degree and an award for Employee of the Month. Made only more rare and splendid, if that person is a single mother with a four year old son, and living in a homeless shelter.

Shanesha and her son have been living with us in the Ascencia emergency shelter since January- after she found herself, for the second time in her life, with no where to go and no one to rely on.

Shanesha grew up in Foster Care, so age 18 when she exited the program, she instantly learned to be the independent and strong woman that she is today. As she says, [she] “kept herself uplifted and determined”. However, despite being employed since the day she exited foster care, last January, Shanesha came to Ascencia seeking help when she was unable to find housing for herself and her son.

When they entered the shelter, Shanesha was already well on her way to an Associate of Arts degree in behavioral science at Pasadena City College. Along with her full time studies, determined to build a better life for herself and her son, Shanesha was also working part-time in the PCC Computer Lab.

Shanesha after the graduation ceremony

Last Thursday, Shanesha was awarded Employee of the Month; last Friday Shanesha was awarded her AA degree.

Pride in her achievement has spilled over. Always positive and with a ‘can do’ attitude, it’s no wonder most of our 40+ shelter residents have been rooting for Shanesha.

A fellow resident purchased a very large congratulations card and placed it on a table where other residents signed and wrote about their appreciation for her efforts. It is a mark of the positive attitude she carries in the shelter, that the card –despite it’s size- was filled up rapidly. A number of our residents even attended Shanesha’s award ceremony.

Soon, Shanesha and her young son will be moving into an apartment here is Glendale as part of Ascencia’s Scattered Site/ Transitional Housing Program. They will live on their own, with subsidized rent, while Shanesha continues to earn and save for a place of their own.

As well as continuing with work, Shanesha will also continue in her education. She is already enrolled at Cal State- Dominguez Hills and planning for her bachelor’s degree.

Congratulations, Shanesha! You’ve made us all very proud.

To Shanesha and all the moms out there working hard to provide for their children, we wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day!

At our staff meeting today we remembered Jesse and Kate.

Tuesday was Kate’s 58^th birthday.  It was also the day she was found dead in an alley.

Our office has been rocked by a series of crises and we barely had time to process Jesse’s death when we learned about Kate. Jesse, a chronically homeless veteran, was very sweet, but he had his struggles.  That he ultimately died in his apartment was testimony not only to the support our staff gave him, but to his own commitment to do better.

We knew Kate over a much longer period of time.  She was among the earliest chronically homeless people that we helped into housing and she remained housed for 2 ½ years.  What followed can only be described as a nightmare of unfolding events that resulted in her return to the streets and her progressive decline.  We remained committed to helping her, often pushing against her resistance, up until the day before she died.

Jesse was sweet.  Kate was salty.  Jesse was quiet.  Kate was loquacious.

Our lives were better for knowing them and they will be missed.

 
Registration is now OPEN for this exciting community event for the entire family!

1st Annual Jewel City Fun & Fitness Ride

Sunday, May 19th
Verdugo Park in Glendale
7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Ride the Gear Grinder, a challenging 33 mile route complete with a 2600 ft. elevation, the Ride and Glide for a relaxed 7 mile ride through Glendale, and specially for kids, join the FREE Bicycle Skills & Safety Course at Verdugo Park. Come for the ride! Stay for live music, food, vendors and plenty of activities throughout the event.

Click here to register today.

How Can I Support Team Ascencia?

(1) Register for the event. Proceeds from the event will benefit low-income and homeless families and adults served by Ascencia, Glendale Healthy Kids and Glendale Salvation Army.

(2) Join Team Ascencia when you register. Let’s ride together for a great cause!

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Jewel City Fun & Fitness Ride brought to you by Glendale Noon Rotary Club, a Glendale chapter of Rotary International, and Walk Bike Glendale, a regional chapter of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. Sponsored by Glendale Adventist Medical Center with Media Sponsor ABC7.

Catch all the latest news about the event on Facebook.

Pete is a septuagenarian with a twinkle in his eye and a quick smile. He’s a proud U.S. Veteran and an all-around good guy. Today Pete lives in his own humble apartment with modest furnishings, a blessing that is a stark change from where he was this past December, homeless in a local public park.

“We were checking in on Pete during our normal rounds and we found him bleeding out and severely in pain, literally dying right in front of us,” says Alfred, Ascencia’s Outreach Case Manager. Alfred and his team conduct street outreach, going directly to the homeless to provide basic needs. Sometimes the homeless are desperate to hear about Ascencia’s housing and supportive services. But sometimes, as in the case of Pete, they aren’t ready, even after having spent the better part of the last 30 years on the streets. “We do what we can for them at the moment and continue to check in, so that when they’re ready for help, we’re there for them,” says Alfred.

Despite Pete’s initial protests, Alfred called 911 immediately and EMTs transported Pete to the E.R. Over the next 6 days, Pete received 7 blood transfusions.

“As horrifying as something like this is, for Pete it was exactly the catalyst he needed to finally make a change. He was scared sober!” says Alfred.

At discharge, Alfred picked Pete up and brought him to Ascencia’s Access Center and Emergency Shelter. After having been so close to death, Pete decided he’d finally had enough. He and his case manager worked on a plan for sobriety and he committed to improving his health. Ascencia was able to enroll him in our Supportive Services for Veteran Families program and when he was ready, through our Shelter Plus Care Permanent Supportive Housing program, Pete also found a safe new place to call home.

“Ascencia has made a commitment to end veteran homelessness in Glendale and with Pete, we continue to march forward in achieving that goal. With safe, stable housing, Pete and other chronically homeless U.S. Veterans can work towards regaining wellness and control over their lives, a critical step towards continued stability” says Natalie Profant Komuro, Executive Director.

Today Pete is working on rebuilding the relationships that were torn apart by his alcoholism and homelessness. His three children are relieved that their father is in a sobriety program and has a sponsor. His sister, with terminal cancer, was overjoyed to be reunited with him. Before his sister passed, she had the opportunity to tell him, “Now I can rest peacefully, knowing that you’re safe.”

Did you know low income families and individuals may be eligible for greater returns this tax season?!

The Earned Income Tax Credit, EITC, is designed to help working, low to moderate income families and individuals, maximize their federal income tax credits. Families or individuals who worked in 2012 may be eligible for these tax credits.

The Tax credit has been promoted by Senator Carol Liu as well as by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Find out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit by visiting the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/EITC-Home-Page–It%E2%80%99s-easier-than-ever-to-find-out-if-you-qualify-for-EITC

There is still time to file for these returns!

Please NOTE:  When planning for this current year, do not assume EITC will be around next year or that you will qualify all year.  Some programs are promoting a monthly rebate program.  If you end up getting a better paying job in the middle of the year, you may have to repay that EITC money.