You are receiving this note because you attended one of our faith leader luncheons and we want to thank you for your interest in the Multi-Faith ACTION Coalition and then discuss ways we can work together. Following a request from several people, here is a link to the presentation data slides from the luncheon.
First we want to express our sincere appreciation for your engagement in conversations about your experiences and concerns about hunger and homelessness in Contra Costa County. From those community conversations we learned that you are concerned about the following:
Essential to addressing hunger and homelessness is the establishment of a living wage with an intermediate goal of raising the minimum wage.
Learning about resources in your community to help families who are in crisis is a challenge.
While there remain some questions about how the Multi-Faith ACTION Coalition differs from other existing groups, you would like to be sure that the voices of East and West County faith leaders will be heard as the agenda and direction of this group evolves.
We share these concerns and believe there are ways for us to advocate together for change and resources available that we can share.
The Coalition is poised to support a potential county-wide minimum wage increase. We are working with other groups to move this forward.
Coalition members continue to be active in CalFresh sign-ups through Food Bank distribution sites. If you would like to have someone come to your church to help members initiate Cal Fresh (aka Food Stamps, EBT card) registration please contact Joanne Peterson.
A good first resource for individuals who find themselves homeless, without food or in need of other services, is the county's 211 Resources Phone Line (Crisis Center). People can call 211 for information and referrals 24 hours a day or the 24-hour homeless hotline (800-808-6444). In East County St Vincent de Paul is another good resource for homeless and related services. They are located at 2210 Gladstone Drive, Pittsburgh (925-439-5060). And of course GRIP is available for homeless services in West County (165 22nd Street, Richmond; 510-965-6337).
Contra Costa County's next Project Homeless Connect will be held August 6th from 9:00-3:00 at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium (403 Civic Center Plaza). For more information or to volunteer go to http://cchealth.org/homeless/phc/. This is a one-day, one-stop shop to offer a variety of services to people experiencing homelessness.
The Coalition's Jobs Task Force is planning a meeting in East County to discuss support for residents who are seeking employment or seeking to upgrade their employment. Details are still being worked out. Please contact Lisa Hirsch if you are interested in attending or helping to plan this event.
Our recently created Steering Committee meets regularly to discuss the activities of the Coalition. We welcome additional representation from East and West county on this committee.
We look forward to continuing conversations with you on how to address hunger and homelessness in all of the communities of Contra Costa County. If you would like to become more involved in any efforts or learn more about the Coalition's activities please contact either of us.
Together, we will raise the voice of the faith community and make a difference.
Multi-Faith ACTION Coalition