By Jonathan Friedman
Staff Writer
September 28, 2009 -- Nearly 500 people flocked to the Fairmont Miramar Hotel Friday morning to celebrate the lives of those who have escaped substance abuse and homelessness along with the groups that make that transformation possible.
The Westside Shelter & Hunger Coalition, an alliance of more than 30 social service providers, hosted its 14th annual Breakfast to honor 30 previously homeless substance abusers. Those that assist in the recovery were also recognized.
FOX 11 news anchor Jean Martirez, who emceed the event, spoke about the issue of homelessness, and how combating it requires “coordinated efforts.”
“As long as homelessness exists, it is a problem we all face in some way,” Martirez said. “We often hear that nothing is being done about the homelessness, but we here know otherwise.
"We know that individual lives are being transformed every day with support of social service agencies, residences, many businesses and local governments, especially here on the Westside.”
The Santa Monica Homeless Community Court, created in 2007 through funding by the City and County, was recognized with the Community Partnership Award. Participants in the program appear in front of a judge bi-monthly while also receiving psychiatric services and substance abuse treatment along with access to social services and housing.
More than 150 people have participated in the program and 69 percent have “moved on to greater self-sufficiency,” said John Maceri, Westside Coalition chair and executive director of OPCC, which provides housing and services to the low-income and homeless in Santa Monica.
Bobbi Tillmon, the court’s presiding judge, accepted the award. She called the program a “collaborative effort” made possible through the participation of many who are involved, including those from the City, County and various other agencies.
“If you ask the people what they did, they would simply tell you,’ I did my job,’” Tillmon said. “But they did more than just their job. They are dedicated. They are professional. And they’ve always showed compassion.”
Other Santa Monica groups were also recognized. The Bayside District Corp. announced the recipients of the Marian Dorn Memorial Dolphin Change Grants. The six organizations will receive a total of $50,000, made possible by a donation from the Marian Dorn Estate and through change collected from the many dolphin sculptures located in Downtown Santa Monica.
This year’s grant recipients are Chrysalis, Westside Food Bank, CLARE Foundation, Common Ground, Upward Bound House and Step Up on Second
Maceri spoke about these organizations and others that help the homeless on the Westside.
“We do this work day after day because we believe in the potential and dignity of each person,” Maceri said. “We choose to confront poverty and homelessness head on rather than push people away into jails, further underground or into neighboring communities.
"When we choose to use our resources to conquer the underlying problems of homelessness, we break the cycle one individual at a time.” |
