Archive for April, 2011

Making a House a Home

Monday, April 11th, 2011

tmag-employee-gals-cleaning-03-2011_for-webOne of the gifts we cherish most is employees of our corporate partners choosing to give their time and effort to help make a house a home.

Supported by their companies, which often donate supplies or fixtures, some people wield a hammer, some hang curtains, others landscape, and all give of themselves to let others know they really care. It’s a very special gift for which we always have a need.

tmag-woman-window-03-2011_for-webWe thank Genentech, Starbucks, and TaylorMade Golf for the contributions they and their employees made to our Making a House a Home project. Through their efforts, three of our NSP houses located in Fallbrook were made into warm, inviting homes, ready for occupancy.

Starbucks Partners with Solutions for Change to Make a House A Home

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Pictured Above Right: back row Allastair Smith, store manager Leucadia, Adam Franzese, store manager encinitas, Cody Ramsey, account service manager, Mickey Rhead, store manager Encinitas lumberyard, Tyler Dalsted, store manager Carlsbad, middle row: Shauna Langley, district manager, Nicky Rossow, store manager La Costa, bottom row: Carlie Buchanan, store manager old San Marcos, Jesse Higby, store manager Encinitas Towne Center.

Pictured Above Left: TaylorMade Golf Company shine! — Adding their touches, smiles and gifts of volunteer time!

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This Takes the (Cup) Cake!

Monday, April 11th, 2011

little-cakes

Can good eating do good? It can this month, as Little Cakes Cupcake Kitchen donates $1 to North County Solutions for Change for each special Pancakes and Bacon Cupcake it sells. And early reports are that they’re selling like…well, like hotcakes.

The family-owned and operated business is at 30 Main St. in Vista. They’re open every day except Tuesday, for your eating pleasure. Get a sweet treat that can’t be beat, and help solve family homelessness at the same time!

We’re pleased and proud to be part of Little Cakes’ Karma Cakes program this month.

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Books for Real Change

Monday, April 11th, 2011

books-for-real-change-april“Books for Real Change” is a unique Solutions for Change social enterprise program in which donated books are sold on Amazon.com with the proceeds going back into supporting the programs that rebuild lives at Solutions for Change.

The program was started by Tammy Megison in the spring of 2009. Since then, more than 3000 books have been sold, grossing more than $21,000.

April Flores, a graduate of Solutions University, is responsible for receiving incoming donations, shelving, cataloging and preparing them for sale, placing the listings on Amazon.com, and getting the books shipped when there is a purchase. April also supervises residents of Solutions University assigned to working in the Books for Real Change program.

For April, Books for Real Change is about much more than a job. “It’s given me such hope, knowing that I’m trusted, a trusted employee. I’d never had that before. Tammy has given me the responsibility and she trusts me. That gives me hope, and I want to do my best each day.”

April has also found the experience a way of gaining multiple skills, including computer capabilities, inventory control, marketing, shipping and the high priority that must be given to customer satisfaction.

An average day brings 10-20 book orders, and sometimes more. The current record is 40. April is assisted by one resident, and two volunteers.

What sells? “What I’ve learned is that it’s true you can’t judge a book by its cover,” says April. “What you would think would sell best, like bestsellers, don’t because there are too many of them.

“It’s fascinating to learn what sells best and what doesn’t in the used book market. For us, the bestsellers are self help, history, books about military subjects, and how-to books.”

“April is a great role model for our newer residents,” says Tammy Megison. The plan for Books for Real Change is about growth, with a goal of seeing it expand into a warehouse filled with books and DVDs, and it’s a good bet that April will be growing right along with the program.

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In Their Own Words

Monday, April 11th, 2011

Freddie
freddie-family-photoMy book of life began 34 years ago. My childhood was rough to say the least. My family was extremely poor and even more damaging was the dysfunction. I have been sexually, emotionally, and physically abused. My mother was checked out every since I could remember.

Solutions for Change is a way to solve issues you never even knew you had. Nowhere in the name does it say that you’re going to love doing it. This program tests you emotionally, physically, and mentally. It makes you look at yourself long and hard…and we aren’t that pretty.

It asks you to accept accountability for your part in your downward spiral. The staff wants you to learn healthier ways of coping. The process tears down decaying walls then asks you to rebuild, starting with a new foundation.

We all owe ourselves and our families our best, our love, and our dedication to have a happy, healthy and stable future.

Thank you to all the staff here for your support, even during my times of insanity. Thank you Solutions for opening my eyes to see and my heart to change.

Mona Lisa
joy-family-photoI am 51 years old. I’ve been blessed with four amazing children: Trent, Richard, Michael and Mariah.

In February 2010, my husband of 25 years Kimo and my daughter Mariah came into the Solutions program. For first time in a long time, I saw Kimo doing recovery, and the change in him was amazing.

On June 11th 2010, Kimo passed away. That day he was supposed to get the keys for the apartment he worked so hard for. That day my whole life fell apart. Kimo was my soulmate and we were planning to grow old together.

I started feeling this pain of emptiness and the only way I knew how to deal with it was to use drugs. That day I had a choice—to finish what Kimo started at Solutions, or go back on the streets where eventually I would die. I took one look at Mariah and I knew I had to go to Solutions.

From the very first day I walked in the doors, I felt all of this love and support. I knew I was in the right place. Chris and Tammy opened their arms and hearts to Mariah and me. We will always, always be thankful. I’m also thankful for the case managers who played a big part in it. Thank you for trusting me and giving me this opportunity.

Angelique
Before coming to Solutions for change, I was a homeless single mother of five kids with no hope, no meaning, barely living. I was a shell of a human being. I doubted my abilities as a mother to ever be a provider for my family with a stable, safe home.

Since coming to Solutions, I have become a successful member of society. I have gained insight into myself. I am a responsible mother, functioning in all areas of my life. I am a manger at a job that I’ve had for almost two years. I have almost four years clean and sober.

I have been given many tools while here. I take things a day at a time. I admit when I am wrong and I change the behavior. I am open to suggestions, I am not saying that every day was roses and rainbows, but it’s pretty close. It’s a life I thought I was never going to have.

Joy
monalisa-family-photoMy family and I arrived at Solutions on August 12th. I remember April drove us to the shelter and once we were there she sat us down and went over the rules and let us go to Fresh ‘N Easy to get a few necessities, because we wouldn’t be able to go again until we filled out a store pass.

We were walking across the street, feeling relieved that I had gotten us in a safe place. I thought that my daughter Sarah, who was pregnant, must feel the same, after all we had been through. But she said, “Oh no, my God, you want me to have my baby there? You have to find us someplace else to go” and I looked at her and said, “No, we are going to give it a chance.” And give it a chance we did.

My beautiful granddaughter Sophia was born just 6 days after we arrived at the Solutions intake center. In Dec 2010, we got into apartment 114 and we were both so happy.

I remember thinking that no one was going to hire me and because it had been too long since I’d worked. One day I received a call from Goodwill, and I got the job. I just love it there.

I’m so grateful. Solutions taught me how to budget, introduced me to the 12 step program, and provided me with parenting and anger management classes. With these tools I have learned a better way to live, and have passed this on to my family.

I am very excited about my future.

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What’s Our Vision?

Monday, April 11th, 2011

vision-group-of-kidsAt Solutions for Change, we have a vision, a model, and a plan for solving family homelessness. In the next few issues, we’ll take a look at each of these and talk about what they mean to us, to the families, and to you.

Let’s start with our vision, which is to solve family homelessness, one family and one community at a time.

It all starts with this vision, because it is this vision that moves us and our supporters to engage. Before you can solve a problem, you must believe the problem can be solved. It is that belief—that vision—which enables each person, each company, each faith community, each civic organization, each government body, and each foundation to make their commitment of time, financial support, involvement, and effort.

Our vision is built on the knowledge that a permanent solution to family homelessness is possible, and that anything less than a permanent solution is both futile and wasteful of human and financial resources.

Solving family homelessness is important not just for the families directly affected, but for every person in the community. The compassion, commitment, and caring we invest in solving family homelessness is returned as increased productivity, decreased public support costs, and a justifiable pride in what we will—together—have accomplished.

That is our vision.

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Delivering Permanent Solutions

Monday, April 11th, 2011

Solutions for Change is about an unwavering commitment to providing more, better, and faster access to the resources families need to permanently solve their homelessness.

More, better, and faster all happened with conclusion of financing last month that enabled Solutions to acquire a 22-unit housing complex. The Primrose Avenue Project, currently scheduled to close escrow next week with Solutions as its new owner, will be the future homes of 22 families who have completed the first phase of the Solutions University.

These apartments will join the nine units recently acquired under the county’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program, putting us well ahead of schedule to acquire the homes needed to achieve the goals of the Solutions Finding Our Way Home initiative.

Funding came from a combination of public and private sources, including a $3.4 million commitment from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

“This is a perfect example of the kind of partnership Solutions is fostering in order to offer solutions to family homelessness in North County,” said Solutions President and Executive Director Chris Megison.

“This is an important step in the Finding Our Way Home initiative,” said Megison. “We are committed to leading 200 families—with approximately 400 children—permanently out of homelessness in 1000 days. Having these homes available will help us achieve our goal, and advance our vision of solving family homelessness in North County.”

“Increasingly, children are feeling the impact of homelessness,” said Supervisor Bill Horn after the board approved the loan. “I am pleased to be joining with business and faith leaders to do our part in creating more access to long term, permanent solutions for these children and their parents.
“Solutions for Change is one of the most inspiring and innovative privately-led initiatives in my district, and I’m glad to support their efforts,” said Horn.

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