eNEWS
Think of us as one year ends.....
Last fiscal year staff at Housing Rights, Inc,
provided direct services to over 1,800 households representing over 5,000 individuals.
We reached over 10,000 people through our community work and
scores more through our website, mypace and facebook pages.
And there are just four us and several wonderful UC Berkeley students!
Our scope of services has broadened. In addition to the mortgage default counseling we are now doing, we provide reverse mortgage counseling, have become experts on bedbugs (there is a growing epidemic in Concord!) and we opened a new site in Antioch. In addition to our Berkeley Office and the Mt. Diablo Housing Opportunity Center in Concord, the Gateway Housing Opportunity Center opened this last July.
The problems that our callers and clients bring to us through the phones or e-mail or in person define our programs and our work.
We thank you for your support and ask that you think of us as we end one year and look to another. We look forward to helping people get and keep their home, helping them fight for their rights as they ‘blossom’ by becoming successful renters and homeowners.
And another begins.....
Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it.” Goethe
New in 2010:
Safe Home Inspections: trained HRI Staff and sub-contractors document the need for repairs that are the landlord's responsibility and train tenants in defensive measure designed to keep their homes safe. This is a fee-based service ($250 for a two bedroom apartment) and free for 150 families in Alameda County with children 5 and under. (Many thanks to First Five Alameda County for the funding for these families!)
Expanded Lawyer Referral Service: we are now offering up to 30 minutes consultation with a private attorney for members of the public with housing issues. After a brief screening and payment of a fee ($50 maximum, $10 minimum depending upon income). This service is available in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. (LRS #120)
Special
I wouldn't be doing my job as Executive Director of a small non-profit if I didn't remind you that we survive because of your financial support as well as all the other support you have given us over these amazing 30 years. We have developed a list of 'painless' ways to give to Housing Rights, Inc. (as you probably have figured out you can use many of them to give to other non-profits as well!). Please consider using one of these methods (my favorite is recycling printer cartridges!) Go to our website for details: Painless Giving.
With great respect and regard,
Wanda Remmers on behalf of Housing Rights, Inc.
Many Thanks
We have much to be thankful for as we end this momentous year and begin another.
Many thanks to our donors, including: the Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa, the Cities of Antioch, Berkeley, Concord, and Walnut Creek, San Francisco Foundation, van Loben Sels/Rembe Rocke Foundation, Wells Fargo, Mechanics Bank, United Way of the East Bay and the Vodafone Foundation. And thank you to our partners: Bay Area Legal Aid, Rural Community Assistance Corporation, National Community Reinvestment Corporation and Fair Housing of Marin. With their help and yours our Centers in Concord and Antioch are serving more and more people with not only helping them with their housing problems but in addressing their housing needs.
Chevron Volunteers Lend a Hand - Thousands of Chevron employees fanned out to Bay Area nonprofits during Chevron Volunteer Week in September, including Housing Rights, Inc.
“Our employees loved helping your organization and learning first-hand the important work that you do to improve the community,” “said Lucretia Weiner, Chevron Humankind program manager.
Chevron volunteers stapled, cut and folded a years worth of outreach material. Their volunteer efforts are invaluable to us and help us accomplish our mission. They are incredibly productive volunteers. We are proud to partner with them to meet the needs of our community.
Nearly 2,500 Chevron employees in the San Francisco Bay Area volunteered at about 90 nonprofits during Chevron Volunteer Week. They painted, gardened, helped the elderly, built homes, worked with the disabled, assembled food packages for parents of hospitalized children, and cared for animals at shelters. The company’s volunteer activities are part of their year-round efforts to support nonprofit organizations coordinated through Chevron Humankind, their employee and retiree matching and volunteer program. Contact the Volunteer Center (helpnow.org) to sign up for next September.
HRI Around Town
You will find HRI staff at the following locations!
In February we will be hosting another showing of Bernie Kleina's amazing photographs from the Civil Rights Marches in Chicago during the 60's led by Dr. Martin Luther King. Watch for more information.
Every first Tuesday of the month: Homebuyer Orientation, 6 to 8 p.m. at our Mt. Diablo Housing Opportunity Center. And every third Tuesday of each month: Tenants Rights Clinic at the same place and time: 2699 Monument Blvc., Concord. Cross Street is Walters Way.
Join us on Myspace and facebook!
For more information about our activities check out our website: www.housingrights.org/whatsnew/calendar.htm
Stomp Out Discrimination
Join us in “stomping” out discrimination
until difference no longer makes a difference
in a world where every child is smiling….
- Free from hunger
- Free from harm
- Free from homelessness
- Free from hate
Housing Rights, Inc. was founded in 1979 by a law student who could not find housing because she had young children. We are committed to seeing that that does not happened to others. Join us in fighting to uphold the ‘housing rights’ of everyone.
Our Goals with your help, are to eliminate discrimination in housing, prevent evictions/foreclosures and encourage diversity in our communities. We do this by assisting tenants and landlords, homeowners and housing providers, to understand their rights and responsibilities and resolve problems, so that EVERYONE will have a real opportunity to live in decent, affordable housing wherever it may be located.
Your support will make it possible to keep our housing rights counseling services free to all who call...renters, homeowners, landlords and others for ANOTHER 20 YEARS!
Donations of time money and goods are welcome. If you want to combine your passion for recycling with supporting Housing Rights, Inc. bring us your used printer cartridges! HRI is recycling cartridges. (We receive a fee for each cartridge!
We are also collecting BART cards. BART will pay is the leftover amount on the cards. Each .05 or .10 adds up! Visit our website to learn more about how to donate to Housing Rights, Inc.: http://housingrights.org/joinourteam/donate.htm
Announcements
We have a new Intake Specialist: Gabirela Ochoa. Gabriela has been with us since May and has become a certified Housing Counseler! This means that all staff serving the public are not certified housing couselors.
We are fortunate once again to have wonderful UC Berkeley students join us through the Work-Study program: Zarish Akram and Keithe Welch are working with us this year. Zarish is supporting Arlene with her Mortgage Default Counseling cases and Keith is our Outreach Coordinator.
30 years feels just like 29! And I have a feeling that 31 will feel the same too. 2010 brings us to 31! Until difference no longer makes a difference......
| MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to fight for equal access to housing for everyone
by eliminating barriers to housing choice such as discrimination,
sub-standard housing, ignorance, apathy and malice in order to
eradicate illegal housing discrimination, prevent evictions/foreclosures
and encourage diversity in our neighborhoods. |
