News & Events

HART Announces New Board Members

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June 15, 2017

HART is thrilled to announce the addition of two new Board Members. Brian Franks and Debbie Pettenger are quality people that will nicely compliment our current stellar Board.

Brian is the successful co-owner of wholesale retail outlet, Shop Heroic in Elk Grove, one of three in Northern California. Brian and his wife, Natalie, are not new comers to the nonprofit world. They have been heavily involved with nonprofit organizations for the past nine years. Brian has had a heart for the homeless dating back to his high school days when he spent time experiencing life with the homeless in San Francisco. We look forward to Brian bringing his talents and business acumen to HART Board.

Debbie is not only familiar with the Elk Grove area in her professional endeavors as a successful realtor, but has also worked for many years as a parent leader in the Elk Grove school system and currently serves on the Elk Grove Food Bank Board. She has a passion for the homeless, especially homeless veterans. Debbie has dedicated her life to being a strong community leader. We look forward to Debbie bringing her dedication and passion to our HART Board.

We are so deeply appreciative of Debbie and Brian's willingness to join us in our fight to help the homeless in Elk Grove achieve their highest potential. We welcome them to our HART family.

School’s Out but No Summer Break for Homeless

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June 06, 2017

Naturally, our hearts are moved by the thought of helping the homeless during the winter season. None of us want to think about people suffering in the cold, with no access to even basic necessities like food and shelter.

But did you know that homelessness doesn't have a favorite season? In fact, the summer months can exacerbate the struggle with homelessness because it is during this season that children are usually not in school, and reasonably-priced childcare is difficult to find. Parents can find it more challenging to keep regular hours at a job, and work to return to self-sufficiency when concerned about where children can stay during the day.

Then, there's the issue that the heat can bring. We all read about the dangers of excessive sun exposure, dehydration, and poor air quality on the hotter days. These issues can adversely affect those without shelter, because there is "no break" from them.

While our region comes together to provide cooling centers and other resources, there are ways that you as an individual can help the homeless during the summer:

• Keep bottled water on hand. On the hottest days, water not only hydrates but can also aid someone in clean-up. You may also consider water supplemented with electrolytes and/or Gatorade to replace minerals lost in sweating. While these items don't need to be kept on ice, please take care to keep these items cooled.
   
• Light clothing – perhaps you have children who've outgrown last summer's shorts. Consider keeping a bag in your trunk that includes light-weight tee shirts, shorts, and even flip-flops. Please remember that giveaway clothing should be in good condition and clean as homeless people often don't have access to laundry facilities and/or places to repair clothing.
   
• Foot care & sunscreen items – the heat can introduce problems like Athlete's Foot. Consider keeping inexpensive foot powder, socks, etc. on hand to hand out when you see someone on the streets. Skin damage is also a concern. Personal care items can be found at your local dollar and discount stores.
   
• Conversation – one of the best ways you can help encourage a homeless person is simply by greeting them respectfully, and smiling. Smiles are free, and everyone smiles in the same language!

These are just a few ways to make the summer months more bearable for those on the streets. Author Charles Bowden said, "Summertime is always the best of what might be." Let's help make summertime the best of what might be for those less fortunate!

What Will You Learn

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June 03, 2017

HART hosts a public meeting known as our HART Solutions Meeting every other month. You may wonder, "What Can I Learn at a HART Solutions Meeting?"

In addition to learning about our programs, several partnering agencies are also at the meeting to provide resources on how to best address the issue of homelessness in our city. Representatives include Elk Grove Food Bank, Elk Grove Police Department, Sacramento Self-Help Housing, and more.

Our HART Solutions Meeting was designed to inform the public of how we can all work together to provide resolutions and assist homeless individuals to become self-sustaining once again. Our Solutions Meeting is the best place to start when you are considering how to donate your time, resources, and service. The next HART Solutions Meeting is set for Thursday, June 8, 2017 at Elk Grove City Council Chambers located at 8400 Laguna Palms Way in Elk Grove.

Please phone our office at (916) 623-5858 if you have questions about our upcoming meeting or would like to know more.