La Casa Hogar

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Yakima Interfaith Coalition is seeking case manager to join 107 House team

Position is responsible for assisting people with emergency needs such as homeless prevention, utilities, medicine. Assessment, Information & referral, resources, and eligibility determination; compassion and passion for service essential. One year of social service or ministry experience, working with the homeless and/or mentally disable desirable. Knowledge of community resources, excellent customer service, ability to work with frequent interruptions with skills in computer applications, especially database and spreadsheet, bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Job description online at www.lacasahogar.org . Please send resume to carole@lacasahogar.org or delivery to 107 House at 107 So. 6th Street, Yakima.

Download the Position Description

Find out what's happending at La Casa Hogar - in our February Bits of News

Save the Date

2010 Connecting Communities
Sunday, May 16th
2:400-4:00pm

for more info

A letter from the Executive Director

‘Tis the season of gift giving, and receiving. So often we think of “gifts” from the prospective of material things. We fuss and stew over what to buy, how much money to spend, what do they need? Will they like the gift you have chosen? What will they think about us even giving a gift? How much can I afford to give this year to my favorite charities? Frankly, it’s often a struggle for many of us.

Have you ever pondered this question: How are you a gift to others? Try it on for size.
Say it to yourself. I am a gift to others. Does it fit? Is it too small, or perhaps way too big?

I have a favorite note card with the message “Just to be is holy.” The message means a lot to me when I read it or send it to friends. It serves as a reminder that just as I am, is enough. We are accepted and loved, just as we are and that is holiness. We are a gift to others because we exist. Do you buy it? What is the cost?

As we close out 2009, each of us and our organization has strived to be a gift to you and our community. Many people in a variety of different ways have crossed the threshold our home. May you know that you are truly a gift to us.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and our staff, we would like to wish you a happy holiday season and the best in the New Year.

Carol
Executive Director

Secretary of Culture for the State of Michoacán visits for the first time

Staff share the story and mission of La Casa

It is not every day that the Secretary from any state of Mexico walks through the doors. It was truly an honor to host Honorable Secretary Maestro Jaime Hernández Díaz. Executive Director, Carole, had the pleasure of meeting him and introducing La Casa Hogar when she visited Mexico earlier this month. The two met a book release in Morelia, Mexico where 25 stories from women of La Casa was published. Maestro Jaime Hernández Díaz, his wife and staff were great company. Asking many question and very interested in learning more about the wonderful thing La Casa is doing.

Memorial Foundation receives grant from Regence Blue Shield Foundation for Tomado Control classes at La Casa Hogar

Anne Caffery, President and CEO of the Memorial Foundation, received a generous gift from Jonathan Hensley, Regence Blue Shield Foundation President. The resources will support “Tomando Control” a Latino health class. "Muchas Gracias" Memorial Foundation for reaching out to those we serve!

Our first Kermes event a big success!

Read more about the activities of this "Dollar Make a Difference" activity ... click here

Connecting Communities event a big success!

Read more about the activities of the evening ... click here

Steve and Anne Caffery honored with the Amor en Acción Award at La Casa Hogar’s Connecting Communities Fiesta

Actions of the heart make possible transforming love between people. Yakima Interfaith Coalition La Casa Hogar honors individuals who have been inspired by the people we serve. Through their inspiration, they become one with us and inspire others.

Steve Caffery, CEO of the Capitol Theatre is a dreamer and visionary for our community. Back in the year 2000 he saw the potential of our organization. That year, and each year there after, he has brought the support of the Capitol Theatre resources to our events. Steve and the Capitol Theatre are amazing gifts to our community.

Anne Caffery, President & CEO of The Memorial Foundation is a wonderful friend of Yakima Interfaith Coalition La Casa Hogar. She was instrumental in our securing sufficient funds that enabled us purchase our “home”. Her love of community and family continues to nurture our organization through a strong partnership bringing community wellness education and other resources of the Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital to the women and children at La Casa.

“Steve and Anne are incredible people who care deeply about our community and express it through Amor en Acción, setting a beautiful example for each of us,” Carole Folsom-Hill, Executive Director said.

The board of directors each year recognizes individuals who live out Amor en Acción, in our community, and through that Love in Action have touched the lives of all who are the community at La Casa Hogar Yakima Interfaith Coalition.

Community leaders Rick Pinnell and Bette Taylor are previous recipients of the award.

Many thanks to our key sponsor for Connecting Communities - RBC Wealth Management

Adult Basic Education Program Grant received

La Casa Hogar / Yakima Interfaith Coalition has received a grant to enhance our Adult Basic Education Program an dCommunity Technology Center. For more information, please read the press release.

Emergency Services new location

Our service address is now 107 So. 6th St.
(Across the street from the La Casa Hogar)
Phone: 249-6232, Fax: 249-2800

Emergency Services Hours
9 -12 pm & 1 - 4pm

Through vouchers we assist with the following services.

Bus passes regular ( we will be asking clients to help with a $5.00 contribution towards the $17.00 bus pass), and $5.00 reduced fair/disabled bus pass, until the 10th of the month, after which single tickets are available
Medications with prescriptions, (no narcotics or pain medicine
I.D. and Drivers license fee
Electrical final notice $25
Water final notice $25
Natural gas final notice $25
for utilities client must pay outstanding amount less $25 before receiving service)
Propane for heating usually 5 gallons
Community information and referrals

We no long issue gas vouchers, but encourage clients to take advantage of our monthly bus passes.

We also provide for people who are homeless emergency vouchers for the above services. Needs and requests are evaluated individually on a case by case basis and may include assistance for obtaining and maintaining housing.

We Own Our Home

It seems fitting that in the 10th year of service our community La Casa Hogar becomes a homeowner. A successful capital campaign raised over $150,000. This secures our home and launches us into the future. Success was possible because generous community leaders have faith in our mission, share our vision for the future and care deeply about our community. Our leadership team Rick Pinnell, Bette Taylor, Ann Willis & Peggy Ludwick spent countless hours introducing the story of La Casa to their friends and other community leaders, encouraging their support. Helen Jewett-Shield’s generosity and challenge gift inspired others to join with us. The Board of Directors and staff’s commitment to mission laid the foundation. Most importantly our success and future is inspired by the courageous and highly motivated women we serve.

Community Garden Wins 2006 Youth Garden Grants

Here is what they had to say about the project:

Yakima Homeless Youth Committee
Yakima, WA
In Spring 2005, an inner city lot was cleared for the Yakima Community Garden, a project intended to engage homeless youth. Outreach workers and adult volunteers invited homeless young people to participate in planning, planting, and caring for the garden. The garden gives them the chance to learn useful skills, to have positive interactions with community members, and to produce nutritious food. Participants also operate a produce stand, gaining work experience and funds to help pay for personal necessities.

"The Garden is a source of income, nutrition, exercise, and hope for the youth, plus a significant learning experience and neighborhood beautification project," notes Patricia Brown of the Yakima Homeless Youth Committee. "Recently, a man who lives in the neighborhood came by and remarked, ‘This garden is soothing, settling, a feast for my eyes and a comfort to my soul each time I see it.’ Spontaneous good is already happening."

Community Garden Committee Chair Steve Gaulke says, “I’ve seen first hand wonderful interactions with neighbors, passers by that we've never been witnessed before. The Garden is focused on helping people have new and positive experiences, providing a safe place to make new connections and friendships, to learn, and to experience personal growth."

The Heart of Our Home Cookbook - El Corazón de Nuestro Hogar

This collection of family recipes from the Women of La Casa Hogar was launched in mid February 2006. For more information on the cookbook see the Heart of Our Home Cookbook page.

The Loss of Annabelle

If you have read the paper you will have seen that a woman found dead in the Yakima River, was finally identified. The path of her homelessness and struggle transitioning off the streets was full of closed doors, limited resources and diminished hope for a future of a safe and affordable home. This woman, a mother, a friend to many, stayed at the mission as long as they allow, and then out of desperateness shared a room with another woman. The situation was neither safe nor affordable, leading up to her desperate walk which ended some where along the cold and dark Yakima River.

Annabelle just wanted a home, a place to be safe and start her recovery from the harsh cruel world of homelessness. She died alone, no friends, no family, and no safety net to assist her in her dreams. If only she had a home, affordable housing, maybe, just maybe her walk along the river, in the dark, damp cold would have ended differently. Will there be other Annabelle? All I can say is there are many other men and woman out there needing affordable safe housing. Housing first is the single most important key to recovery, and ending the pain and suffering associated with the crises of homelessness in our community and country.

It is unclear if any family will come forward; once again a person experiencing homelessness is invisible in life and now death. I ask all who are concerned about preventing and helping ending homelessness demand resources for housing for the homeless and people living on the edge in poverty. This Crisis will not end without Housing, and as hopeful as I may want to be, without a change there will be many more Annabelles.

Steve Gaulke, PATH Homeless Outreach

Project 101 at La Casa Hogar gives hope to women like Annabel ... !

Yakima Herald Republic Editorial on Annabelle Fund

A little Annabelle Fund help goes a long ways for local homeless

Sometimes a little help can go a long way when it fills a low-profile need in helping the less fortunate.

For the homeless in this area, that would be the new Annabelle Fund. It doesn’t attract a lot of attention and has very limited resources, but don’t try to tell those it has helped that it doesn’t make a difference.

The fund was initiated by Steve Gaulke, a local outreach worker for the homeless. It’s named for Annabelle Lee McIntyre, a local homeless woman who died last October along the Yakima River.
Gaulke approached the La Casa Hogar/Yakima Interfaith Coalition to start up and run the fund that operates under a modest budget – all from local donations – and without the bureaucracy often evident with bigger agencies and government programs.

Depending upon availability, individuals may request up to $600 a year. Money goes directly to a landlord to ensure it is used appropriately. In exchange for assistance, recipients must agree to work with a case manager.

The idea of the fund is to keep it small, says Gloria Garza, Yakima Interfaith Coalition’s coordinator of emergency service, who along with Gaulke and Sister Georgette Bayless determine who receives funding.

Gaulke told our reporter that McIntyre might be alive today if she could have accessed a few dollars until the Social Security benefits she was entitled to kicked in – a process that can take a few months. He was working toward getting McIntyre into permanent housing at the time of her death. This program deals with needs so small that they often fly below the radar. No more. Annabelle McIntyre may have died alone and homeless, but as it turns out, her plight has helped make a difference for others.

The Annabelle Fund is just one more of those people-helping-people approaches we appreciate so much about this community.

Published by the Yakima Herald Republic - Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Plazas Comunitarias

La Casa Hogar, in partnership with Yakima School District, is a new site for Plazas Comunitarias. Inaugural Celebration and introduction to the program was held on October 27, 2006.

This is a great opportunity for the women and children of La Casa Hogar. The Spanish internet based curriculum, primary through secondary, allows students to continue their education no matter what level of education they have completed, while they gain their English skills. Individuals can also take course work towards their GED. Students studying Spanish at La Casa Hogar will be invited to enroll in the program.

The Concept - Plazas Comunitarias is an agreement between the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, OSPI, Yakima School District and the Mexican Government to set up a computer/internet-based hookup between the Mexican educational system and our school systems here in Washington State. This agreement allows students (young/old) to continue their education by logging on to this approved system and completing their required course work and meeting their educational requirements. There has been a lot of work put into developing this system and working out all the details including alignment of over 72 courses between Mexico and Washington State.

Yakima County 10-year plan to combat homelessness gets national recognition - Read all about it!