Courtesy Office of CA Governor
Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) recently signed a $12 billion dollar housing and homelessness package. What can we do to make sure we hear more stories like those of the men from Mary’s Village?
The stories of Mary's Village highlight a larger picture of the challenges facing the homeless and how we can help
January 21, 2022
Over the last four chapters of Second Chances, the Pepper Bough has told stories of four men who have all had different life experiences followed by choices and decisions that brought them to Mary’s Village.
Ryan Costales, Derek Robinson, Quincy Coleman, and Daniel Macias’s stories all serve as a reminder that no matter where we come from we all have the power and the opportunity to give ourselves and others a second chance.
Mary’s Village offered each of these men their second chance to battle something, or put themselves in a better position than the one in which they arrived.
While their stories are both heartbreaking and heartwarming, theirs are merely the tip of the iceberg. There are countless more men just like them across our city, our county, and our state.
Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom introduced a plan to tackle the threat of homeless in California.
He claims last year “California has been able to move 58,000 individuals off our streets and into housing.” This plan was designed to continue and create a long-term change towards getting more homeless individuals into homes.
“We have to do more and we have to do better,” Newsom said.
California has been doing more to help the unhoused community. As of 2020, it has one of the highest ratios of homelessness to state population in the United States with over 161,500 residents reporting homeless.
These statistics don’t even consider the amount of residents living in poverty, or on the verge of becoming homeless.
The simple fact is that we are not doing enough.
And as individuals we cannot leave it just to packages passed by policy makers. The responsibility for our communities is in our hands..
It is a community’s responsibility, and privilege to give back, in small or large ways.
You may not have the time or money to help your community, but giving back can be seen in more ways than one.
Mary’s Mercy Center was able to see the state of homelessness in San Bernardino and create a transitional program like Mary’s Village.
Mary’s Village gives back to the community by offering a multitude of resources and help.
But it is also just as simple as offering these men a bed to sleep on that took them off the streets and put them in an environment where they can better themselves and improve their situations.
Overall programs like Mary’s Village have the power to change the direction of people’s lives. We have the power, too. To get involved. To care. To advocate for the unhoused.
Recently with the current Omicron spike of the pandemic, the government and media have been more focused on homelessness. Although this issue is one that may seem impossible, we are getting closer and closer towards, as San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria put it, “ending this nightmare.”
Recently, the CHS Publications Department experienced a major theft as over $20,000 in photography equipment was stolen from our studio over Spring Break. This included all cameras. Any amount you donate will help rebuild our program. Thank you!