(image: Angel Inokon)
The effects of the economic downturn have been widespread and felt throughout the entire Bay Area, but each community is different. In East Palo Alto, the effects have been particularly acute with respect to the homeless situation.
According to the 2008 homeless count, East Palo Alto has the highest homeless population in San Mateo County. This number is due in part to numerous mortgage foreclosures, which have significantly in this community. There is some evidence that this increase has prompted a surge in crime and violence.
Last fall, United Way partner One East Palo Alto convened a collection local community leaders, concerned residents and homeless families and individuals to create a community-based initiative to tackle the problem.
Together, they established a shelter last winter which provides overnight accommodations for people during inclement weather. The coalition also secured additional financial support from San Mateo County and the City of East Palo Alto.
The effects of this economic crisis will be felt for years to come, which is why United Way is supporting local nonprofits in each of our Bay Area counties to empower communities and devise creative local solutions. United Way is committed to staying along the road to recovery – no matter how long it takes.
UPDATE:
Recently the City of East Palo Alto approved a funding request that would allow United Way partner One East Palo Alto to expand their Sponsored Employement Program that places youth in summer jobs as paid interns. Besides helping young people get a foothold into the working world, the program has shown extremely effective results in helping youth who face barriers to employment secure jobs, raising income, building community and curbing youth violence.
The funding doubles their current budget for the program and will allow for exponential growth and provide sustainability during this difficult economic time.
United Way is also a major funder of this program, but we also advocated on behalf of One East Palo Alto highlihgting the success this program has acheived and why it is a model that should be expanded. This is a great example of how the changed economic landscape in which funding requests are up but overall nonprofic fundraising is down, we are still vigourously supporting community driven projects and helping them get funded.
