Homeless people hone their skills at Vineyard job fair | Community News

Gary, a soft-spoken, educated man, has lost his wife, his health, his job and, ultimately, his home in recent years. Today, the former teacher, who has been homeless for eight months, is living in a local motel while he waits for his first disability check.

“I had a great job and then COVID came and I was told I would just be on 'vacation' for a few months until things got back to normal,” Gary said. “Well, we all know what that was like and then through a series of events I lost everything, including my entire savings. It was very tough.”

Gary, who like other homeless people interviewed for this article declined to give his full name, was participating in a pilot program called Readiness Boot Camp, sponsored by Alameda County, that helps homeless people get back into the workforce. The goal of the program is not only to help participants secure an economic future, but also to build their self-confidence.

The program took place August 19-23 at the Vineyard Resource Center in Livermore. The center provides permanent housing and services to low-income families and individuals.

During the sessions, staff worked with individual participants on resume building, job search strategies, professional decorum and interview skills, and other topics. To encourage participation, the office of Alameda County Executive David Haubert funded a $100 per day stipend for those who completed the training week.

The meetings come at a time when the state government is facing increasing pressure to provide services to address the shortage of available housing and rising homelessness.

This month, the Alameda County Health Department donated an additional $14 million from its Behavioral Health Bridge Housing program to provide temporary housing services that address homelessness among people with mental health issues. This allocation brings the total amount allocated to the county to $60.8 million.

Funds will focus on several key areas, including homelessness prevention strategies, rehabilitation of existing housing to prevent closure due to deferred maintenance, expanded access to programs for people in the criminal justice system, and other enhanced outreach, engagement and housing services.

At the Vineyard job fair, 25 people participated in the program, seven of whom are placed at Vineyard. The boot camp culminated in a job fair where seven Tri-Valley employers interviewed participants.

“We are very confident that this boot camp will help some gain employment, provide others with a strong connection to the Tri-Valley Career Center to continue their job search, and provide a very positive and positive experience for everyone,” said Gloria Gregory, the director of community liaison for Supervisor Haubert's office. “We are very confident that it will be the seed for more Job Readiness Bootcamps in the Tri-Valley and other locations in Alameda County.”

John Bost, executive director of Open Heart Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that provides meals to those in need and is headquartered on the Vineyard campus, said the wraparound care these organizations can provide to the homeless is an unbeatable combination.

“While every single Vineyard employee offers their favorite services, finding work is a top priority for most of them,” said Bost. “After meeting with everyone, we knew we had a winning formula. The Vineyard Resource Center can provide a wide range of support to individuals, but without a reliable monthly income, none of our guests will be able to overcome their current difficult circumstances. I am confident that this job search boot camp is just the beginning for our job seekers at Vineyard, and that more opportunities like this will be available in the coming months.”

Jerry Simerman, a volunteer with the Tri-Valley Career Center, led the daily classes for the participants. He said it was gratifying to be able to give each participant the tools they need to be successful in their job search.

“It's a great feeling to be part of all this,” said Simerman. “Helping them and advising them is very exciting and very important.”

Another participant was LuAnn, a woman in her late 60s who until recently lived in her car and was still able to work. However, when she became ill and had to be hospitalized, LuAnn could no longer work and soon found herself homeless.

“I've never been homeless before,” she said. “I've worked in insurance and most recently as a caregiver, but now I have to start all over again. For someone my age, it's scary to have to go through the application process and job search again.”

LuAnn attended the bootcamp and said the benefits of the program went beyond just boosting her resume.

“I leave every class full of hope,” said LuAnn, who has lived on the Vineyard since February. “I'm slowly regaining my confidence and improving my skills.”

Marianna, who is currently homeless but will soon have a place at The Vineyard thanks to the Livermore Housing Authority's voucher program, said she feels hopeful for the first time in a long time.

“Yes, I think, I hope better times are coming,” said Marianna, who is looking for work in retail. “Sometimes I feel a little unwell, but I try to do the best for myself and my health. I'm happy to be here. I'm full of hope.”

And it's all about hope.

“It was hard, very hard,” Gary said of his journey. “But I feel blessed to have found this place and these people. I pray that everything will be OK.”