14 FORWARD: ‘This is providing hope and changing lives’
going to say they are blessed.”
Chandler, 52, has lived in a 14 Forward unit for the last 84 days with a couple of dogs and his wife, Verna Mosier.
Mosier, 53, said she has received a voucher to assist with paying rent through the state’s Section 8 program, but is waiting for a rental to open up. Mosier has also participated in job readiness programs offered by the county.
“It has helped me,” Mosier said. “I don’t think I would have gone this far if I were still out there camping. It’s like a little community here and we try our best to help each other out.”
Chaya Galicia, homeless project manager for Yuba County, said there are exit goals established for participants from the very beginning.
Galicia said every person is unique. Case workers attempt to discover if potential participants have substance use issues, what is their education level, family relationship status, medical history, law enforcement issues, and credit status.
Through that acquired knowledge, case workers are able to put together a strategy.
“It’s not just providing a handout,” Galicia said. “It’s coming alongside people and helping them change their situation. This is providing hope and changing lives. If my staff can be a friendly voice and lift someone up, I think we did our job.”
The first year The 14 Forward units became available on July 15, 2016.
According to Galicia, there was skepticism from the homeless population when 14 Forward opened its doors.
Galicia said the skepticism derived from general distrust in the government to rumors about being locked inside of the lot.
Russ Brown, public information officer with Yuba County, said when 14 Forward opened that first weekend, about a dozen of so people showed up. After a week, those numbers dropped.
Galicia said the program started to turn around as the level of trust built. Galicia said staff built an honest and transparent atmosphere and earned the trust of participants.
The trust in the program has built up, as there is a 200-person waiting list, Galicia said.
According to Robert Bendorf, Yuba County administrator, the units have provided some 6,000 total nights to more than 100 participants.
“The program has performed very well,” Bendorf said. “We have been able to provide homes for some of the most vulnerable population.”
The future As it stands, there are no plans for expansion of the 14 Forward program.
Bendorf said the program is being evaluated, but the decision to expand has not been discussed as of yet.
Brown said the lot near River Front Park does has space available if the county decides to expand.