Putting a Face on the Homeless
PHC Volunteers Get Down to Help Others Out
By Courtney Cruz and Courtney Landis, Associates, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, and Matthew Gubiotti, Associate, Cooley Godward
"No man stands taller than when he reaches down on one knee to help someone else up.”
-Mayor Gavin Newsom, Speaking to Project Homeless Connect Volunteers at the Bill Graham Auditorium.
On June 9, 2006, over 1,500 volunteers got down on their knees to lift up, if even for one moment, over 2,300 homeless people at San Francisco’s 11th Project Homeless Connect (PHC). Every two months this citywide event brings city agencies and nonprofits together into the
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium to
help homeless clients. Every PHC is
bigger than the last, and each embodies
the passion, spirit, and determination
of the amazing people—both
clients and volunteers—of San
Francisco.
BASF’s Volunteer Legal Services
Program coordinates both the Legal
and the California ID areas of PHC.
In the legal area, volunteer attorneys
conduct intake with PHC clients and
provide consultations. The answers
and stories evoked by the question
“Why do you need to talk to a
lawyer?” are complex and reveal the
pain, frustration, grief, and anger that
the clients battle on a daily basis.
Pete, who has lived in San Francisco
since 1979, had been a personal trainer
at Gold’s Gym in the Castro and
was in peak physical condition.
However, when he was diagnosed
with AIDS and then prostate cancer,
everything changed. Pete’s former
roommate had stolen all of his possessions,
valued in the thousands of dollars.
He had a strong legal claim.
Another client, Joseph, was being
rushed by his brother to the hospital
for a complication related to his diabetes,
when they were pulled over for
having an expired registration and
the police impounded their car.
Joseph’s medication was locked in the
trunk, and although an ambulance
took him to the hospital, the officers
would not allow him to get his medication
out of the car.
Both Pete and Joe received legal
counseling at PHC.
For homeless residents of San
Francisco, having a California ID is
essential for obtaining social services,
housing and employment. It is the
key to regaining stability. The majority
of clients at PHC have had their
IDs stolen, or have lost them while
living on the streets. In many cases,
what is already a difficult situation is
further complicated by mental or
physical illness, illiteracy or addiction.
Lack of financial resources can
render the cost of an ID prohibitive.
At PHC, volunteers
help clients navigate the
paperwork, and a combination
of state and local
funds covers the cost of
the ID. The DMV is onsite
with their computers
and cameras to process the
ID applications on the
spot.
The stories at PHC are
as diverse and unique as
the clients themselves.
Some are recent transplants
to San Francisco,
looking for a fresh start or new opportunity.
Many are life-long Bay Area
residents, who have fallen on hard
times. All need a hand getting back
on their feet. Although having an ID
or fixing a legal problem isn’t the
solution to homelessness, it is an
important first step in getting homeless
individuals better access to the services
they need.
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