By Ed Silverstein
(Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a three part series that tracks how a man lifted himself off the streets of Santa Monica with the help of California’s social services. Next Wednesday’s installment will take a look at some of the problems within the system.) After attending, though not completing, a rehabilitation program, James McCord was able to stay off drugs and alcohol, but he remained homeless. At a feeding program offered at Saint Joseph’s, he learned about Samoshel.
Samoshel is a shelter designed to help the homeless help themselves become self-sufficient. Theodore Dues, the executive director, told me that the shelter is open to all adults 18 and over, with the exception of pregnant women in their third trimester and those requiring immediate medical attention.
Residents may not be on or use drugs and alcohol during their stay. The maximum residency is six months and clients are expected to find a job within 60 days. The shelter provides two meals a day, case management, 12-step programs, counseling, goal planning, medical and legal services.
Samoshel also offers money management and clients are required to place 60 percent of their earnings into a savings account, which is returned to them when they leave the facility.
Samoshel seems to be one of the more effective shelter programs. This is best evidenced by Dues himself, who in 1995 entered Samoshel as a resident, then later joined the staff and eventually worked his way up to his current position.
James placed himself on the Samoshel waiting list. He was admitted to the shelter after two weeks and went on to successfully complete its six month program. James felt the program was extremely helpful but cautions that only a small minority will have similar success.
“That’s just the nature of people coming from backgrounds of substance abuse, incarceration, domestic violence — we take the easy way out, we run,” he said. He also said many have a problem with authority and resist taking direction.
“They want to run the show,” James said. During his time in the shelter, James was required to attend a program called Job Club, which provided contacts and information about available jobs. In addition, James was referred to Vocational Rehabilitation Center, which offered him clothing and funds for school, and to an organization called Chrysalis.
Chrysalis helps people get a job, keep that job and then get a better job.
“Most of us coming from Samoshel, or places like it, have a gap in their work history,” James said. “Incarcerated, domestic violence, problems with woman, they need that introductory course to get back to mainstream life.”
To enter Chrysalis, James had to complete a one-hour orientation, after which he was assigned to an employment specialist/case manager. The case manager assessed his background, work history, criminal record, living accommodations and other factors that might effect his ability to find employment.
Managers also determine appropriate types of employment, then offer practical training in writing a resume, filling out applications, follow up and thank you letters and even stage mock interviews. In addition, they teach basic computer skills and provide the use of computers, fax machines and telephones to be used in securing a job. A call center provides a phone number where messages can be taken from prospective employers.
Other excellent programs provide hygiene kits, towels, haircut vouchers, clothing and bus tokens for interviews and for the first two weeks of employment. Classes include: “Putting the Bars Behind You” and “Understanding the Workplace Culture,” as well as anger management sessions and job retention meetings.
Chrysalis also maintains a full-service staffing agency called Labor Connections. And it is one of the few social service agencies that track clients’ progress. Its record is impressive. Maureen Wiggins, program coordinator, said that clients who complete the 9-to-12 hour curriculum have a 92 percent success rate during their first year.
James received substantial assistance from Chrysalis.
Through the group’s contracts with Santa Monica and other employers, James, who had a spotty work history, was able to secure seasonal work cleaning restrooms on the pier and beach. As is the tradition at Chrysalis, when James first received word that he had gotten the job, a bell was rung and everyone from the clients to the executive director came down to congratulate him.
James worked at the beach for two summers and filled in with holiday work for UPS. Recently, with the skills he learned and contacts he made at Chrysalis and other service organizations, James was able to land a full time job at UCLA.
After James had completed his stay at Samoshel he still required housing. He was referred to Turning Point, a dorm-type facility that offers transitional housing for up to nine months. With the money James saved during his time at Turning Point, along with the savings from Samoshel, he was able to afford a modest apartment.
James then applied to Community Corporation of Santa Monica, which is dedicated to preserving and creating affordable housing, primarily for families with low to moderate incomes. Rents for the 1,200 units it currently operates start at about $300 a month, but average around $500 a month, about a third of market rents. James was fortunate to be accepted for one of the agency’s few single apartments with a rent of $450 per month.
James’ experience illustrates that given a motivated individual, the integration and effective aid provided by California’s social services system was seamless. As of today, James has lived in his apartment for over a year and has been working at UCLA since February.
He is extremely grateful to the organizations in Santa Monica.
“It was the cooperation of those organizations that gave me a chance,” he said. “I attribute all my success to God. And I know I have to take certain steps. God helps those who help themselves.”
I asked him if he would ever go back to using drugs. He replied, “You know, I’m a dope addict, a recovering one at this point, but I used longer than I’ve been clean, so there’s always that thought that, ‘Man you know it would be different this time. You could go out there and get your dope and it won’t take you to the place that it took you before.’
“And sometimes I entertain the thought, but you know, in my heart I know I’m a dope addict. If I take a hit I know where it’s going to lead. And there’s a lot of people who believe in me now and are dependent on me. I’ve got a son back in Alabama who I’m trying to financially take care of and to be a mentor to. I’ve got family members that know my struggles and have been proud of me. And there are people here in California that have helped me along the way. I don’t want to let them down. And so I pray and I hope that I never do it like that again. That I never go back out again and do drugs.
“But the truth is there is no guarantee. Dope addicts and alcoholics will break your heart, let you down. We have good intentions, but can’t always live up to them.”
I, for one, will be rooting for him. (Ed Silverstein is a freelance writer living in Santa Monica. You may donate your comments to:)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 23, 2003. Read the original PDF.