By Ronit Bryant, Former CSA Board Member, Former Mayor of Mountain View
On Sunday, April 28, I spent the afternoon at Empty Bowls, CSA’s annual fundraiser for its Homeless Services Program. Homelessness is a continuing and painful crisis in our society, and a critical issue for all of us in the community to help solve.
Homeless case managers at CSA help clients with information to locate and secure affordable housing and connect with benefits and health services; when clients find secured employment and affordable housing, CSA offers them financial assistance in the form of one month’s rent. Free food is available through CSA’s Food & Nutrition Center.
In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, CSA’s Homeless Services served almost 1000 individuals (586 households) who did not have stable housing. Nearly 200 unhoused clients received close to $270,000 in direct financial assistance, and 26 households (66 individuals) were helped to find housing.
At Empty Bowls, it was heartening to see a large crowd: CSA leadership and staff, community volunteers, current and past local elected leaders, and business representatives, friends, and neighbors all coming together to support CSA’s Homeless Services Program.
Long-time friends chatting and new friends getting acquainted, live music and the laughter of children playing, free ice cream sundaes and beautiful pottery, all in the shade of lovely oak trees – the sounds and sights of a caring community. See you next year!
