From Carts to Lockers to Housing

By Janny Castillo

Friday, June 30^th was a very special day for the BOSS Multi-Agency Service Center. A small crowd of forty well wishers came to celebrate the grand opening of the Lockers to Housing Program. A small newly built enclosure houses 63 new lockers giving homeless individuals a safe place to store their personal belongings. There’s a catch but it’s a good one…all lockers are connected to case management services that will help recipients move into permanent housing.

The star of the day was Thomas Spector who was assigned the very first locker. “I feel lucky. I won’t have to worry abut being robbed any more.” Thomas said. He has been on the streets for over a year and is now staying at the Berkeley Food and Housing Project Emergency Shelter for Men. After tearing a tendon in his shoulder, Thomas found himself out of work. He left Texas to live with his sister in the Bay Area. Unhealthy living conditions forced him out into the streets. After getting the key to locker number 1, Tom shared his feelings. “This is a real privilege to be able to do this, and a lot of people are going to be very grateful for this program.”

Michael Diehl, homeless activist spoke about the reason why the lockers are needed.

“Shopping carts are being taken by the Public Works Dept. People have suffered a lot of pain over losing their possessions. Three years ago a group of UC Berkeley students began talking about the need for lockers in the city and after a lot of red tape and many hand changes, here we are. People are upset that it took so long but they are glad they are finally done.”

MASC employee, Debbie Robinson spoke about how the locker program ended up in their courtyard. “The Shattuck storage locker program needed replacing. It was difficult and chaotic to manage. Other sites were considered but Robert Long, MASC supervisor won the bid by adding something different – the inclusion of case management while managing the locker program. “Everyone who is issued a locker agrees to meet with a case manager once a month and make progress, small or large steps toward housing.” For a long time, MASC’s focus has been on getting people housed. Over the past year, they have successfully placed 70 participants into permanent housing. Robert Long added his thoughts, “This program will help people get an income, get into recovery and eventually get into housing.”

boona cheema, BOSS Executive Director shared her thoughts on the impact the lockers will have on the community. “Berkeley residents are impatient with homeless people carrying around their belongings. This will be a safe place for their belongings as they go about the city taking care of business.” boona said, “This program is a stepping stone and a first step towards housing.”

Kriss Worthington, city council member shared how pleased the city was with the program. “Before we were paying a lot of money to a private corporation that did not care about locker accessibility for the client.” he said, “Now we have a direct link to a service provider and a connection to helping people succeed.”

Patricia Flenaugh, aka Mother of the Homeless Stuffies really appreciates the lockers. She talked about the time her cart was parked under a stairwell and how UC Berkeley removed the cart and destroyed it.

“I am homeless, it’s not a crime, I am human, too.”

Her bedding, her clean clothes, shoes and socks and her prized possessions; her stuffies, her collection of stuffed animals all were stored in the cart.

I have not heard of a locker program like this any where in the country.” Robert Long said. “It’s good that people can put their stuff in them but our goal is to work hard so that they do not need the lockers.”

Patricia does not need a locker. After a long hard journey she has secured permanent housing. Her eyes light up with joy when she talks about a visit from her son and her granddaughter. “My son told me he was proud of me.” She beamed.

What happened to her homeless babies? She now has 600 placed all around her home. “I love them unconditionally, and they now have a home too, they look at me as if to say, Mom you made it!”

Congratulations, Pat and say hello to Tigger.

Patricia is a graduate in this year's 12th Annual BOSS Graduation Ceremony that will be held on September 29th, 2006 at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Please support BOSS by contributing or attending the event. Call Sonja at 510 649-1930.

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