Bravehearts From Rural Northern California

In this the final episode, we listen to success stories shared by Joe Naake and Tyson Powers of Hospitality House.

Continuing its Hospitality House series, Bravehearts examines how the agency supports people after they transition out of shelter and into more stable housing.  

Hospitality House's Tyson Powers and Joe Naake outline how the low barrier beds and the hospital recuperative program works.

Listen in to Tyson Powers and Joe Naake as they share the extensive services offered by Hospitality House.

Betty Louise visited the Hospitality House Administration Offices and spoke with Tyson Powers, Program Officer, and Joe Naake, Outreach Director. Listen in to their stories, and the extensive outreach activities. 

This episode features two poems connected to the homeless community. The poets are passionate and the poems heartfelt. Enjoy!

Lindsay and Ulysses share their own stories of why it is hard, but very fulfilling to work at Connecting Point.

Ulysses Palencia and Lindsay Gordon explain the program “Housing is Key” and how it’s been effective is serving the community.

Connecting Point staff, Lindsay Gordon and Ulysses Palencia, talk about what it's like to work there. Lindsay shares a beautiful success story.

This episode details what you receive when you call 211 of Connecting Point. Lindsay Gordon outlines how the trained callers at the call center handle the calls.

Betty Louise sits down with Lindsay Gordon and Ulysses Palencia of Connecting Point in Grass Valley to learn the mission of the organizations and what it means to be in the coordinated entry system.

This episode shares the Grass Valley Police Department’s successes of the Cal-VIP program (Violence Intervention and Prevention). Police Chief, Alex Gammalgard, talks about other programs within the US.

Kelley Gallagher, social worker who works with Grass Valley Police Officer Jonathan Brown, says her perceptions have shifted toward the police through this program. Jonathan share the ups and downs of working with the homeless community.

In this episode, Grass Valley police officer Jonathan Brown shares how and when to approach and try to connect with homeless people on the streets.

Betty Louise speak with members of the Grass Valley Police Department about their grant funded program pairing a social worker with a police officer. This episode outlines how the progressive engagement with homeless people has been successful.

Grass Valley Police Chief, Alex Gammalgard, talks about the uniqueness of the CalVIP program with social workers and police officers. Officer Jonathan Brown claims that he has time to listen, and that makes a big difference.

Jonathan Brown, GVPD officer and Kelly Gallagher, CalVIP social worker, describe how they are working together to progressively engage the homeless community and get them needed services.

Betty Louise sits down with Chief Gammalgard, Kelly Gallagher, and Jonathan Brown of the Grass Valley Police Department to learn more about the grant funded program, CalVIP, pairing social workers with police officers to engage with homeless people.

Trena Bristol shares her feelings about the state of things here in the United States.

Trena Bristol continues to share vulnerably and honestly about what it is like to have Huntington’s Disease and live in your car as a homeless person.

This week Betty Louise catches up with Trena Bristol. Bravehearts is a five minute podcast that hopes to increase your awareness and understanding of what homelessness looks like, and some of the many organizations working on solutions to improve the homeless crisis. 

Listen to Jamal Walker and his wisdom about how empathy and forgiveness of yourself and others is how to foster inclusion, common humanity, and compassionate action.

A traumatic brain injury at age four left Sumner Stuart unable to cope with society as it is. Now without physical shelter for four years and being "at the mercy of compassion from everyone," he lives in the woods and finds it electrifying.

Singer/Songwriter Terry Worden shares the experience of when he felt compelled to show up to work at the overnight cold weather shelter for the homeless folks in Nevada City, California. He was so inspired by the way the community volunteers, led by Janice O’Brien from Sierra Roots, served these people. He shifted his own perspectives about homelessness, and went home and wrote a song, "You Can See the People.”

Robert has been living in the woods for many years. He calls himself home-free. He shares the realities of living without shelter, Living through a cold wet winter, Robert says the greatest pain associated with being homeless is isolation and loneliness.

Tony Beverly shares his story of going up in Reno and becoming a compulsive gambler for over 40+ years. He vulnerably talks about a huge loss of friends and family which led him to depression and homelessness. At 57, he had a turning point and is now considered one of the most famous ex-homeless people in the county. He is a true inspiration!

The stress of survival often leads to mental illness for many homeless people. Yet Julie Lang, a mental health professional in Nevada County for 20 years, sees a part of herself in all these people and works to create a feeling of relatedness. It is our judgments, she says, that keeps us separate and creates fear.

Sierra Roots has Paul Cogley at the helm as Executive Director. He is overseeing the various programs offered to the chronically homeless in Nevada County.

Alex Gammelgard shares how he and the non profits in the area are working together to serve the homeless population during crisis calls. He is a great humanitarian, and speaks the truth.

Gail and David share what they have learned from this homeless experience.

Listen to Trena's perception shifting story. 

Tune in to hear this inspiring story of Gail and David, who are some unlikely homeless bravehearts.

Darin Barry shares his story of peer support and counseling for mental health issues. His work at the Insight Respite Center helps steer people back to being functional in the world.

Jesse has been living in a park for many years, and is now living inside a barn. Some of his feelings about a home may surprise you.

Betty Louise and Carol Fegte are both advocated for homeless people in Nevada County. We were trained by Janice O'Brien, Founder of Sierra Roots Organization, which serves chronically homeless people. Carol describes how she got involved and a wonderful success story advocating for a homeless couple.

Tom Keller sits down with William Wallace to share information about the organization Communities Beyond Violence. He is an invaluable resource finding housing for the Nevada County homeless community. Listen in to Braveheart Tom Keller...

SPIRIT Center is a healthy community, open at no charge to people facing challenges to their mental health.  Trained peer supporters offer a holistic approach, acceptance, support, education and advocacy.  We support people as they identify their path to recovery, and empower themselves to achieve their personal goals.  Together we save lives. Erica and Candy, from Spirit Center, share some personal stories about how peer support can help to change people's lives and give them hope.

Host William Wallace shares the story of Sean, who found himself in a very difficult homeless situation and how he is working his way back. In Part 2, Sean shares some deep  vulnerability.