One of the most heartbreaking aspects of homelessness is the effect it has on children. According to America’s Youngest Outcasts 2010, a groundbreaking report from the National Center on Family Homelessness, child homelessness increased 38% from 2007 to 2010.

In their monthly Affordable Housing Podcast, Eden Housing presents an interview with Dr. Ellen Bassuk, founder and president of NCFH. In this interview she discusses some of the highlights from this report, including trends in family and child homelessness across America and Federal policy priorities for 2012. Click here to listen to the podcast.

United Way California Capital Region held a reception to honor the area’s “Super” Volunteers on January 26.  LifeSTEPS volunteer Verna Raphael was one such super volunteer. A bright shining star in her senior community, Verna assists her neighbors in preparing food donations and provides great encouragement to those who are in need. Her enthusiasm, vibrancy and compassion are qualities that make Verna a perfect volunteer for LifeSTEPS! It is quite easy for seniors to feel lonely and forgotten – Verna’s encouragement helps her neighbors see that there is a silver lining in everything – no matter how seasoned they are!

To honoring Verna’s hard work, California AssemblyMember (Fifth District) Richard Pan provided Verna with a Certificate of Recognition. Way to go, Verna!

Twenty Bella Vista children received a late visit from Santa when they were given the handles to their new bicycles the last Friday in December. The children, students in LifeSTEPS After School Program at the property, were thrilled to receive such an unexpected surprise. The gift of new bicycles was especially significant for one family who had moved into their new apartment over the holidays. Because the family had to use all of their money for to move, their three children did not receive anything for Christmas. All three of the children received a new bicycle which their tearfully grateful mother called, “a wonderful surprise”.

The bicycles were a gift from Riverside Charitable. The mission of Riverside Charitable includes fostering the creation, management and preservation of supportive service-enriched affordable housing for people of lower income. LifeSTEPS, Riverside Charitable’s nonprofit social services partner, assisted in identifying bicycle recipients (After School Program participants) and helped facilitate the donation. A total of 31 bicycles were donated. The 11 remaining bikes will be raffled, with proceeds benefitting the After School Program.

Kaycie Simmons has joined LifeSTEPS as our new Program Operations Assistant. Welcome aboard, Kaycie! We’re glad you’re here. Kaycie will be supporting Meredith and the Operations team.

The Arata Brothers Trust awarded LifeSTEPS with a $5,000 grant to support after school programs in the Sacramento region! We are thrilled to receive this funding…and continue to do outstanding work with Sacramento children!