Welcome

Welcome to the CARE 66 blog. We are a small non profit whose mission is to create opportunities to end homelessness. We do this by providing support services and a variety of housing opportunities to our clients ranging from transitional housing to permanent housing with support services.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Newsletter 2008

Christmas 2008


Dear Friends,


Tom Paine said about the beginnings of the American Revolution, "These are the times that try men's souls." And like him we could say the same about the beginnings of CARE 66. I am writing to you to celebrate our achievements of this past year and to look forward to some of the challenges we will face in the coming years.


All is not doom and gloom. This year we have helped 293 people. Our clients have worked 12521 paid hours in this community. Thirty one veterans have lived with us in transitional housing. And ten formerly homeless families live in Chuska Apartments.


These times are trying for us because resources are scarce and perceptions of economic conditions and wellbeing are suffering overall. These are times for bold measures to create opportunities and to lay the foundation for success. What tries our souls is the need to meet the challenges of today while preparing for a future in which we thrive together.


The challenges of today are meeting our obligations, housing people, getting jobs and providing or connecting our people with the services they need. Our primary costs are for services. Included in the challenges for today is the need to make our salsa factory profitable.


Our challenges for the future including planning and raising money for our next housing development - which will focus on providing transitional housing to veterans - purchasing and rehabbing the Lexington Hotel, and working towards developing our next low income housing project so that we can help people have homes.


I want to celebrate with you a few of the people who make this possible. People without whom we would not be able to achieve the impossible! You might know some of these people, and if you happen to meet them, please thank them for their dedication, commitment, persistence and wisdom.


Miranda Yazzie manages our housing programs. She ensures that CARE 66 provides the necessary support services our client's need, schedules staff, fills in when no one is available, compiles reports for our many funding sources and maintains our client's services data.


Dorson Mahooty is responsible for the development of our housing projects. And even though he is an engineer by training, he is the person we seek counsel from when we have questions about how to comply with the myriad rules and regulations that different funding sources require of us. He is working on plans for both the Lexington and our veteran's transitional housing development.


Tim Kelley has been with us from the first day we opened Frances 1 Opportunity Center. Tim is the Chief Operating Officer, which means that he does and oversees everything that is service related. Tim makes things happen. And he achieves the impossible on a daily basis. Miracles take him a couple of extra days. Tim is a key factor in our client's success.


Mickey Chapman is our volunteer extraordinaire. She was Volunteer of the Year in 2007. Despite her training as a nurse she functions as our Chief Financial officer, bookkeeper, and yard sale expert. Mickey puts in many many hours to make sure that our books are in order. Sadly, Mickey will be leaving us early next year to work in another impoverished part of the country.


Buck Largo oversees our job placement and Handy Man Services. He put our clients to work after finding jobs for them. He put our clients to work during the Indian Ceremonial in Gallup and is very good at finding work for our clients.


Geri Moore: is our Volunteer Coordinator who was responsible for the series of stories in the Independent last month (you can find these stories online at our blog http://care66.blogspot.com/). She is extremely energetic and good at bringing volunteer opportunities to your attention. If you want to volunteer please do give her call. She will find something for you to do.


There is not enough space for me to describe the other wonderful people who make our work possible. The following is a list of people who work at CARE 66: Casey Arviso, Melissa Ashley, Ritanna Benally, Charlotte Billy, Myrrh Bright, Mickey Chapman, Ben Frederiksen, Tim Kelley, Pete Kelly, James 'Buck' Largo, Louise Livingstone, Dorson Mahooty, Arnold Mitchell, Geri Moore, Roxanne Muskett, Surphina Oyebi, Caroline Shay, and Miranda Yazzie. We are also blessed with regular volunteers from First United Methodist who faithfully come in two days a week to staff an office.


Central to our success is the support we receive from you. Your donation of time, money and goodwill keep us going. Our Board of Directors volunteers countless hours setting direction, asking for money, and overseeing our work. We are truly blessed. You are our lifeblood and give us the hope we need to succeed.


We have been blessed with a good relationship with our Mayor and the City Council, the City Attorney Dave Pederson, the County Commission - particularly Dave Dallago and County Manager Tom Trujillo. We have also been blessed by dedicated support in form of volunteers, money and prayers from our local churches including First United Methodist Church, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bethany Christian Reformed Church, Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church and Joshua Generation for Jesus among others.


On March 7, 2009, we will hold our annual Gala Event at Red Rock State Park. Please plan to attend. This is an opportunity for you to come and celebrate our successes. Winston Churchill once said that, "success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." And so despite these trying times we continue to move forward with enthusiasm despite the failures and challenges that come our way.


As we end this year and begin a new year I encourage you to give us what you can. No donation is too small to help. We have a monthly giving program you can sign up for. Your support enables us to provide services, create jobs and bring housing to this community. Your support is invaluable to us.

We thank you again for everything that you have done to support encourage and keep us going. We are truly grateful. Together with you we look forward to a new year full of challenge, hope, and success.


Sincerely,



Sanjay Choudhrie


Board of Directors: Carol Bremer-Bennett, Richard 'Dickie' Chavez, Sr. Rose Marie Cecchini, Joseph Esparza, Lawrence John, Patrick Keptner, Don Peterson, Jane Ann Polich, Lanalle Smith, Peter Tempest and Randy Whitsitt.

















Foundations & Funding: This year CARE 66 has received grants from the William Knox Holt Foundation, the South West Indian Foundation, the McCune Foundation, and the Daniels Fund. We have also received grants from the NM Mortgage Finance Authority, the Navajo Housing Authority, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the New Mexico Legislature and the Veterans Administration.


And we are grateful for every single cent you have given us. We have been blessed by your generosity. Thank you!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

No place like home Alcoholism a common malady of homelessness (Part 3)

No place like home
Alcoholism a common malady of homelessnessHomeless veteran Bill Ward tells stories over coffee and cigarettes on the back porch of Care 66 France House Monday, November 10. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

No place like home Inside the inside at Care 66 means counseling, support, responsibility (Part 2)

Inside the inside at Care 66 means counseling, support, responsibilityRecovering alcoholic Doug Hamilestewa works on a crossword puzzle in the dining hall of Care 66 Frances House Tuesday, November 18. Hamilestewa has been staying at Care 66 since July of this year. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

No Place Like Home Photo Page

No place like home (Part 1)

This is the first in a three-part series responding to National Hunger and Homelessness Week, Nov. 16 through 22. Staff Writer Phil Stake tells about his experience taking the homeless challenge Nov. 10 and 11, sponsored by Care 66's Frances House, an all-men transitional housing unit in Gallup. For one day and one night, he lived at the Frances House and shadowed one of its residents.Kenny Grissom, a 31-year-old homeless man staying at Care 66 Frances House, poses for a portrait Tuesday. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Monday, November 17, 2008

Homeless Awareness Week

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Geri Moore,Volunteer Coordinator
CARE 66, Gallup, NM
722-0066
geri@care66.org


MAYOR OF GALLUP SIGNS NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS
AWARENESS WEEK PROCLAMATION

(GALLUP) November 14 Gallup Mayor Harry Mendoza signed a proclamation today acknowledging November 16 -22, 2008 as National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week in Gallup.

The purpose of the proclamation is to educate the public about the many reasons people are hungry and homeless including the shortage of affordable housing in Gallup,NM for low income residents; and to encourage support for homeless assistance service providers as well as community service opportunities for individuals, groups, businesses and schools of Gallup.

Community Area Resource Enterprise (CARE 66), a local transitional and low income housing non-profit agency, is sponsoring this important effort in Gallup. The mission of CARE 66 is to create opportunities to end homelessness. This is the first time Gallup has participated in this national endeavor by promoting awareness events. National Hunger and Homelessness Week was originally proclaimed in l986 by Ronald Reagan, 40th President of The United States.

CARE 66 encourages local businesses, spiritual centers, schools, restaurants, media, civic and youth groups to participate in awareness programs by making a commitment of time and service to either CARE 66 or other local social service agencies that assist with hunger and homelessness. The proclamation partnered with: Battered Families, Inc (BFI), Veterans Administrations Shelter (VA), Tohatchi Area of Opportunity & Service (TAOS), Community Pantry and Na'Nizhoozhi Center (NCI).

Gallup residents are also encouraged to remember homeless animals and encouraged to collect blankets, bedding, food, water and toys for St. Francis Animal Sanctuary and Gallup Humane Society.

CARE 66 is seeking individuals and groups for the following events:

Candidate Homeless Challenge - a local, state, county or tribal political leader to live homeless for 24 hours; accompanied by a resident of CARE 66 as guide.
Skip A Meal Day - go without lunch and/or coffee for a day and donate monies not spent to local hunger and homelessness agencies.
Homelessness Lesson Plans - teachers, homeschoolers, youth group leaders can use prepared lesson plans for K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and high school on homelessness issues.
Winter Wear Apparel Drive - conduct a clothing drive collecting winter coats, jackets, gloves, thermal wear, scarves, hoodies, boots, and socks. Also remember the homeless animals at Gallup Humane Society Shelter and St. Francis Animal Sanctuary with bedding, blankets, housing crates, chew toys and pet food.
Faces Of Homeless Speakers Panel - invite residents of CARE 66 to speak at your organization, church or school to see and hear the experiences of currently homeless people.
Community Service Day - your group or business employees can take a day to donate their time to work at CARE 66 or other hunger and homeless agencies. Help organize a winter sale, sort clothes, prepare a meal or join residents at shelters for social hour.
Dinner Program - Purchase gift certificates from local restaurants for homeless to "dine out" in Gallup; or local restaurants "comp a meal" to homeless during November 16-22, 2008.

The following organizations and groups have signed up to be involved in The National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week: The Gallup Independent, The Gallup Journey, Chief Manuelito Middle School, Tohatchi High School, Gallup High School, Twin Lakes Elementary School, Grace Bible Church, Faith Christian Fellowship, Rehoboth Christian Reform Church, Rehoboth Middle School, Burrago Pass High School, First United Methodist Church, Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, Tohatchi Area of Opportunity & Service (TAOS), Love Your Neighbor (LYN) Youth Group, Students Against Destructive Decision (SADD), UNM-Gallup Nursing School, First Baptist Church, Navajo Technical College, and The Enjean Family.

Call Geri Moore, Volunteer Coordinator, CARE 66, 1-505-722-0066; geri@care66.org to participate in National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness events in Gallup. To learn more see: www.nationalhomeless.org or www.care66.org.

Homeless hound

GALLUP — Life continues to be a pretty bumpy ride for Frances the dog.

A few months ago, the heeler/shepherd mix was dumped outside the fence at CARE 66, the local nonprofit program that offers homeless men in Gallup the chance to get their life back on track. But after a couple happy months of being adopted by the residents at CARE 66, Frances is now homeless herself.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Mickey from Togo


Mickey is our volunteer Book keeper and do all extra ordinaire. The costume is from Togo.
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Friday, October 24, 2008

Governor Richardson

Governor Richardson came to Gallup today. I was able to talk with him very briefly about getting our grant monies released. Hopefully something will happen soon.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Full Text of Statement from Congressman Udall

Udall Statement at Chuska Apartments
Gallup, New Mexico
September 26, 2008

Thank you for inviting me to be with you today. I’m sorry I could not be with you in person, but I am with you in spirit as you dedicate these apartments that have long been a dream of this community.

Most Americans have seen the consequences of homelessness. We have seen a family sleeping on the street or passed by a shelter in the winter. But, as you know, homelessness is more than meets the eye.

First, not having a home is only part of homelessness. The battery of misfortunes that homeless people face every day goes far beyond simply not having a roof over their heads. America’s homeless are more likely to face mental illness. They are more likely to need additional healthcare services. They face high barriers to employment, high crime rates and low levels of education. If we want to stop homelessness, we must do more than provide homes; we must provide the services that will help the homeless tackle the other problems they face.

Additionally, the homeless are often not who we think they are. Americans know that homelessness can be the product of long-term unemployment or extreme poverty. We do not always see the men who held steady jobs only to see an unexpected illness rob them of the stable lives they once took for granted. We do not see the women and children forced into homelessness by abusive husbands and fathers. And we do not see the brave veterans living on the street because battlefield trauma has shaken their minds and our government has not provided the help they deserve.

Finally, Americans tend to think of homelessness as an individual problem. We feel sorry for the people we see on the street, but we do not look at them and feel sorry for ourselves. We should.

A society that does nothing about homelessness will have more crime, more fear and more waste. A homeless person who is not given shelter is more likely to wind up in jail. In some areas, that means that we will spend more money on admitting somebody to jail than it would cost to keep them in a shelter for months.

A homeless person who has no access to healthcare is more likely to use the emergency room as their primary physician. That means the community will spend five times as much money, and that person will still live a shorter life, filled with more suffering.

But fighting homelessness is about more than saving money on other social services. We fight for the homeless because we acknowledge one simple fact: we are our brother’s keepers; we are our sisters’ keepers. It matters to me that a child sleeps on the street in my city tonight, even if it is not my child. It matters to me that a veteran is turned away from the local shelter, even if I do not know him.

CARE 66—and the other community groups and businesses that made today possible—have looked at homelessness and seen it as it is. They are providing services to those they house, because they know that we can only end homelessness if we address the other problems that go with it. They are serving our veterans, because they know that veterans face higher rates of homelessness and need higher levels of care. And they are working with the community, because they know that homelessness affects all of us, and we all must play a part in ending it.

I will continue fighting in Congress to eliminate homelessness. I have cosponsored legislation to provide a home for every veteran, and I have supported initiatives to ensure that every man, woman and child sleeping on the street has an opportunity to put a roof over their head.

But I will not end homelessness in McKinley County. You will.

Only when community members work together to protect their fellow citizens do we have progress. I will walk with you every step of the way, but this is ultimately your journey. Today you have taken another step in the right direction.

Thank you and good luck.

Respectfully,
Tom Udall
Member of Congress

Friday, September 26, 2008

Let the Ribbon Cutting Begin

Let the celebrations begin. Mark Allison (Developer for Chuska and Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Coalition for New Mexico) and Hank Hughes (Project Director and Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness.



City Attorney Dave Pederson came to represent Mayor Harry Mendoza and the City of Gallup.


Joseph Montoya, Deputy Director, New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, the major funder of Chuska Apartments celebrates the fact that we had eight funders.


These people helped make Chuska possible.
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Dave Pederson hefts the scissors. Ed Rosenthal and Mark Allison look on.


Cal Curley (in the pink shirt) reads a very nice statement from Congressman Tom Udall.


Marcella Franklin (center) and Pat Keptner (right) of Tohatchi Area Resource and Enterprise.


Dave Pederson and Tom Richtsmeier cut the ribbon.
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Jane Ann Polich and Dickie Chavez are CARE 66 Board Members.


This is Joseph Esparza, Chairperson and President of the CARE 66 Board of Directors. He is the Program Director for the South West Indian Foundation.


Espy Holguin of HUD came all the way from Las Cruces.


Pat Magnuson of Enterprise came all the way from New York.

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Mark Allison talks about Chuska Apartments. Mark is the Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Coalition and the Developer of Chuska Apartments.



From left: one of the youngist residents of Chuska Apartments, his dad and Cal Curley.


Alexi Dzurec of Autotroph was the lead architect on this project.


Jayita Sahni, was the on-site architect and project manager.
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More Speakers at the Ribbon Cutting

Ed Rosenthal from Enterprise talks about the vision and goals of Enterprise. Ed has been a big supporter of this project.


Mark Allison, Hank Hughes, Alexi Dzurec recieving an award from Trish of Enterprise.


Sanjay Choudhrie, talking about CARE 66 and what we are about.


Tom Richtsmeier, former President of the Board of CARE 66, reminding us that we have set an example by comng together to make hope possible.
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More Ribbon Cutting Pictures

Marlene Lightburn from HUD.


The Arviso Brothers who were the general contractors for this project.


Joseph is hanging out with the men from Enterprise. Ed Rosenthal and Russel Kaney, Senior Program Director, National Rural & Native American Initiative.


Hank Hughes was the Master of Ceremonies. Too his left is Joan from Enterprise and Sanjay holding his little girl Elysia.
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My Home Town


Tim Kelley, Chief Operating Officer for CARE 66 reading a poem (My Home Town) from a local news magazine called the Gallup Journey.
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Thursday, September 25, 2008

Chuska Apartment Drawing and Layout



An example of a two and three bedroom apartment.


South facing building are able to use the suns heat to stimulate airflow and promote ventilation



A village within a small town.
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More Drawings of Chuska Apartments


More views of the apartments.


A brief description of some of its features.


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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Pinwheels for Peace

On September 24, 2008 Freshmen Terra Tohe and Candace Sam put up signs and pinwheels at Tohatchi High School on Monday as part of the Pinwheels for Peace project.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Miss Navajo Visits CARE 66

Miss Navajo Nation signs an autograph for Alrit Halote at Care 66 on Wednesday evening. Miss Navajo Nation offered words of hope and encouragement to residents at the mens facility.

July 19, 2008

Monday, May 12, 2008

CARE 66 Board Chair Retires

Farewell Party for Tom Richtsmeier

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

GALLUP — Dr. Tom Richtsmeier has left impressive footprints for others to follow.

And according to the many people who attended a recent going-away gathering at CARE 66, Richtsmeier has left a particularly impressive legacy of compassion and caring in Gallup.