Investors are needed for property acquisition, both existing buildings and new construction, to contribute to the stock of affordable rental units for these working families. We need property owners who are willing to contribute rental units to this effort. Our housing partner will lease or own all donated units, handling property management and resident services.

The fair market monthly rent for a two-bedroom unit in Monterey County is $2,675. With a $15/hour minimum wage, a parent cannot afford this rent. Homelessness increases sharply when a family is spending more than 30% of their income on rent. A family must make $9,000 per month to pay this amount of rent. That is more than three full-time jobs. Low wages in our hospitality and agricultural industries, home health care, and landscape maintenance result in hard-working parents whose school children are in crisis. Many families are one paycheck away from eviction. People don't know or understand this so they may not support the necessary efforts to address this critical issue.

Many people in local government agencies, in nonprofits, in public office and in faith-based communities are actively addressing every day the needs of those who are homeless every day. Monterey County has a robust Coalition of Homeless Services Provider that works to coordinate efforts of all entities working in this field. The county has its first coordinator of homeless response, Roxanne Wilson. All agree: Units of affordable housing are needed now. H4K wants to work with you to meet that need.

We are fortunate in Monterey County to have a wealth of nonprofits and agencies led by highly skilled and committed professionals working to address the issue of homelessness. But it is a complex and multilayered problem, and the sad truth is that no matter how much they do or how well they do it, right now the need outpaces available resources. As one of its main objectives, Housing for Kids is dedicated to supporting the existing agencies and nonprofits in whatever way possible to help them succeed in their missions of preventing, ameliorating and/or ending homelessness.

Recently Housing for Kids teamed with the Franklin Legacy Fund to provide leaders in the field of homelessness a day of respite, connection and renewal at a retreat in Carmel Valley.

Attendees were introduced to a variety of contemplative and creative practices such as mindfulness meditation, qi gong, collage, movement and improvisation for stress reduction and problem solving. The retreat was funded by the Arts Council of Monterey County with support and guidance from the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers.

Housing for Kids provided, prepared and served a beautiful lunch and snacks to participants, who included leaders from Gathering for Women, I-Help, Downtown Streets Team, Sun Street Centers, Victory Mission and Housing Resource Center.

"Today's leaders have very little time for self-reflection and self-care. Thank you…for this retreat that allowed us to identify the stressors and, dare I say, be human. The movement techniques, poems, and other creative outlets allowed me to decompress and attempt the week's challenges from a different perspective. It was a much-needed retreat, and I hope another day just like it comes around again where I can send other staff to experience that same level of relief. Thank you!" — Alexa Johnson