South County Homeless Project

South County Homeless Project is an interim emergency housing program located in Hayward, CA. SCHP has a large outdoor garden that offers therapeutic gardening opportunities to residents and provides food for program meals. Residents stay up to 6 months (with extensions as needed while people are seeking permanent housing) and have access to housing navigation, benefits eligibility, employment, health, wellness, and peer support services.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants for these programs must be referred through the Alameda County Coordinated Entry System (CES).

Location

Hayward, CA

Success Stories

PETER

Peter had many obstacles to overcome – homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, lack of work, and harmful relationships. After successfully taking part in services at South County Homeless Project, he earned a place at South County Sober Housing, known as “Meekland” for the street it is located on.

While at Meekland he persevered through personal and external trials and bouts of depression. His AA sponsor was a BOSS graduate. With their support, Peter began to shine. He got motivated and enrolled in Hayward’s Property Management Training Institute – and graduated with honors at the top of his class.

Peter moved into his own 2-bedroom condo in Castro Valley. He found work as a property manager in Fremont and sponsored another resident who is in the process of putting his life back on track. His goal is to continue his career in property manager, stay clean and sober, help out as many as people as he can.

WALLY

By the age of 16, Wally had suffered two head-on collisions and a fall off a roof. He still suffers from the extensive injuries he received from these accidents. His early years were fraught with a painful separation from his parents, drug and alcohol abuse, several abusive relationships, and a long time struggle with mental illness.

“I was continuously being 51-50ed because I didn’t want a life where I was simply required to take a fist full of pills.” After hitting bottom, Wally made a drastic decision to change. He knew that if he was ever going to achieve independence and wellness he would have to deal with his dual diagnosed disorder. “I dis-abused myself from friends and family, threw everything I own in a dumpster and became homeless.”

He checked himself into John George Medical Center, and eventually was granted space at South County Homeless Project where he began to learn the tools he needed to stay clean and sober and stabilize his physical and mental health. After decades of estrangement, he found a way back to his mother. “I see my mom in recovery groups and we have become close.” He has been clean and sober since the day he walked away from his old life.

Wally found work at the post office and liked it so much he wanted to make it his career, but his physical condition did not allow him to pass the physical. Yet he did not give up and continued working hard to become stronger and find his dream job. “As for those of you on the streets,” he said, “let BOSS do for you what they did for me – gave me back my dignity.”