A lawyer discussing eternal life with Jesus already knew that one key was to “love your neighbor as yourself.” He asked Jesus “who is my neighbor?” Jesus told this story. A man was robbed, beaten and left bloody on the side of a road. A priest and a Levite passed right by him and did nothing. A Samaritan stopped, bound up his wounds, took him to an inn, paid for his stay and promised to pay more if needed. Some call this the story of the “good Samaritan.” That’s because Samaritans, unlike priests and Levites, were despised by those listening to Jesus, so that Samaritan must have been “one of the good ones.”
A woman, born and raised in San Mateo County, forced to flee a bad marriage, had two beautiful children, was working two full-time jobs, and was about to take a third job to make enough for a deposit on a new apartment. One of her kids had attempted suicide thinking that would help his struggling mother financially. He, thank goodness, survived. She visited Samaritan House to get a few gifts and food for her children for Christmas. As they are trained to do, a Samaritan House worker didn’t just hand over a few toys and a bag of food. Instead, their holistic approach to people kicked in, bound up some immediate wounds and then worked with this mother and her kids to help them thrive. Five years later, they are still thriving.
Last year, Samaritan House helped over 26,000 people with food, clothing, medical care, housing and other services. In 50 years of service, they, just like the Samaritan in scripture, don't just help in the moment of crisis, they are in it for the long term, “preserving dignity, promoting self-sufficiency, and providing hope.” Samaritan House is a San Mateo County “Core Agency” handling intake for many of the services available in the county.
I interviewed CEO Laura Bent recently to learn more in my quest to share stories about homelessness and poverty in our county and the Samaritans trying to make a difference. My quest was started, in part, by a challenge from a Daily Journal reader who believes there is a “homelessness industrial complex” perpetuating homelessness. Not true. In fact, Samaritan House has “diversion specialists,” working across the county to help prevent people from becoming homeless. Touching 26,000 clients in some way, always digging as deeply as possible to determine a holistic approach to helping people thrive, Samaritan House is proud that it is able to keep many people in danger of losing their current housing stable, so that they don’t become homeless, and providing services to those who lack housing with shelter and long-term assistance to get them back on track to independence. All of that is quite the trick given that 90% of the people served earn under 30% of area median income. AMI is $122,000 in San Mateo County, so the folks being served have less than $37,000 income, where the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $2,700 a month. The vast majority of people served have at least one full-time job or are on other fixed incomes. Is it any wonder that tens of thousands of people living and working in this county need a little Samaritan help?
Who are our neighbors? Step out of your home and look at the gardeners, folks working at your favorite coffee shops and restaurants, the clerks at the supermarket, the people who clean your workplace, the caregivers in nursing homes and hospitals, the day care workers, the 10-year-old boy who thinks that maybe his mother would be better off if he was dead. Who is your neighbor? Do you think people would be better off if they had someone to teach them how to effectively manage their money? You could be that coach! Do you think we should be doing a better job monitoring how our tax dollars are spent? Do you think we should be moving heaven and earth to build much more affordable housing throughout the county? You could be on a government commission or NGO to do that! Do you think many of the people who are suffering are at fault for their circumstances? They aren’t and you could correct that misperception by serving people in need and getting to know them and their stories.
Do you want to help? Do you need help? Unlike the good Samaritan who might have felt totally alone in what he was doing, here in San Mateo County, if someone needs help or if you want to help you can go to samaritanhousesanmateo.org or call (650) 347-3649. Or, would you rather be the priest and the Levite and just walk on by?
Craig Wiesner is the co-owner of Reach And Teach, a book, toy and cultural gift shop on San Carlos Avenue in San Carlos.
Jorg, this is too easy... You’re not a bragging Republican, but we've all noticed you're a bragging and rabid Democrat so what you just wrote is stupid. Why the resistance? It appears you're only talking the talk and not walking the walk. Yep, a rabid Democrat. Cue more faux outrage, a personal attack, or more cut/pasted jibber-jabber. Enjoy the Super Bowl.
Thanks for your column, Mr. Wiesner but highlighting one “diamond in the rough” does not negate the hundreds (thousands?) of unsuccessful homelessness industrial complex programs. In this case, we need to look below the surface of the Samaritan House program. For instance, what is their budget? Where is the money coming from? How much is paid out in salaries vs dedicated to helping the homeless? What is the cost per capita of those being helped and how does it compare to others ($1000/person, $10,000/person)? If Samaritan House programs are successful, why aren’t they replicated?
Claiming the “homelessness industrial complex” doesn’t perpetuate homelessness based on a single, alleged, success story is disingenuous. What about stories and statistics on the number of failures? How much is it costing taxpayers for each success? Not just locally, but statewide? We know plenty of taxpayer money has been tossed into the homeless industrial complex (over $20 billion by the state and what, another $150 million budgeted for the county) yet homelessness is getting worse. Statistically, there will be some successes, but at what cost and what level of inefficiency?
Samaritan House is a trash organization with way too much politics involved. How many admins are making 6 figures? Same diff as the Red Cross or United Way or UNICEF. Makes sense why Craig's narrative here is derived by pushing back against the reality of the Homeless Industrial Complex. But its par for the course with Craig - just like his interpretation of God's word - he wants to make it work for himself. I've personally vetted every single charity in the bay area. The only one that is 100% authentic and staffed by truly loving people is the East Palo Alto Ecumenical Hunger Program. Please give them a call.
The only trash here is your commentary. SH operates with far more nonpaid volunteers than paid employees. The name of their organization is apt.
In your vetting true charities in the area, you apparently missed Jobtrain in Menlo Park. It is 100% authentic in helping people in need. It trains underserved people in need for entry level jobs in healthcare, construction, IT, and culinary arts, all at no cost to the students. Magic happens when someone enters their doors as 90% of the them obtain jobs at graduation and 85% are still in these jobs a year later. Jobtrain is funded almost entirely by private funds. I know, because I have proudly worked there part time for the past 5 years.
Rel, if Jobtrain is successful, they should replicate the program elsewhere/everywhere. Or perhaps Jobtrain is successful because they’re almost entirely privately funded? Meanwhile, folks lauding SH should present some numbers on SH so we can see how effective they truly are. $1,000 per customer? $10,000? $50,000? More? How about Jobtrain?
Using various search engines, similar training courses would cost from $8k-$12k without the placement success JT demonstrates. In addition, the average JT graduate earns a starting hourly rate of $27, fully $12 above the minimum hourly wage.
Jobtrain, due to demand from Bay Area cities, has expanded to SoSF, San Jose, East PA, and Fair Oaks. Recently, HMB has requested a site and will the next career center this summer.
Thanks for the info, Rel. I wonder how Samaritan House compares. If it’s not close, close down Samaritan House and other inefficient organizations and send their money to Jobtrain.
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(18) comments
I'm with you, Craig, - my favorite charity!
How much have you donated? Lets get the receipts.
That's none of your business! What a stupid question. I'm not a bragging Republican, - if you haven't noticed yet.
Jorg, this is too easy... You’re not a bragging Republican, but we've all noticed you're a bragging and rabid Democrat so what you just wrote is stupid. Why the resistance? It appears you're only talking the talk and not walking the walk. Yep, a rabid Democrat. Cue more faux outrage, a personal attack, or more cut/pasted jibber-jabber. Enjoy the Super Bowl.
Yea - you're a delusional old man that contributes nothing to humanity but your online rants and personal attacks. You are the definition of a loser.
With your little foot in your mouth, I take it as a compliment!
If you are so interested, why don't you ask your friend way up high? She would know, wouldn't she?
Thanks for your column, Mr. Wiesner but highlighting one “diamond in the rough” does not negate the hundreds (thousands?) of unsuccessful homelessness industrial complex programs. In this case, we need to look below the surface of the Samaritan House program. For instance, what is their budget? Where is the money coming from? How much is paid out in salaries vs dedicated to helping the homeless? What is the cost per capita of those being helped and how does it compare to others ($1000/person, $10,000/person)? If Samaritan House programs are successful, why aren’t they replicated?
Claiming the “homelessness industrial complex” doesn’t perpetuate homelessness based on a single, alleged, success story is disingenuous. What about stories and statistics on the number of failures? How much is it costing taxpayers for each success? Not just locally, but statewide? We know plenty of taxpayer money has been tossed into the homeless industrial complex (over $20 billion by the state and what, another $150 million budgeted for the county) yet homelessness is getting worse. Statistically, there will be some successes, but at what cost and what level of inefficiency?
Samaritan House is a trash organization with way too much politics involved. How many admins are making 6 figures? Same diff as the Red Cross or United Way or UNICEF. Makes sense why Craig's narrative here is derived by pushing back against the reality of the Homeless Industrial Complex. But its par for the course with Craig - just like his interpretation of God's word - he wants to make it work for himself. I've personally vetted every single charity in the bay area. The only one that is 100% authentic and staffed by truly loving people is the East Palo Alto Ecumenical Hunger Program. Please give them a call.
The only trash here is your commentary. SH operates with far more nonpaid volunteers than paid employees. The name of their organization is apt.
In your vetting true charities in the area, you apparently missed Jobtrain in Menlo Park. It is 100% authentic in helping people in need. It trains underserved people in need for entry level jobs in healthcare, construction, IT, and culinary arts, all at no cost to the students. Magic happens when someone enters their doors as 90% of the them obtain jobs at graduation and 85% are still in these jobs a year later. Jobtrain is funded almost entirely by private funds. I know, because I have proudly worked there part time for the past 5 years.
Thank you, Ray, for correcting that LittleFoot trash! How disrespectful, how heartless!
Rel, if Jobtrain is successful, they should replicate the program elsewhere/everywhere. Or perhaps Jobtrain is successful because they’re almost entirely privately funded? Meanwhile, folks lauding SH should present some numbers on SH so we can see how effective they truly are. $1,000 per customer? $10,000? $50,000? More? How about Jobtrain?
Using various search engines, similar training courses would cost from $8k-$12k without the placement success JT demonstrates. In addition, the average JT graduate earns a starting hourly rate of $27, fully $12 above the minimum hourly wage.
Jobtrain, due to demand from Bay Area cities, has expanded to SoSF, San Jose, East PA, and Fair Oaks. Recently, HMB has requested a site and will the next career center this summer.
Thanks for the info, Rel. I wonder how Samaritan House compares. If it’s not close, close down Samaritan House and other inefficient organizations and send their money to Jobtrain.
Why not mention anything about East Palo Alto Ecumenical Hunger Program?
I certainly trust Craig and Charity Navigator (which gives Samaritan House a rating of 99%) over the hate spew of one of our local trolls.
You can call me a lot of things and I would entertain them - but I've never been a troll.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.