14 Sep Antioch Hosts Homelessness 101 Session to Educate the Community

Jaime Jenett of Contra Costa Health leads a “Homelessness 101” session at the Antioch Library on Saturday. (Malcolm Marshall / The CC Pulse)

By Malcolm Marshall

About 30 community members gathered Saturday at the Antioch Library for a “Homelessness 101” lesson by Contra Costa Health.

The free event was part of a growing countywide education series to help the public better understand the homelessness response system and how to get involved. Jaime Jenett, a CCH community engagement specialist, led the session.

“We’re doing a series called Homelessness 101,” Jenett said. “They’re community education sessions so people can understand the data around homelessness, the services available, how the system is set up, and how they can connect people and ask the questions they may not know where to take.”

While Contra Costa Health helps coordinate the county’s response to homelessness, Jenett said it relies on many partners.

“We’re kind of the conductors,” she said. “We don’t do all the things, but we can help connect people to the folks who do.”

Antioch marked the fourth session of the year, following events in San Pablo, Pittsburg and Concord. A Walnut Creek session is scheduled next.

“I get a lot of questions in my daily work where people clearly need just a basic 101 on how things are set up,” Jenett said. “So I thought it would be more efficient to do a community session.”

Contra Costa Health partnered with the county library system to host the events, and local nonprofit White Pony Express has provided food and toiletries for unhoused attendees.

Jenett outlined the three main ways people can access homeless services in Contra Costa.

“You can dial 211, and they have a huge database and can help connect people to some basic information,” she said. “You can walk into a Care Center, which is a brick-and-mortar site where people can get services and connect to case management. There’s one in Richmond and one in Walnut Creek. And third, there’s mobile outreach teams that meet people where they are. Those are also accessed by calling 211.”

The session also included remarks from city officials.

Antioch City Manager Bessie Scott said City Council just approved a new housing strategy as the city is changing its approach to focus more on prevention, helping people before they become unhoused.

“We believe we’re only as strong as those least capable of meeting their basic needs,” Scott said. “At a minimum, everyone should have access to basic resources. So we’re grateful to have this day focused on homelessness.”

Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal echoed the need for collaboration.

“It’s everybody’s responsibility, every agency and every individual,” he said. “I hope today engages all of us to then engage others.”

Jenett encouraged attendees to take what they learned and become community messengers.

“My hope is that folks get some basic info so they can become ambassadors in the community, to help correct myths, point people toward accurate information,” she said.

“There really are good things happening. And there are still gaps. People can advocate in their communities and be better informed about what to ask for and what we really need.”

Alesia Wesley-Clark, director of the Angelo Quinto Community Response Team, also attended the session. The team partners with Antioch police to respond to low-level 911 calls involving mental health crises and unhoused individuals.

“We see a lot of unhoused people with mental health and substance issues. Our role is to connect them with services, shelters and support,” Wesley-Clark said. “We need more housing — and more shelter. Especially here in Antioch.”