There are some problems with this place and we'll start with the problem that isn't caused by the staff. Harbor Interfaith is where churches and other organizations all over Pedro and Harbor City and Wilmington and the South Bay DUMP the people they have no means or intention of helping. That's right. A single mom whose been dumped by a landlord onto the street who goes to a church or even another nonprofit is going to be REFERRED to Harbor Interfaith. Don't matter what "faith." Hey, listen up, REFERRALS are not HELP. Referrals are an endless time wasting hope draining circuit. And single parents are the FOCUS of Harbor Interfaith. Single parents and children are the focus of many homeless projects.
Where is the presence of these churches at this so called INTERFAITH? Do they give money? Do they provide volunteers? Do they even know what happens to someone who walks in the doors of Harbor Interfaith? Like the revolving door that hits you on the fanny on the way out? No, they just prefer to sigh with relief that it aint their problem and are way too eager to put "homeless" into a category they aren't in.
A couple years back we met many homeless seniors waiting on the housing help of Harbor Interfaith around the Anderson Senior Center park. The average was two years outdoors - in the street. One woman we met said she was told that it was so dangerous out there and no place for single women so it was better to go through the whole eviction process and be evicted to "buy time." One man told us about being revenged by a local landlord with the big deal attorneys even though he was living with rats in the walls and roaches and had multiple health problems.
As for the "help" that is provided, even mediocre canned goods help if you are on their Food Bank list, but Harbor Interfaith itself DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL OR DENTAL OR GR or SSI or any of that. At best they can tell you where to go to sign up for government programs.
Further, in recent times some young women told us about how they finally got Section 8 vouchers but the Pedro landlords, knowing this is illegal, were trying to make deals with them on the side to be given more cash than the voucher amount. These greedy you know what feed on their fear of homelessness.
Of course, no social worker can refer people to shelters or other programs that do not exist, are underfunded, are full, or who do not take people who do not fit a category. We hear some people were making weekly visits demanding housing from case workers. Government money comes into these places too and so to qualify, you have to meet criteria. Such as already on SSI or SSDI, or in a program for mental health or perhaps addiction. If you've been clean-living and are out of luck, you have to be found in an encampment. You might have to be in that same spot for weeks before a worker comes out to prove you are homeless. Let's be clear. The stats are that a woman new to homelessness will be raped within the first three weeks of being out there.
Harbor Interfaith has about three beds at a woman's shelter in Wilmington.
Now, there is a wall of honor in there applauding donors but WHO IS DONATING NOW and where is the Board?
The computer room, we hear, has one computer operating, down from four, and the seating in there has been broken and not repaired or replaced for years. There is no place to do Zoom interviews. Best go to Work Source.
Classes ended when Covid closures began and yes, the place was shut down because employee(s?) got Covid. read more