Will YOU Join Us in Our Mission?
SPIRIT is at a very pivotal point in our growth providing homeless services in Santa Paula. Last Spring, Naomi Pitcairn purchased a building on 1498 E. Harvard Boulevard for our rent-free use for the next 30 years. As you can imagine, we are thrilled and have jumped into this project with both feet. This new location will direct our homeless population away from the center of town and the business district.
PHASE 1: This building needs some work, of which we are in the midst. Our Grant from the State of California CalRecycle to do FOOD RESCUE, funds our building's new commercial kitchen, food collection supplies and the purchase to two refrigerated trucks. This Program is one segment of a monumental effort, SB1383, by the State of California to reduce Greenhouse gases and reduce edible food from going into landfills. This FOOD RESCUE program allows SPIRIT to collect commercially prepared, unserved food from grocery stores, restaurants, schools, hospital, helping to feed food insecure, struggling people, homeless and housed. PHASE 1: Consists of our Drop-in Center for our homeless including meals, consulting for housing, healthcare, behavioral health, benefits, job opportunities and all the other needs people have. We are planning to have our 2019-2020 Winter Shelter.
PHASE 2: SPIRIT’s next huge challenge is our pending ADDITION to our existing building providing space for our staff, volunteers and visiting County staff to meet and counsel our clients. Please see the area in BRIGHT BLUE (AREAS #1 & 7) shown above in Spirit’s Plan. Construction Documents for this 1300 SF Addition are complete and ready to submit to the City of Santa Paula for plan check. We hope to start the addition soon and complete within a few months. Until the ADDITION is complete, staff will locate temporarily in our Classrooms.
We have been working to help our City’s homeless and so many that are struggling since 2008. This last year we have moved forward aggressively to meet the challenges of homelessness. We could sure use your help. We are starting our Capital Campaign to raise $280,000. Very aggressive, we know, but these funds will allow us to build the Addition and complete the needed changes to the existing building. We would be grateful to talk to you further so you can see our vision for Santa Paula.
A message about the shelter project from Spirit's director, Kay Wilson-Bolton:
Thank you to the following organizations and individuals who have already contributed to the Spirit of Santa Paula Harvard Navigation Center:
First, a special thank you to our landlord, Naomi Pitcairn, who so generously bought our building and is leasing it back to us rent-free for 30 years! Her love and compassion for our homeless friends is profound.
Kay Wilson-Bolton
Broker Associate
Century 21 Everest
California Door & Hardware, Ventura
DMD General Contractor (David Dunlap)
Andy’s Plumbing (Dave Lagesse)
Everything Electric (Corey)
FM Pearce, HVAC contractor (Abel)
LaRue Carpet and Floor Cleaning
Local Government Agencies who have supported & encouraged us steadfastly through this challenging process:
And thank you to our many, many volunteers and individual donors, who have helped clean up, paint, endlessly move stuff, run errands and keep us going. We love you all and appreciate you sticking with us!
