FULLERTON : Shelter Gives Families a New Start

Shelters for the homeless are often huge barracks-like buildings, crammed with desperate transients. But not the one in downtown Fullerton.

The two large houses that make up the New Vista Shelter mix well with the other homes on the block.

Inside the shelter, as in many of the nearby dwellings, are families--struggling, loving, working families.

Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Service, which operates the shelter, is trying to raise $250,000 to pay for operating costs and a recent renovation of the old buildings.

So far, the agency’s officials say they have received $132,000 in donations.

Fullerton Interfaith is a charitable coalition of Episcopal, Lutheran, Jewish and Unitarian places of worship as well as other religious denominations.

The agency’s shelter provides housing, counseling, food, child care and money-management skills to 12 families who live at the facility for 10 weeks each as they try to get back on their feet financially.

Program coordinators say families who participate have an 80% success rate in finding independent housing.

During the renovation, the wood floors of the shelter’s old houses were refinished, and simple, comfortable furniture was added to the rooms.

“There’s no need to go for the project look,” said Elaine A. Schoepf, an energetic and cheerful woman who works as a counselor at the shelter. “We’re here to give people a place to get themselves back together.”

One ex-resident, a single mother of three boys, including a newborn, said she and her family had never been homeless until she was fired from her job as an apartment manager earlier this year.

“I was terrified when all of a sudden we were homeless,” said Shirlee, who spoke on the condition that her last name not be used. “I’ve never been without work for more than two weeks.”

Shirlee recently found a job managing townhomes, and moved last week to a two-bedroom home with her family.

“They’ve afforded me the time” to find a job, she said of the shelter. “I’m leaving with a bank account.”

Schoepf said the shelter accepts people like Shirlee who have an employment record, the ability to save money and the potential for making a return to society.

Through an arrangement with the Pioneer Bank in Fullerton, shelter residents are required to save 80% of their income, which usually comes from Social Security, welfare payments and their salaries.

Even with the shelter’s help, the transition is not always smooth.

Frank Pena, 29, of Fullerton stood recently outside the rear apartment he shared with his wife and three daughters, ages 5, 3 and 1.

Pena said he used to have a job servicing solar heating systems, but his company went out of business this year.

Pena spoke as he watched one of his daughters play with her friends on a swing set behind the houses.

“I was making $50,000 a year, and all of a sudden it started going down,” he said.

Pena, who was told about the shelter by a friend, said he has not found work in Orange County and moved last week with his family to El Centro to stay with relatives. He said he will try to find work there.

Those interested in making a donation to the shelter can call Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Service at (714) 871-3032.