Community: Hollister

Host Agency: Community Services &Workforce Development

Community Profile: Hollister is a 48,000 person, rural, agricultural and manufacturing community. The primary economic activities of the county are agriculture, manufacturing, and visitor services. Although it was listed in the top 50 for "hottest little boomtowns (Money Magazine, April 1996)," persons with limited or no job skills find it difficult at best to secure employment.

Prior to two welfare reform public hearings that were held in Hollister, The Institute met and worked with a group of 18 residents organized by Community Services & Workforce Development (CSWD), to prepare them to testify at these hearings with the Community Action Board. Issues were identified, statements were prepared, and spokespersons were selected. A follow-up support group was formed and they met once a month with guest speakers regarding various resources that were available in the community. This group was made up of CalWorks clients who supported one another and together addressed welfare reform issues by sharing rental housing, and information and knowledge of community resources.

Hollister is facing a shortage of childcare, housing, employment, and like other communities, transportation. But they are facing these concerns head on, and addressing them in a variety of ways. Community Service and Workforce Development, the host agency, worked in collaboration with the Private Industry Council to provide job training and a one-stop career center for residents. One way they are coping with the lack of childcare services is via a childcare center in collaboration with Head Start. The local transit company, San Benito Transit, added two more stops on their runs: one in town, and one in the industrial area of town. A limited public transportation system has posed a problem for low-income persons needing reliable transportation to get to work, school and childcare.

Hollister has a transitional housing program that is run by the CSWD. The program includes several mobile homes in a trailer park located on the outskirts of town. They also provide assistance for down payments on homes for qualifying first time homebuyers. In one case during her participation in this project, a single mother of three came to the agency because she and her children were homeless. Within six months after moving into the trailer park, the family was able to purchase their first home with the assistance of the first time homeowners program.

In addressing welfare reform, the residents have had considerable input in the decision-making process. They have offered suggestions that have been accepted by the CalWorks program, and have via the project educated themselves regarding the new laws and regulations, and identified available resources in their community. They have also been innovative in their ability to meet as a community. They schedule noon lunch support meetings in one of their trailers so that they do not have to worry about childcare, nor do they have to worry about feeding their children before attending the meeting. They meet in a trailer that is centrally located and easy to get to, which eliminates the transportation problem, and makes the meetings more accessible.

As in the other communities, the welfare reform project has helped mobilize the residents, in this case a group of 18 residents. Their participation in training sessions conducted by CSWD has empowered them about their rights as citizens and how to go about getting desired results. They have learned to have a voice and that can make a difference. They have also learned how to use free publications as a resource. Along with the preparation for public testimony, one of the ways in which the Institute was helpful occurred when the ICCS welfare reform specialist initiated a community letter and took it to Sacramento where she presented the concerns of the community to state legislators.

Today, CWSD is continuing the support/informational meetings initiated by this project as part of its Federal Welfare to Work Project. A year later now they have achieved extending the bus route to the industrial area making it easier for CalWorks participants to receive training and employment. The agency is purchasing 12 apartments to rent to low-income families and they have received a grant to increase childcare services. Three of the graduates from this project continue to advocate for better utilization of services. ICCS is planning with this host organization to establish the proposed Community Leaders program in San Benito County.

Accomplishments:

• Has been successfully working with various public service agencies in educating CalWORKS recipients on the welfare reform issues and the various services offered throughout the county.
• A single parent of two was successful in purchasing her first home through the first time homebuyers program offered by the CSWD agency.
• The San Benito County Transit has added two additional routes to the industrial/manufacturing areas of the community. A very limited public transportation system has posed a problem for low income persons needing reliable transportation to get work, school, and childcare.
• Childcare is provided for pre-school age children in collaboration with the State Department of Education (Head Start) at the Herman Fehl site on San Felipe Road in Hollister.
• Project participants have formed informal support systems within themselves to address day-today problems, i.e. solving the problem of high rents by sharing rental housing, sharing information on welfare procedures and rules, etc.

Challenges:

Challenges encountered were scheduling conflicts with group meetings for all participants. Follow up after departure from transitional housing has been difficult once individuals begin working or move from the area, it becomes very difficult to continue meeting with them due to their work schedules.

Next Steps:

Once funding through the California Endowment project and CSUMB ends, the Agency intends to continue the support/informational meetings as part of its Federal Welfare to Work Project. The Agency will be operating this program by providing work experience and case management services to CalWORKS participants.