A Message from Executive Director, Dawn Price
"Friendship Shelter was founded as a direct response to a community need. Every major strategic decision since then has been rooted in an understanding of and compassion for the community. Going forward, we have a responsibility-as one of Laguna Beach's oldest and most respected human services organizations-to continually improve our organization and its ability to respond to the community that has brought us so far, and to the homeless individuals who have inspired us in our endeavors. I am confident our best is yet to come."
Listen to Friendship Shelter Interview featuring Mark Miller, AED during his years as Development Director
Board of Directors 2012
| President: |
Doug Anderson |
| Vice-President: |
Colin Henderson |
| Secretary: |
Jane Hanauer |
| Chief Financial Officer: |
John Beach |
Board Members
| Scott Adler |
Marshall Ininns |
Steve Robbins |
Josh Wolff |
| Bob Bryson |
Dr. Gary Jenkins |
John Stumpf |
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| Leslie Davis |
Sheila Ivary Marsh |
Christopher Tower |
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| Joy Dittberner |
Edson McClellan |
Sandra Vetter |
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| Ilene Glassman |
Alexander Nickolatos |
Alexander Williamson |
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| Pauline Goodman |
Paola Porrini-Bisson |
Becky Wills |
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Why Serve the Homeless?
- Orange County reported 18,325 homeless in an early 2011 count.
- There are no other year-round shelters in south Orange County.
- Cold-weather shelters operate 3 – 4 months each year providing only overnight relief.
- There are very few comprehensive rehabilitative programs for the homeless in the Southern California area.
- Homelessness is on the rise primarily because of economic struggles and veterans unable to work.
- The profile of Orange County homeless varies in age, gender, ethnicity, education, and work background.
- Many have owned homes and operated businesses and many are college graduates.
- The vast majority have endured an event or series of events that destroyed their financial and emotional well-being.
- Homelessness happens largely because of unemployment, lack of medical services, poor choices, family dysfunction, domestic violence, and drug or alcohol abuse.
- There is always a waiting list for placement at Friendship Shelter.
What is Friendship Shelter?
- Friendship Shelter is a private non-profit 501 [c] [3] organization founded in 1987.
- Our mission is to help the homeless regain self-sufficiency and become more productive members of the community.
- We serve the homeless of Orange County.
- We have served 6,000 homeless adults since inception.
Where are Friendship Shelter Programs?
- Alternative Sleeping Location: emergency shelter
- The city of Laguna Beach has established a temporary overnight shelter for homeless adults.
- The shelter operates every day from 6:00pm-7:30am, providing a safe alternative for Laguna's chronically homeless.
- Transitional shelter and rehabilitative services at Friendship Shelter, Laguna Beach for roughly 90 days.
- Shelter services are free to residents.
- Transitional living apartments for selected shelter graduates at Henderson House, San Clemente, for up to one year.
- Henderson House residents pay a modest rent for shared apartments and continue to receive free support services.
Who Operates Friendship Shelter?
- Invaluable volunteers provide nearly 14,000 hours of support annually:
- Answer phones, prepare meals, provide administrative assistance, organize fundraising events and support programs.
- Many case managers are volunteers. Case managers coordinate and monitor our residents’ development plans and secure services.
- 10 full-time staff members
- 14 part-time staff members
- 23 Board members meet bi-monthly
- Friendship Shelter collaborates with the OC Partnership, Orange County United Way, and with many local and state agencies.
How are Friendship Shelter programs funded?
- Nearly 2/3’s of funding comes from private donations and events.
- 25% from foundation and government grants.
- 13% from Henderson House rents and other income.
- The cost to successfully graduate a resident at Friendship Shelter is $7,000.
- Based only on direct costs to provide housing, meals and supportive services.
How does Friendship Shelter measure success?
- Success is defined as stable housing, sustained employment and sobriety.
- Approximately 2/3 residents graduate successfully – a good outcome but we strive for better.
- Our goal for 2012 and beyond is 65% success at Friendship Shelter and 70% at Henderson House.
- Primary impediments to success are the lack of medical and dental care, difficulty securing good jobs and the persistent challenges of mental illness and addiction.
What do Friendship Shelter programs NOT do?
- Friendship Shelter does not attract the homeless to Laguna Beach – placement is by intake process.
- Residents must call every day to secure their place.
- Friendship Shelter does not serve people with outstanding arrest warrants.
- Friendship Shelter is not a drug or alcohol rehabilitation center.
- Residents must test free of drugs and alcohol on arrival and remain in recovery, if applicable.
- Friendship Shelter does not offer a hand-out or a free ride – residents establish goals for independent living.
- Within two weeks of placement, residents must secure employment.
- Residents are required to save 80% of their income for future housing.
- Residents must work to resolve underlying problems and improve skills in order to move beyond the causes of homelessness.
- Residents do chores, support other residents and engage in group activities, including personal development workshops.
What does Friendship Shelter most need?
- Our biggest ongoing volunteer needs are: Guest Chefs and Sack lunch makers
- We are always accepting twin bedding, pillows, toiletries, and frozen meats. For a complete list of our most-needed items click here.
What would Friendship Shelter do with special funds AFTER OPERATING NEEDS were met?
- Establish a medical fund to underwrite residents’ medical and dental expenses
- Recruit permanent full-time case managers with mental health and addiction expertise
- Contract with a consulting psychologist and psychiatrist
- Retire the mortgage at Henderson House to release funds for supportive services
- Establish an educational fund for graduates to develop skills for more successful careers
- Help other communities replicate the program
- Establish more transitional housing and permanent supportive housing facilities.
Friendship Shelter's Trustees
This prestigious group of ambassadors, who serve by invitation, have made a commitment to assisting people who face daunting challenges and to enhancing quality of life in our community. Trustees help secure our future.
Keith and Judy Swayne, Laguna Beach
Keith Swayne is the former President/CEO of Case Swayne, a California firm serving the food service and industrial markets. During his tenure, the company grew seven-fold and was ultimately acquired by Bestfoods. He retired from active management in 2000. He has served on the Board of Directors of several trade associations and private companies. He has served as a personal coach. He is past-president of the Laguna Beach Boys and Girls Club and is a board member of the Yosemite National Institute. In 1997, Keith was named regional winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year and received a statewide award from the California Association of Human Rights Organizations [CAHRO] for his work with the Orange County Human Relations Council, where he continues to serve. He holds a BA degree in Economics from the University of Oregon and an MBA from UC Berkeley. He served as an officer in the Navy in Vietnam. Keith is an avid hiker and backpacker, and proud parent of two children.
Judy Swayne, a long-time community activist and philanthropist, was founder [1989] and CEO of the Orange County Community Foundation. She retired in 1999, at which time OCCF managed assets of more than $72 million, granting over $4 million to charitable causes. While President of OCCF, Judy was asked to represent the interests of community-based organizations during the 1994 county bankruptcy. Prior to her work with the foundation, she served as an Executive Assistant with the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Judy was named Visionary of the Year, 2000, by Coastline Community College, and Woman of the Year, 1999, by the 70th Assembly District, California, and has been named One of Ten Women Making a Difference in Orange County by OC Metro. She also received the “Glass Ceiling” Award from the Red Cross, Orange County, in 2000. Judy serves on the Board of Trustees of Whittier College and Law School, the Laguna Art Museum, and Arts Orange County. She holds a BA from Whittier College and is the proud parent of a son and daughter.
Bill Witte and Keiko Sakamoto
 Bill Witte is President and Managing Partner of Related California, one of the largest developers of urban and affordable housing in the state. Prior to joining The Related Companies, Mr. Witte served as Deputy Mayor for Housing and Neighborhoods under Mayor Art Agnos in San Francisco, and as Director of Housing and Economic Development under Mayor Dianne Feinstein. He also served as an appointed Commissioner of the San Francisco Housing Authority. Bill received a BA in Urban Studies and a Masters in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a founding Advisory Board member of the Center for Urban Redevelopment Excellence (C.U.R.E.) at Penn, an Advisory Board member of several statewide housing organizations, a member of the Board of the California Community Reinvestment Corporation,and a member of the Community Partner Advisory Board of the Orange County Human Relations Commission. Bill also sits on the Boards of the Center for Creative Land Recycling and Shelter Partnership, a homeless services provider in Los Angeles. In Laguna Beach, he coached youth basketball for seven years and served on the Little League Board of Directors.
Keiko Sakamoto is a former corporate attorney for the San Francisco law firms of McCutchen, Doyle, Brown and Enersen (now Bingham, McCutchen) and Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Falk and Rabkin. She later served as corporate counsel for Builders Emporium during its liquidation and then DaVita Inc. (formerly Total Renal Care Inc.) where she engaged in asset acquisitions and supervised corporate litigation. Keiko received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University and her law degree from the UC Berkeley School of Law. Prior to entering law school, she received an International Rotary Scholarship to study Japanese at the International Christian University in Tokyo and international law at the University of Tokyo. She is the founder and president of the Laguna Beach Chapter of Teen Korps USA and has served as an alumni interviewer for Harvard. She is active in fundraising efforts for the Great Park Conservancy, Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernadino Counties, and Sage Hill School. She and Bill have three children.
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8.5 Jazz FM Friendship Shelter Interview
