A few months ago, Eric Bilberry was doing construction work 70 hours per week, and being paid $17 an hour in Grass Valley.
?But then the work started drying up,? he said.
Eventually unable to afford his rent, Bilberry came to Sonoma County in hope of finding more work opportunities.
?I came here because my brother lives nearby, in Sonoma, in case I run into problems. And I figured that I hadn?t found any work in Grass Valley, so why not try another area? I was trying to find any job ? even if it meant washing dishes,? Bilberry said.
He first found lodging with the Redwood Gospel Mission in Santa Rosa, and in April, moved to the Mary Isaak Center, part of the Committee on the Shelterless, in Petaluma.
?Living here has been a growing experience for me,? he said. ?I?ve been able to integrate into the community, and COTS has helped me beyond what I could have ever imagined.
?COTS has opened a lot of doors for me, and I now see more possibilities. I also see myself in a different light. I don?t focus on the negative, and keep a positive outlook.?
But due to policy, Bilberry can stay at the Mary Isaak Center for only 3 1/2 more months, and he has no other prospects for a job or housing.
?After I became homeless, I was living in my truck, and looking at craigslist.org on the Internet to try to pick up jobs,? he said. ?I?m still searching, but it?s very difficult, because the pool of people looking for work is just so vast.
?My situation could be worse, though. I could be living in a bush and really struggling.?
The recently released 2009 Sonoma County Homeless Census and Survey indicates that 280 individuals and 138 people in families are homeless in Petaluma. The total number of homeless people, 418, represents 12.9 percent of the county total. The survey also shows that Petaluma has 148 unsheltered homeless individuals and three unsheltered people in families. The total number, 151, represents 6.8 percent of the county total.
Peter Connery, vice president of Applied Survey Research, the lead researcher in the survey, warns against comparing its results with previous surveys of the homeless because of the different methodology used.
John Records, executive director of COTS, was pleased at the sheltering statistics.
?The survey indicates that Petaluma is doing a good job of sheltering people,? he said. ?We?ve had a shift toward helping chronically homeless adults."
The survey suggests that many of the chronically homeless do not seek out government services to help them. Thirty percent of the homeless people identified in the county could be considered chronically homeless, and 45 percent said that they were not using any government services, although 82 percent of them were unsheltered, 80 percent had two or more disabling conditions, 72 percent were currently experiencing depression and 63 percent were experiencing substance abuse.
?Many homeless people aren?t using government services because of the way the system is set up,? Records said. ?Usually, people are denied services the first time they try. They have to jump through a lot of hoops, and some people have difficulty keeping appointments because of their situation.
?Many people explore opportunities, but the process is often very extensive, and it takes a long time.?
COTS? case managers facilitate the process to help homeless people to move through the process, and find other resources.
Bilberry has made good use of COTS? computers and career counseling services. This has enabled him to improve his skills in interviewing, writing resumes and filling out applications.
?And as I?m searching for work, I?m trying to integrate my construction skills into a different trade, such as solar and green building,? he said.
Bilberry hopes to settle down in Petaluma.
?I would love to stay in this area. The people in Sonoma County are really wonderful,? he said.
He?s met many people through COTS.
?A lot of communication goes on there, and it feels as if everyone is part of a big family. I feel like I?ve known some of the people there our entire lives,? he said.
(Contact Dan Johnson at dan.johnson@arguscourier.com)
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