Union Station Homeless Services Is Busier Than Ever as it Evolves With Homelessness in Pasadena – And Beyond

Union Station Homeless Services is one of Pasadena’s longstanding non-profits that plays an integral role in addressing and acting on the issue of homelessness for over 40 years. The organization hosts its 17th annual “An Evening For The Station” fundraiser tonight after a year of significant transition as its longtime CEO retired and a new one awaits appointment, homelessness in the city has decreased and a number of new partnerships have increased Union Station’s reach beyond the city limits.

“A lot has changed this year for Union Station, but we have lots to look forward to,” said Union Station Homeless Services Director of Development Dana Bean.

Union Station has been providing life-saving services to homeless and highly vulnerable community members since 1973. The organization experienced the retirement of its former CEO of 21 years, Marvin Gross, and recently announced 25-year non-profit executive John Brauer as the replacement set to start on November 1.

“Marvin was at Union Station for 21 years and he lead the agency through an exceptional period of growth. He really stewarded us to be an agency that was making a significant impact in Los Angeles,” said Bean. “We really look forward to working with John Brauer because of his business background and entrepreneurial spirit. He has a lot to bring in terms of energy, knowledge and skill.”

The shift in administration seems to be at a fitting time seeing that Union Station’s mission towards ending homelessness in Pasadena has yielded favorable results this past year.

“Homelessness in Pasadena has gone down in both Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley overall. Last year alone, homelessness was reported to be in the mid 600s every night and has dwindled to the mid 500s this year,” said Bean.

The success of reducing the homeless rate and serving less people in Pasadena alone does not mean that Union Station is not busy. The organization was designated as the lead agency for the San Gabriel Valley two years ago and is responsible for coordinating all homeless services with partner agencies from Pasadena to Pomona.

“That coordination really streamlined services, made sure we weren’t duplicating efforts and it helped us identify people who have been living on the streets for the longest period of time and move them into the available housing in the region as quickly and as efficiently as possible. We’ve done a good job expanding our footprint beyond just Pasadena,” said Bean.

Union Station has also partnered with local hospitals in recent months.

“People who are chronically homeless are frequent users of the emergency room. So now when there is a homeless individual that is being discharged from the hospital and is without housing, we’ll work with the hospital to try to get that person into shelter or housing as quickly as possible. That’s one strategy that’s really impacted the numbers in our city,” said Bean.

Union Station’s relationship with the city housing department has also proven successful recently with the development and opening of the only permanent supportive housing development in Pasadena available to formerly homeless called Marv’s Place.

The 20 unit development that is named after Union Station’s former CEO Marvin Gross was awarded the Supportive Housing Project of the Year Award by Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing.

“All units have been filled,” said Bean.

The annual “Evening for the Station: Homelessness is No Laughing Matter” fundraiser is back again this year presenting its second comedy show that boasts a roster of eight established working television comedians that include Nikki Glaser, Brendon Small, Drennon Davis, Lizzy Cooperman, Solomon Georgio, Julian Mccullough, Phoebe Bottoms and Ed Salazaar.

Monday’s event is a main fundraiser for Union Station. Last year’s event raised over $87,000.

“We’re hoping to do the same this year,” said Bean.

“Evening for the Station: Homelessness is No Laughing Matter” kicks off Oct 10 at 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Arclight Pasadena located at 300 E Colorado Blvd. Tickets are $40 and all proceeds go to Union Station’s programs.

For more information and to buy tickets, click http://unionstationhs.org/event/comedy2016/