Community Aims to Help Livermore's Homeless

There are 32 homeless people living in the streets of Livermore and many more living in their vehicles. And that population is expected to grow because of the economy.

This information was shared with residents during a community forum on homelessness Thursday night at the .

Chief Steve Sweeney, one of the featured panelists, said that many residents want officers to push the homeless out of town. But there are many others who offer support services to help the homeless get back on their feet and into shelter.

"We are a divided community," said Sweeney.

In the past year, police received 258 calls related to the homeless.

"Most of those did not involve a crime,"he said. "What we need to figure out is how do we deal with those people who really need our help? We can't just cast these people aside. We're not going to police ourselves out of this."

More than 200 people attended Thursday's forum hosted by the Livermore Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association.

Other featured panelists were from the following organizations:

• Livermore Homeless Refuge 
• Tri-Valley Haven
• Open Heart Kitchen
• Abode Services HOPE Mobile Health Clinic
• Livermore Showers Program
• The City of Livermore Community Development and Police Department

Jean Prasher, the city's human services program manager, said a majority of the homeless are Livermore residents.

"They are our people, and we are here to take care of them," she said.

Studies have shown that cities that help their homeless population have had success in addressing the issue, Prasher said.

One example comes via Ralph Moreno, a former homeless resident and a featured panelist.

Moreno, 52, said he struggled with substance abuse and was in and out of prison for most of his life. He turned his life around after receiving support from Abode Services' Greater HOPE program.

"I felt washed up," Moreno said. "I didn't think there was a future there for me."

Now he lives in an apartment in Livermore and is working on a human services degree at .

"I want to give back to these programs that helped people like myself get back on their feet," he said. "I want to give them hope. That's what it's all about."

Share your ideas on the homeless by e-mailing Livermore's housing and human services department at housing@ci.livermore.ca.us.