After seven years of homelessness and an arrest that landed him behind bars, 50-year-old Raymond Abels by no means dreamed he’d be ready to assist others struggling to beat life on the streets.
As a part of a brand new 15-inmate vocational coaching program at Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, Abels volunteers a number of days every week placing collectively furnishings for folks in want. The completed items – desks, dressers, nightstands and extra – are distributed by the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution to folks and households transitioning out of homelessness.
To Abels, who's awaiting sentencing on a conviction for stealing automobiles, the possibility to take this small step towards giving again and turning his life round is a “small miracle.” He will get emotional when he talks about it.
“It’s a giant deal,” he stated. “It’s positively one thing I wanted.”
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmates Jason Blackard, left, and Rogelio Romayor, proper, assemble night time stands in a workshop space at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Navy veteran Craig Robey prepares to unpack a load of home items delivered to his new condo by the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Ray Piontek, founding father of the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, delivers home items to Navy veterans dwelling at a supportive housing constructing in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Navy veteran James Chantler smiles after receiving a supply of home items from Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution founder Ray Piontek, Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution founder Ray Piontek and Wealthy McGrath ship home items to Navy veterans dwelling at a supportive housing constructing in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution founder Ray Piontek and Jose Rojas ship a chairrful of home items for Navy veteran Craig Robey (proper), Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Ray Piontek, founding father of the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, talks with Navy veteran Craig Robey, Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at his new condo in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Ray Piontek, founding father of the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, delivers home items to Navy veteran James Chantler, Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmates assemble night time stands in a workshop space at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmate Jason Blackard assembles an evening stand in a workshop space at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmates Jason Blackard, left, and Rogelio Romayor, proper, assemble night time stands in a workshop space at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmates Jason Blackard, left, and Rogelio Romayor, proper, assemble night time stands in a workshop space at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmates Jason Blackard, left, and Rogelio Romayor, proper, assemble night time stands in a workshop space at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmates Jason Blackard, left, and Rogelio Romayor, proper, assemble night time stands in a workshop space at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmates unload containers of furntiture at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmate Jason Blackard strikes a completed an evening stand in a workshop space at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmate Jason Blackard assembles an evening stand in a workshop space at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmate Rogelio Romayor assembles an evening stand in a workshop space at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 29: Inmates Rogelio Romayor, left, and Joseph Sanseverino, proper, assemble night time stands in a workshop space at Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Dublin, Calif. Members of the vocational coaching program on the jail are constructing objects for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, which offers furnishings to folks transitioning out of homelessness. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
Santa Rita Jail began this system six months in the past as a strategy to break the cycle of incarceration for the individuals who come proper again to jail, generally simply months after being launched, stated Joe Vu, considered one of two sheriff’s deputies who spearhead this system. The concept is that volunteering to assist the group helps inmates’ psychological well being, work ethic and want to enhance their lives. Contributors at present construct furnishings, wash automobiles owned by county staff, and do upkeep and groundskeeping on the jail, however the deputies hope to increase to incorporate extra volunteer jobs. This system can accommodate simply 15 folks now — all of whom volunteer for the chance — however Deputy Lance Thomas estimates there are 100 inmates involved in taking part.
As soon as inmates are launched, Thomas and Vu proceed working with them, serving to them navigate funds, job hunts and different tough elements of the re-entry into society – all with the objective of decreasing recidivism.
“Now after they’re launched, they’re not going to only be ‘so long, see you in six months,'” Vu stated.
The coaching program begins because the jail reels from a number of challenges. Earlier this 12 months, a federal choose authorised a settlement that can pressure Santa Rita to enhance its psychological well being care underneath court docket oversight. A current lawsuit accuses jail employees of failing to correctly supervise inmate Jonas Park’s withdrawal from opioids, leading to his suicide. It was the second lawsuit filed in a month over considerations concerning the well being and security of inmates at Santa Rita.
The partnership with Santa Rita Jail additionally comes at a key time for the Bay Space Furnishings Financial institution, a South Bay nonprofit based in 2016 by Ray Piontek. Previous to the pandemic, Piontek relied on folks donating furnishings – particularly resorts that provided up total flooring’ value of things after they transformed. When he wanted to fill within the gaps in donations, Piontek would purchase objects in bulk from Wayfair or Ikea, and have volunteers from native colleges and different organizations assemble them.
However when COVID hit, resorts shut down and canceled renovation initiatives, leading to an enormous drop in donations.
“We had to purchase furnishings like a son of a gun,” Piontek stated.
And the group had fewer folks to assist assemble that furnishings, as fears of the virus made volunteers reluctant to enterprise out.
The furnishings financial institution serves a median of 74 households per thirty days, ensuring they've important furnishings after they’re moved off the road or out of a shelter and into their very own properties. In the course of the first six months of the pandemic, demand for furnishings greater than doubled as officers rushed to get folks off the streets, out of crowded shelters and into housing.
“We are available and there’s their clothes in a rubbish bag and that’s all they need to retailer their clothes,” Piontek stated. “What number of occasions have we seen folks simply sleeping on the ground? In the event you’re going to sit down someplace, you’re sitting on a field.”
For 34-year-old James Chantler, the furnishings financial institution’s assist was “large.” Chantler, a Navy veteran, was dwelling in a homeless shelter till he discovered a low-income condo in San Jose final month. The furnishings financial institution gave him a desk, microwave, dresser, lamps, cleansing provides, pots and pans, sheets and extra.
“Getting it is a massive aid,” he stated. “Cash’s been actually tight, so not having to divvy out what little sources I've on these kinds of issues … I’m simply actually grateful for every thing that I’ve been provided right here.”
Chantler, who lives off $150 a month in authorities advantages, is hoping to search out part-time work and return to high school to turn out to be a park ranger.
On a current morning, Abels and several other different males put collectively nightstands in an out of doors courtyard at Santa Rita, whereas pictures from deputies’ goal apply rang out within the distance.
Abels, who has been in jail for 2 months, had been homeless since 2015 when he acquired concerned in a poisonous relationship and spiraled into unhealthy habits and dependancy that value him his job managing a espresso store and his Pleasanton rental. He was dwelling in a trailer on the aspect of the highway in Oakland when he was arrested.
Joseph Sanseverino, 43, has been locked up on and off since he was 13, principally for drug-related expenses. He’s in Santa Rita now awaiting sentencing on a federal drug-dealing cost. Sanseverino is adamant this will likely be his final time behind bars. His work with the vocational program has helped him hold his eyes on that objective.
“Engaged on doing that is serving to me concentrate on what I have to do,” he stated, “which is figure and keep busy doing the precise issues.”