Antoinette, Allan,
Susan, and Margie
APRIL 2018 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM 55
program at the Albany Aquatics Center,
which began more than a year and a
half ago. “I am very proud of it,” he
said. “Again, all these organizations that
were already involved with the Diverse
Housing Working Group are coming
together, but we also have to pull in even
more organizations and people to make
the shower program happen each week.”
Serving an average of twenty people
weekly, the shower program is so much
more than a shower for participants.
Residence experiencing homelessness are
able to get snacks, toiletries, including
dental hygiene supplies, and a small
token of knowing that they are not
forgotten. Cain is quick to point out
that this program is no easy feat, but that
it happens with great assistance and cooperation
between many organizations and people in the
Albany community.
“The aquatics center graciously donated the
location and because the school district uses the
pool, we have to bring them in. We had to check
with the neighbors and the police, who have been
remarkable. One of the churches provides the
kitchen space to prepare the refreshments that are
handed out by our team of outreach volunteers
Friday mornings to people in areas that have been
identified as homeless encampments to remind them
of the program,” described Cain as he continued to
list the various organizations involved in the shower
program. “The Albany Community Foundation pays
the $3 fee to the aquatics center for each participant
to shower; the towels are provided through
donations and are cleaned by the Solano Cleaning
Center; the dental hygiene products are provided
by the Solano Avenue Dentists; the refreshments are
paid for by the Solano Community Church; and
the YMCA collects the travel size toiletries for the
program. It is just incredible the number of people
that are contributing in some way.”
While the DHWG has been able to make
progress on its goals, there is still much more to be
done. “I find it sad that we cannot provide more
for more people,” said Cain. “Our shower program
is at capacity; we really cannot take more people.”
For the group to continue to influence the city
and provide the weekly shower program to more
residence experiencing homelessness, Cain said
they need more people. “Human presence is always
better than money or a letter or an email. We need
more people that are passionate about the subject
to be able to sit in on the city council meetings
to continue to push the city of Albany to uphold
its promise on their housing element—it is the
squeaky wheel that gets the oil.” Additionally, Cain
said the group’s immediate volunteer need is for
more people to help with the shower program.
“Our core-group of shower program volunteers is
over-extended.”
For those interested in helping the DHWG, in
whatever capacity they can, Cain has extended
an open invitation to attend the group’s monthly
meetings, which occur the second Tuesday of
each month at The Church on the Corner. This
invitation is open to anyone that wants to help,
whether they live in Albany or not. “We have had
people come from other towns because they have
experienced homelessness at one time or simply
have a passion for helping out,” said Cain. “Most
of us at the group believe that in life there are six
degrees of separation, and I can almost guarantee
that everyone has been touched by homelessness
in some way even if they have not been homeless
themselves.”
For more information visit
Diversehousingworkingroup.weebly.com or email
the group at Diversehousing@gmail.com.
Monthly meeting happen the second Tuesday of
each month beginning at 5:30 p.m. at The Church
on the Corner at 1319 Solano Avenue.