Giving the Poor a Fresh Start

As executive director of Fresh Start, Susan Prather reaches out to the homeless people of Contra Costa County, providing meals, clothing, shelter and social services and helping restore and maintain dignity.

Prather founded Fresh Start, based at Fellowship House on Trinity Avenue in Walnut Creek, eight years ago. Fresh Start provides shower and bath access, a laundry facility, breakfast, lunch, clothing and referral services to the homeless and the poor.

"We are very focused on the individual, rather than the cookie-cutter approach," said Prather. "We provide individual services and try and get people what they need in the moment and beyond. We try to keep people warm, healthy and dry while they are living outside, too. People are not clients; everybody who comes to Fresh Start is a participant. There is no 'them' and 'us.' "

Prather first became aware of the Bay Area's homeless problem in the mid-'70s.

"I met a very sweet man who was homeless," Prather said. "I was working for a senior meal program then, and he had nothing. He more or less taught me how to help him: when to hold back, when to move forward and when to help him get to appointments."

Prather began helping people one at a time until the work consumed her life.

"I was always kind of an outlaw,'' she said. "I was not a part of any organization and certainly not a part of a system. I worked closely with Contra Costa Legal Services and on the streets by myself in Richmond, Concord and all over the county.''

Prather said she disagrees with the view that a catastrophic event in someone's life, like an illness, death or divorce, causes homelessness, pointing instead to the lack of good-paying jobs and affordable housing in the Bay Area.

"With all the layoffs, jobs being moved overseas and the state of the global economy, people are hurting at home," she said. "I see more people living in their cars than ever. People are one or two paychecks away from homelessness.

"A lot of people who come to Fresh Start work," Prather added. "Some have two jobs and (still) can't afford housing. Landlords and property management companies require most of the time that people make three times the rent. That's really hard when most jobs are minimum wage or a little more."

When Prather discovered there were homeless people living on the streets of Walnut Creek, despite its affluent reputation, she wrote letters to the City Council and the city manager, who invited Prather to write a proposal for an organization that wouldn't duplicate any services already available.

Fresh Start was set up with a donation of $250,000 willed to the city of Walnut Creek by the late Elizabeth Martin of Rossmoor.

"We ran on the city's money for 2 1/2 years," Prather said. "We turned it into a private nonprofit when the city money ran out. For the last six years, Fresh Start has been in operation without any government funding. We operate on the kindness of strangers."

Fresh Start operates with two paid staff members (Prather is one), and several volunteers -- many are program participants. The building and utilities were donated by St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Food -- fresh produce, eggs, milk, and tea and coffee -- is donated by Safeway and others; clothing and personal care items are donated by Peet's and other organizations. Fresh Start's budget is $180,000 to $200,000 a year; the program serves 70 to 75 people a week.

"We do a lot with a little bit," Prather said. "We lessen the impact of homelessness on the community by providing non-shelter amelioration. When people are living outside, they can get whatever they need at Fresh Start. We have a food pantry. We give away cases of water. The Police Department in Walnut Creek told us that we've have cut down on petty theft because people don't have to steal what (they) need to survive."

Julia Ambrose, who is on Fresh Start's board of directors, has benefited from the program. Ambrose was homeless when she first met Prather several years ago, when Prather was doing outreach for the homeless at a Walnut Creek park. Prather helped Ambrose get into a home in San Ramon.

"Susan is a very caring, responsible person who sees everybody as important," Ambrose said. "She takes time for everyone who comes in the door. She does everything she can to help people. And if she can't, she'll find someone who can. She never leaves anyone hanging."

For information on Fresh Start, call (925) 935-8446 or go to www.freshstartwc.org

E-mail Shelah Moody at smoody@sfchronicle.com.

Susan Prather, a Richmond resident and founder and executive director of the Fresh Start homeless agency in Walnut Creek, has been awarded a local Jefferson award for public service.

The American Institute for Public Service has partnered with three Bay Area media organizations to select and recognize one local award-winner each week.

"It's kind of like the Pulitzer or Nobel prize for local public service," Prather said. "It's really prestigious. It's such an honor."

The institute recognizes five local winners each year with the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Greatest Public Service.

Prather will be profiled on KPIX-TV, KCBS radio and in the San Francisco Chronicle. At the end the year, five local winners will be selected as silver medal honorees, who are considered for the Kennedy Onassis Award.

  "I think I'm doing something far more

important than abusing politicians,

as much as I love doing that"  Prather said. 
 
February 23, 2004

"I'm serving people who don't have a voice, who don't have political power, who don't get acknowledged," said Prather, a 53-year-old Richmond resident who runs the Fresh Start program with her husband, Bill Lunghi. "You really can't be nice to be nice." Civic leaders across the county acknowledge Prather isn't always nice in her quest to boost funding and services for the homeless. She calls it an "in-your-face" approach that gets results.

Consider Prather's methods:
She once took a homeless man's ashes to a Board of Supervisors meeting to protest a proposal to limit burial options for welfare recipients. She hired a plane to fly over a Board of Supervisors meeting; it trailed a banner critical of the board for its homeless policies. Inside, the supervisors declared "Homelessness Awareness Month."

She has staged sit-ins at the offices of officials with whom she disagrees. "She's done some pretty nasty things," said Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier. "Once you disagree with her, then you're evil and you don't care about people, and I take offense at that." But Prather has her fans, especially among people on the fringes of Contra Costa's high-rent districts.

Fresh Start attracts about 35 homeless people every Tuesday and Thursday. They come from Walnut Creek, Danville, Alamo and Lafayette to use the amenities, put their lives together and see a friendly face.

"I feel comfortable here," said Desiree Harding, sitting in Prather's office at the house on the grounds of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. "I'm in a tough spot, but things are looking up for me."
The building has a fax machine, phones and e-mail for Fresh Start clients, as well as a kitchen, shower and cozy living room.
 
Prather helps her visitors by counseling them and making phone calls on their behalf, aiding searches for homes and jobs. She is an easygoing presence in the bustling building, taking frequent interruptions in stride and lending a sympathetic ear. Clients on drugs or alcohol are quickly shown the door, Prather said. Born in Vallejo, she grew up in Pinole, where her family owned a restaurant. She tried working there but was less than enthusiastic about the job. "I was the world's worst waitress," said Prather, a stout woman with short, curly gray hair. "One of our customers had a key to the restaurant, so I wouldn't have to open up. My mother never knew that."

She met her first homeless person in 1976, a Korean War veteran named Duane whose sad situation persuaded her to become involved in homeless issues. She became a full-fledged advocate when the homeless population boomed in the 1980s. Meanwhile, she worked a variety of computer-related jobs - mostly data entry and word processing - to support herself.

In 1999, Walnut Creek hired her to start a homeless program, which became Fresh Start. The funding expired two years later, but she formed a private nonprofit organization in 2002 to continue the program.

Fresh Start, which survives through grants and donations, has picked up a few generous patrons since its inception. A Bay Area radio station raises money for the program every year, and actor Ed Asner is a benefactor.

On a recent day, Prather sat next to a mountain of clothing donated by schoolchildren. "In this community, we see that all year round, this kind of generosity," she said.
 
Prather and Asner met in Washington, D.C., in 1991 while camping out with the homeless in a bid to bring attention to the issue. Since then, the two have been close friends and Asner has helped publicize Fresh Start.

Prather's persistence pays off for Contra Costa's homeless, Asner said.
"She's the best creature you'll ever find to fight city hall," the actor said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles. "In the end, when (public officials) see the results of what she's done, they've all got to feel like fools."

Prather's most prized achievements are the success stories of Fresh Start clients, many of whom say they have found jobs and homes with Prather's help. "My world had come tumbling down, and I needed guidance to figure out where I was going," said Martha Erickson, a Walnut Creek resident who became homeless in 2001. With Prather's encouragement, she found work and housing within six weeks.

Even with Prather's accomplishments evident, county officials say she would be well suited to change her tactics. "It's important for advocates to kind of match their approach and techniques to the people they're trying to influence," said Dr. Wendel Brunner, the county's public-health director. "Sometimes constant bashing isn't the best approach."

Several other officials declined to comment on Prather's methods, saying she has "burned bridges." Note from Prather (this did not appear in the article):  “Sometimes you get your best light from a burning bridge” – Don Henley, “My Thanksgiving”

Prather said she doesn't care whether people like her tactics. Being confrontational keeps her message in officials, minds, she said. "I'm not a bureaucracy, I'm an individual," she said. "The people I represent can't afford lobbyists."

But Prather has toned down her methods since Fresh Start began. She rarely attends public meetings these days, preferring to work one on one with clients. "I think I'm doing something far more important than abusing politicians, as much as I love doing that," she said. The new focus has led to several awards for Prather in the past few years, including a humanitarian honor from the Board of Supervisors this year.

Clients and volunteers say Prather knows how to help the homeless.  
"Susan's the wild lady," said Gil Shepard, a family and marriage counselor who volunteers at Fresh Start. "Susan will go all out to help clients."

Copyright (c) 2004 Contra Costa Times.

            Fresh Start Walnut Creek

Susan Prather is widely recognized for her meaningful contributions to the quality of life in Contra Costa County by virtue of her endless support for the personal and social growth of others, especially the homeless, the elderly, and those unable to obtain health services.

Since 1999, Susan has been the Executive Director of Fresh Start, an organization that serves those among the working poor and homeless and those at risk of homelessness.  This unique organization was facilitated by the City of Walnut Creek until mid-2002, which is when Fresh Start became a private non-profit.  Fresh Start is a highly lauded organization, commenced, developed, and managed by Susan, who is the only paid staff.

Prior to the advent of Fresh Start, Susan, at her own expense, advocated vigorously for the rights of the homeless and others in Contra Costa. The California State Assembly in a 1994 resolution recognized her tireless efforts. In the spring of 2001 Susan received the "For People Who Care" award from the Contra Costa Continuum of Care Board. In Spring 2002 she was presented with the "Women Working for Justice" award by the Contra Costa County Commission for Women. In 2004 Susan received The Honorable Mention in the Contra Costa County Humanitarian of the Year award ceremony, honoring individuals for work performed in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Also in 2004, the Walnut Creek Journal named Susan Prather one of "Six People Who Made Our Lives Better in 2003."

Her contributions have been applauded by ("some of") the Contra Costa county Board of Supervisors, the Walnut Creek City Council, Sheriff Warren Rupf, other elected officials, and numerous community, business and religious groups. Prather and her work have been featured in the Rob Morse column in the San Francisco Examiner and Chronicle and on the "God Talk" program on KGO Radio (Prather is a regular guest on that program and others). She has co-produced and narrated an award winning documentary on homelessness "Homeless not Helpless" which aired on PBS. More important to Susan, it is the people that she serves, the poor and homeless in our community, who support and respect her efforts.

During more than two decades Susan has effectively advocated for the rights of the homeless and others in Contra Costa. In the mid 80's and into early 90's she and former Green Bay Packer, Travis Williams (who wound up homeless in his own hometown) collaborated nationally with well-known national advocate for the homeless Mitch Snyder. (Sadly,. both Snyder and Williams are now deceased.)

In the '80's, with Snyder and others, Prather worked tirelessly in order to get the federal government to allocate more funding for services, shelter and housing for homeless individuals and families. Along with participating in many non-violent demonstrations and marches in Washington, D.C., Prather was a frequent visitor to the offices of the members of the, House of Representatives and the members of the Senate to lobby for federal housing bills. This work was successful to some degree. Funding was allocated but, sadly, that led to the institutionalization of homelessness, which in turn, led to institutionalized and impersonal services. Susan has often testified as an expert witness in litigation involving homeless people and county, state and federal policy and procedure.

At the end of the '80's and into the '90's Prather advocated for better accountability for those agencies who accepted federal, state and county funding. Prather authored two requests for Grand Jury investigations, which led to many changes in "the system" in Contra Costa County. Prather, in conjunction with other national advocates, called for changes in the reporting system and the way in which statistics were gathered and reported in relation to public money spent on homeless individuals and families. As a result of this work, reporting requirements were tightened in some areas, but according to Prather, not nearly enough.

In 1993 and 1994 Susan lead the successful opposition to the dosing of the County Hospital. As a result the beautiful and state of the art Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center is available to serve the poor and homeless residents of Contra Costa.

From 1992 - 1996, Susan operated and personally funded the Advocacy Project, a volunteer effort that provided a toll-free "800" number to homeless people in Contra Costa County. Moreover, she answered this phone and assisted people 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.In the early days of Susan's work with homeless people she worked on the streets of Richmond, Concord, Martinez, and other areas in Contra Costa, Oakland and Berkeley, helping and encouraging homeless people one at a time. She worked during the day "at a regular job" to support herself and worked on the streets at night, at her own expense.

Susan faced and continues to face the obstacles of indifference, lack of understanding, misinformation, ignorance and bigotry. Moreover, she continues to battle discrimination against her clients simply because they are clients or former clients of Fresh Start (which indicates to some that the individuals are, or were, poor and/or homeless and therefore "not deserving" of opportunities granted to others). She must be credited with enlisting the support, of constituencies presumably averse to assisting the homeless. Susan encounters challenging barriers on every level. She addresses the political issues, advocates before politicians and bureaucrats, tracks complaints and grievances, and works one-on-one with people, that, in most cases many service-providers shun. Susan is willing and able to deal with difficult personal issues engendered by homelessness.

Through her work Susan has advanced women's rights, the rights of older adults and of those who have been or might be denied health care. As a result of her unremitting hard work and unwavering commitment, Susan has succeeded in compiling an impressive record of achievements. This is a record that has raised social consciousness, advanced human rights and restored human dignity.

Susan has advanced women's rights by helping to ameliorate the conditions of homeless families headed by women, individual homeless women, and by vigorously advocating on behalf of battered and abused women. Her advocacy and activism has undoubtedly raised the social consciousness of the community of Contra Costa, as well as that of its political and business leaders.

At her own expense for more than 25 years, and now as Director of Fresh Start, Susan has assisted innumerable people in search of housing, assisted with travel expenses so that people can return to their families, helped people find employment and retain those jobs by always being available to talk with them during vulnerable and frightening times.  She has assisted people in combating evictions.  Susan has collaborated with law enforcement to produce videos on homelessness in order to sensitize the officers to the many problems of homelessness.  Susan’s friend and supporter, well-known actor Edward Asner, narrated a video on the Rights of the Homeless for her, and Mr. Asner now serves on the Honorary Board of Directors of Fresh Start.

In 1997 and 1998, along with the West County Gray Panthers and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, Susan facilitated a successful lawsuit by homeless people versus a West County city.  The plaintiffs won monetary compensation based on improper police conduct.  In 1998 Susan was significantly instrumental in stopping the initial attempt to close Doctor’s Hospital in Pinole.  In 2002 Susan was appointed to the Bishop’s Commission on Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of California.  In 2003 Susan was appointed to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Inmate Welfare Fund Committee, which directs and oversees the expenditure of funds designated for the benefit of the inmates in the Contra Costa County Jails.  Sheriff Warren Rupf made this appointment personally.

Susan Prather’s highly effective advocacy and activism has kept the plight of the poor and homeless in the news.  The individual stories are told and the community has been educated through this process.