January 2023
A lot of January was spent recovering from the fundraiser and getting ready for the PIT.
The Point in Time Count takes place nationwide every January and seeks to discover how many people were sleeping out on January 25, in order to get an idea of the number of homeless across our county. We ask the three days after the 25th, and take surveys with those who agree to answer a few questions.
For Moab Solutions, that means we carefully try to find and map all the camps in the area and seek out new ones. We visit those camps on the three days of the count, and also visit places like the library, laundromats, and other places people may go to keep warm.
We are waiting for the final numbers and will report them here when they come in. Sadly, there are many people we can't find....those sleeping in sheds on someone's property, in a car on a driveway, and in storage units, although we did find one in that situation.
In other news, we will be moving into our first every office, on the old USU campus, which is now called the Moab Community Resource Center. An office will be helpful now that we have Win on board as our Homeless Outreach Coordinator. We'll post office hours, have a bit of space to store things, and be able to see clients by appointment. We are excited about this new space and hope it helps us be more helpful in assisting others.
A lot of January was spent recovering from the fundraiser and getting ready for the PIT.
The Point in Time Count takes place nationwide every January and seeks to discover how many people were sleeping out on January 25, in order to get an idea of the number of homeless across our county. We ask the three days after the 25th, and take surveys with those who agree to answer a few questions.
For Moab Solutions, that means we carefully try to find and map all the camps in the area and seek out new ones. We visit those camps on the three days of the count, and also visit places like the library, laundromats, and other places people may go to keep warm.
We are waiting for the final numbers and will report them here when they come in. Sadly, there are many people we can't find....those sleeping in sheds on someone's property, in a car on a driveway, and in storage units, although we did find one in that situation.
In other news, we will be moving into our first every office, on the old USU campus, which is now called the Moab Community Resource Center. An office will be helpful now that we have Win on board as our Homeless Outreach Coordinator. We'll post office hours, have a bit of space to store things, and be able to see clients by appointment. We are excited about this new space and hope it helps us be more helpful in assisting others.
December 2022
We held our yearly fundraiser for the Emergency Needs Fund at City Market from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve. This was year 11! It is a massive effort to put together all the volunteers, fill shifts, do the daily bookkeeping, all while taking calls for help, as December is one of our busies months for assists. As hard as it is to make it happen every year, it is a true labor of love. This community is just amazing. They really care about the most marginalized, those with the most need among us. They donated over $13,300 at City Market. Those funds, with private donations and grants will see us through 2023, we hope! Last year we spent just under $34,000 on assists with rent, utilities, food, medicine, transportation, and any need deemed vital and essential to being able to be housed and self-sustaining.
In the meantime, our new Homeless Outreach Coordinator has been doing an amazing job. Win visits all the camps, works with people to make sure they are okay, and together we try to get folks inside, back with family, into treatment, or just safe from the cold by providing warm blankets, and clothing. There can be a lot of drama and negatives when alcohol or drugs are involved, but we keep on trying to direct people to the Recovery Center at Moab Regional Hospital, USARA, MVMC and other resources that can help them, sometimes in concert with what we are able to do.
See out thank you ad to the wonderful volunteers who helped us raise funds:
We held our yearly fundraiser for the Emergency Needs Fund at City Market from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve. This was year 11! It is a massive effort to put together all the volunteers, fill shifts, do the daily bookkeeping, all while taking calls for help, as December is one of our busies months for assists. As hard as it is to make it happen every year, it is a true labor of love. This community is just amazing. They really care about the most marginalized, those with the most need among us. They donated over $13,300 at City Market. Those funds, with private donations and grants will see us through 2023, we hope! Last year we spent just under $34,000 on assists with rent, utilities, food, medicine, transportation, and any need deemed vital and essential to being able to be housed and self-sustaining.
In the meantime, our new Homeless Outreach Coordinator has been doing an amazing job. Win visits all the camps, works with people to make sure they are okay, and together we try to get folks inside, back with family, into treatment, or just safe from the cold by providing warm blankets, and clothing. There can be a lot of drama and negatives when alcohol or drugs are involved, but we keep on trying to direct people to the Recovery Center at Moab Regional Hospital, USARA, MVMC and other resources that can help them, sometimes in concert with what we are able to do.
See out thank you ad to the wonderful volunteers who helped us raise funds:
October and November 2022
November
The best thing that happened to us in November was bringing Win on board. He is our new Homeless Outreach Coordinator and is already, in a few short weeks, making a huge impact with the homeless population. He knows most of the folks living out, and we are working together to map all the camps to enhance our outreach. His calm demeaner and ability to listen has helped him create a great rapport with those with the most need among us. We are thrilled to have him with us, focusing on homeless issues, and easing suffering. See the press release about him below, as well as information about year 11 of our fundraising efforts! Photos below of Win and one of our favorite bell ringers!
Moab Solutions hires a Homeless Outreach Coordinator as Year 11 fundraiser kicks off.
Moab Solutions is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Winford “Win” Bludworth to serve as the lead for street level outreach and case management for those experiencing chronic or situational homelessness. Win has established a great rapport with the homeless and understands, better than most, their situation. He himself experienced homelessness in the past and is thrilled to be able to assist others as they struggle with the challenges that come with living out on the street.
In the few short weeks that Win has been on board as our Homeless Outreach Coordinator, he has made daily rounds of homeless encampments, bringing needed supplies and a kind ear while helping people navigate tricky situations. Working with other staff, Win has helped clean up abandoned camps, and will engage with those experiencing homelessness to enlist their help with cleanups around the region.
The Girl Scouts recently shared the love with Moab Solutions when they donated 10 beautiful fleece blankets they made with materials donated to them. Win has already given out 4 of these warm and cheerful blankets to shivering homeless. They are a lifesaver.
Moab Solutions’ goal is to provide supportive services in order to create an environment that nurtures a person’s desire to make positive changes, such as seeking treatment for substance use disorder, addressing mental or physical health challenges, sending people home to family or other relatives, or finding housing here.
*****************************************************
Our annual fundraiser for the Emergency Needs Fund (ENF) begins its 11th year on Friday, November 25, and will continue until Christmas Eve. We will be at City Market most days, except Sundays.
Every cent donated to the ENF fund goes to alleviating dire needs for those in need across the community. Rent, emergency lodging, utilities, food, medicines, and transportation related needs are some of the things we help with. Moab Solutions has been on call 24/7 since 2012 and most of our wee-hour morning calls are from law enforcement. We are honored to be a resource they can count on as they encounter a myriad of challenging situations.
We work very closely with the Moab Valley Multicultural Center, and answer calls from many area nonprofits, churches, and agencies. Together we work to cobble together responses to needs where services don’t yet exist.
We got a great boost to this year’s fundraiser when 100 Women Who Care Moab, a group of more than 100 women who pool their money 4 times a year and make awards to selected projects. Moab Solutions and Seekhaven were chosen as recipients of their largesse earlier this month with gifts totaling over $10,000. We are most grateful to this group; whose quiet work is transformative. To learn more about them, visit https://www.100womenwhocaremoab.com/.
Moab is an amazing place. No matter our differences, one thing most people can agree on is that those with the least among us are deserving of our help. The generosity of the hard-working people of our community is greatly appreciated during our annual campaign to raise money for the Emergency Needs Fund and throughout the year.
We were honored to receive $6,000 from the 100 Women Who Care Moab. They helped us kick start the fundraiser in a big way. They hold a meeting quarterly and all the members vote on a cause, or causes to support. It's a wonderful and powerful concept that these great woman put into action. Check out the website, address above.
I met with the new Sustainability Director for Moab, Alexi Lamm earlier this month. I hope we can work with her to get folks to understand best practices recycling. Fingers crossed!
October
We did a whole lot of FreeCycling in October and are still trying to figure out how to get the City to understand how important best practices recycling is. I need to get creative on that because after 22 years of trying to promote the benefits, it seems we are taking steps backwards!
Trail work with Sandy Freethey continued at a great pace in October. Every time I go out with Sandy to do trail work, whether in Mill Creek Canyon, Potato Salad Hill, or the in-town Parkway system, I learn something new. She is extremely talented and generous with her time.
Park City Community Church middle schoolers volunteered with us on October 14. We relined a path on the PSH side of the Mill Creek so that folks would have some idea of where to go after the 7 flash floods rearranged things in to an unrecognizable landscape! Photos below.
November
The best thing that happened to us in November was bringing Win on board. He is our new Homeless Outreach Coordinator and is already, in a few short weeks, making a huge impact with the homeless population. He knows most of the folks living out, and we are working together to map all the camps to enhance our outreach. His calm demeaner and ability to listen has helped him create a great rapport with those with the most need among us. We are thrilled to have him with us, focusing on homeless issues, and easing suffering. See the press release about him below, as well as information about year 11 of our fundraising efforts! Photos below of Win and one of our favorite bell ringers!
Moab Solutions hires a Homeless Outreach Coordinator as Year 11 fundraiser kicks off.
Moab Solutions is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Winford “Win” Bludworth to serve as the lead for street level outreach and case management for those experiencing chronic or situational homelessness. Win has established a great rapport with the homeless and understands, better than most, their situation. He himself experienced homelessness in the past and is thrilled to be able to assist others as they struggle with the challenges that come with living out on the street.
In the few short weeks that Win has been on board as our Homeless Outreach Coordinator, he has made daily rounds of homeless encampments, bringing needed supplies and a kind ear while helping people navigate tricky situations. Working with other staff, Win has helped clean up abandoned camps, and will engage with those experiencing homelessness to enlist their help with cleanups around the region.
The Girl Scouts recently shared the love with Moab Solutions when they donated 10 beautiful fleece blankets they made with materials donated to them. Win has already given out 4 of these warm and cheerful blankets to shivering homeless. They are a lifesaver.
Moab Solutions’ goal is to provide supportive services in order to create an environment that nurtures a person’s desire to make positive changes, such as seeking treatment for substance use disorder, addressing mental or physical health challenges, sending people home to family or other relatives, or finding housing here.
*****************************************************
Our annual fundraiser for the Emergency Needs Fund (ENF) begins its 11th year on Friday, November 25, and will continue until Christmas Eve. We will be at City Market most days, except Sundays.
Every cent donated to the ENF fund goes to alleviating dire needs for those in need across the community. Rent, emergency lodging, utilities, food, medicines, and transportation related needs are some of the things we help with. Moab Solutions has been on call 24/7 since 2012 and most of our wee-hour morning calls are from law enforcement. We are honored to be a resource they can count on as they encounter a myriad of challenging situations.
We work very closely with the Moab Valley Multicultural Center, and answer calls from many area nonprofits, churches, and agencies. Together we work to cobble together responses to needs where services don’t yet exist.
We got a great boost to this year’s fundraiser when 100 Women Who Care Moab, a group of more than 100 women who pool their money 4 times a year and make awards to selected projects. Moab Solutions and Seekhaven were chosen as recipients of their largesse earlier this month with gifts totaling over $10,000. We are most grateful to this group; whose quiet work is transformative. To learn more about them, visit https://www.100womenwhocaremoab.com/.
Moab is an amazing place. No matter our differences, one thing most people can agree on is that those with the least among us are deserving of our help. The generosity of the hard-working people of our community is greatly appreciated during our annual campaign to raise money for the Emergency Needs Fund and throughout the year.
We were honored to receive $6,000 from the 100 Women Who Care Moab. They helped us kick start the fundraiser in a big way. They hold a meeting quarterly and all the members vote on a cause, or causes to support. It's a wonderful and powerful concept that these great woman put into action. Check out the website, address above.
I met with the new Sustainability Director for Moab, Alexi Lamm earlier this month. I hope we can work with her to get folks to understand best practices recycling. Fingers crossed!
October
We did a whole lot of FreeCycling in October and are still trying to figure out how to get the City to understand how important best practices recycling is. I need to get creative on that because after 22 years of trying to promote the benefits, it seems we are taking steps backwards!
Trail work with Sandy Freethey continued at a great pace in October. Every time I go out with Sandy to do trail work, whether in Mill Creek Canyon, Potato Salad Hill, or the in-town Parkway system, I learn something new. She is extremely talented and generous with her time.
Park City Community Church middle schoolers volunteered with us on October 14. We relined a path on the PSH side of the Mill Creek so that folks would have some idea of where to go after the 7 flash floods rearranged things in to an unrecognizable landscape! Photos below.
Older information not moved to the archives
We had a mini work party in the canyon on September 1st, 2020. Sandy Freethey, trail worker extraordinaire, met me and Sam to help us maintain a trail and block some user made trails. That tumble is almost as big as Sandy!
Tragic Update on the BSPark.....
Well, despite all of our efforts, including an offer to redo the grading plan by a licensed grading contractor and permaculture expert, the original horrible plans went ahead and it is a huge disaster. Protected trees are being irreparably harmed, and the entire area desecrated. And we ask, FOR WHAT?
I have not been able to go anywhere near that area, nor look at photos. I am heartbroken and very disappointed with the city, for allowing this to take place. Let's not have a repeat!
Well, despite all of our efforts, including an offer to redo the grading plan by a licensed grading contractor and permaculture expert, the original horrible plans went ahead and it is a huge disaster. Protected trees are being irreparably harmed, and the entire area desecrated. And we ask, FOR WHAT?
I have not been able to go anywhere near that area, nor look at photos. I am heartbroken and very disappointed with the city, for allowing this to take place. Let's not have a repeat!
Don't destroy this!
We lost another great one. Dean Nebergall, pictured here with Breezy, passed away on 12/6/19. One of the kindest humans to walk the earth, we send love unending to Dean and to those who love him.
Long time Moab Solutions' volunteer Carol Hoggard - who passed away 7/5/19 -
is seen in the background.