California accounts for almost half of all homeless individuals in the United States, with more than 181,000 unhoused people in 2023, the last year that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conducted its homeless count.
Moving from the Street to Self-Sufficiency, One Person at a Time
Mountain View, CA – Wei Qun E remembers the day she walked through Mountain View and noticed a homeless person sleeping on the street. It was 2018, and while she was accustomed to unhoused individuals living on the street in larger cities, seeing someone living outside in her hometown moved her in a new way.
Wei began volunteering at Hope's Corner soon after and in 2020, she and a team of volunteers established The United Effort Organization, an all-volunteer non-profit that brings 1-on-1 intensive client and case management support to homeless individuals or those or at risk of homelessness by helping them find affordable housing and apply for public assistance programs and resources. This year they received a new $25,000 grant from the El Camino Healthcare District that will help develop self-sufficiency metrics each client needs and help them move toward that goal.
"Homelessness is a heart-breaking concern in California, complicated by the fact that health problems grow more complex the longer someone is unhoused," said George Ting, M.D., chair of the El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors. "We seek to partner with well-managed organizations with proven track records, and we are hopeful that the one-on-one approach used by The United Effort Organization helps people move permanently from a street to a safer and healthier environment."
California accounts for almost half of all homeless individuals in the United States, with more than 181,000 unhoused people in 2023, the last year that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conducted its homeless count. The same count found 9,903 homeless individuals in Santa Clara County in 2023, a slight drop from the prior year’s survey. Yet homelessness remains an intractable issue in the state.
"One of the keys to reducing homelessness is to help people regain their self-sufficiency," Wei said. "But lifting someone out of homelessness means navigating a highly complex system, which can be especially challenging to someone already in a crisis. We hold their hand and guide them step-by-step with support so that the end result is a permanent solution, a real home, and a job and anything they need to once again succeed on their own."
In four years, The United Effort Organization has lifted up more than 900 clients, helping them apply for public assistance, providing employment support and finding housing. In 2023 it helped 37 people find permanent homes. So far in 2024, the organization has helped 56 people find permanent housing, including 43 of its own clients and 13 individuals working with other agencies. The numbers may seem small but to every individual living in a secure environment it’s a life changing accomplishment.
The United Effort Organization also provides free self-service tools on its website, including an affordable housing database and a benefits eligibility tool available to anyone interested or in need.
"We have accomplished quite a lot, but we have a long, long way to go and we know we can do so much more," Wei said.
The new grant is part of more than $7.8 million awarded by the district in fiscal year 2025 to community organizations that work to improve the health of individuals living, working, or going to school within the district's boundaries.
To learn about The United Effort Organization, help or donate, visit www.TheUnitedEffort.org.
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