House Of Ruach

Programs: In the course of the year, we handed cash to countless homeless persons; purchased bags of food for families and the working poor; supported the efforts of local organizations that feed the homeless by providing cash to stock their portable kitchens; assisted a volunteer program that feeds the homeless in a park by providing cash to purchase food and supplies; provided work clothes for women and men. Each month we helped to stabilize 1 individual (an abused, divorced woman returning to the job market) with no-fee pastoral counseling, emergency shelter, food, rx medications, medical bills, household items, small appliances, gas for her car, clothes for work interviews, career counseling, resume assistance, job searching, etc. As in prior years, we continued to provide sufficient cash for homeless persons to stay overnight in local motels (especially during the winter) and cash to purchase prepared foods. We continued to provide interfaith cash contributions to include 12 prayer shawls for a new religious congregation; full sponsorship of the passover seder and simcha torah celebration at the men's prison in chino; sponsorship of a hannukah program with an outreach to elderly shut-ins; the music program of a costa mesa methodist church; a homeless breakfast-in-the-park program of a bible church in long beach; the music program of a presbyterian church in long beach; the catholic covenant house in los angeles, which helps teen prostitutes get off of the streets; a jewish program at the women's prison in chino; a few chabad programs. We initiated support for the newly-created orange county music and dance center to provide scholarships for needy youth; sponsored two young women's participation in building a house via habitat for humanity; continued to support programs serving elderly asian-americans through the asian american senior center; the perpetuation of the ancient art of chinese brush painting through the association of american chinese brush painters; the wounded warrior program; the uso; and several humane animal programs, among others. We were pleased to participate in a ramadan break-fast at the garden grove islamic center, passover seders at the california institute for women and the men's prison in chino, various church concerts, community sabbaths, a lunar new year celebration, and more. We had 24 volunteers ranging from age 17 to 65, representing a diverse cross-section of the communities we serve. They distribute cash, food, water, and clothes to the homeless persons in their neighborhoods. We have one volunteer-therapist and 5 unpaid board members, who volunteer their time to provide oversight and direction for our organization.

psychodynamic psychotherapy, grief counseling, end-of-life counseling, pastoral counseling, and spiritual direction were provided to individuals, couples, and one teen. In august of 2014, the office/treatment center was relocated to a quieter location, in order to meet the needs of patients for an environment that is conducive to pastoral counseling and psychotherapy; its use was provided gratis. In january 2015, the board authorized a fair-share usage fee,based on the percentage of daily/monthly use of the facilities. In 2016 and 2017, the nonprofit continued to pay its fair share of expenses in its new location. In 2017, the board authorized short-term use of the location as an emergency shelter, and authorized a 100% fair-share usage fee for the days used as an emergency shelter. In december 2015, the board created a new funding initiative that would encourage professionalism in the field of psychology by funding conference attendance, assistance with expenses for speakers at conferences, and assistance with expenses related to supervision/mentoring/therapy for budding therapists. Funding for this new initiative began in fy 2016: funding was provided to conduct a two-day did/complex trauma training seminar for therapists in germany, funds for low-cost supervision and mentoring in the area of did/complex trauma were provided for two therapists, and funds for low-cost therapy to address issues of counter-transference were provided for one therapist. In 2017, funds were provided for one expert therapist to provide mentoring to a therapist-in-training (they conducted treatment for 3 did patients). In 2015, the board authorized the writing and publication of a book tentatively entitled,the search for meaning in life's trauma and losses; all proceeds to further the work of the house of ruach by providing additional revenues for funding initiatives and publishing a book that can help suffering people, whomight not be able to afford therapy. Written in 2016, finding the gems: the search for meaning in life's traumas and losses will be released in january 2017, with marketing funds approved by the board. In 2017, the board authorized involvement and consultation with a nonprofit, calpak education services, which is committed to sponsoring/adopting schools to provide education for girls and women in pakistan. To this end, the executive director serves on their board of directors and conservative funds have been allocated to support travel. Service is provided gratis. In 2017,the board authorized involvement and consultation with an accredited american university, california southern university, seeking to create and develop a trauma institute, which is committed to initiating research, providing therapist training, and curating trauma research. To this end, the executive director serves on their board of directors and conservative funds have been allocated to support travel. Consulting fees were directly to the house of ruach.