Share the Spirit: Goodness Village helps the formerly homeless rebuild their lives

""Goodness Village grew from a desire to create a program that treats neighbors as people first, rather than problems to manage," said executive director Kim Curtis. "While I did not personally experience homelessness, I have long worked with people who have faced the same challenges our neighbors experience today, and I saw a need for a truly low-barrier, supportive community in the Tri-Valley."

"The program serves people who have experienced chronic homelessness, severe mental health conditions, substance use disorders or prolonged housing instability. "We have supported around 50 neighbors over the past four years in stabilizing their lives, building community connections, and pursuing employment or other personal goals. A full-time case manager works individually with each resident to develop care plans and connect them to services and a three-tier vocational program that helps residents build skills and transition toward employment."

"He had gotten divorced about six years earlier and had had no recent contact with his former wife and their four daughters. Things began to unravel in May 2003 when he decided to become an independent broker and sought medical insurance. He disclosed that he was a diabetic - a pre-existing condition that made coverage difficult and expensive to attain. So he decided to forego health insurance."

Goodness Village is a nonprofit supportive housing community founded in June 2021 on CrossWinds Church grounds in Livermore. The community houses 28 residents aged 30 to 81 who have experienced chronic homelessness, severe mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or prolonged housing instability. The program delivers individualized care through a full-time case manager, connections to services, and a three-tier vocational program to build skills and move residents toward employment. The program emphasizes a low-barrier, people-first approach and has supported around 50 neighbors over four years in stabilizing lives. Resident Darryl Thomas is rebuilding stability after health-related and insurance challenges.

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