Stanislaus Homeless Advocacy and Resource Enterprise
Homelessness is a multi-faceted issue that consistently ranks at the top of everyone’s list of challenges. In Stanislaus County, there are several local nonprofits that are trying to support homeless individuals above and beyond finding shelter. Stanislaus Homeless Advocacy and Resource Enterprise, also known as SHARE, is one of those organizations. Their innovative approach and “whatever it takes” philosophy is shifting how we view the unhoused community and the ways in which we address homelessness.
SHARE was founded by Frank Ploof and Steven Finch, who met in 2019 at a showing of a documentary on homelessness. The two connected on social media after meeting and quickly realized that perhaps a new approach to solving homelessness in our community was needed. After working together informally for some time, they knew they needed to make things official in order to more forward. It was in Spring of 2020 that SHARE became a certified nonprofit organization.
Steve’s experience with the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program inspired SHARE’s innovative approach to unhoused individuals – that a group of highly trained advocates can effectively address their needs in ways that other government and nonprofit organizations cannot. Because SHARE advocates are not constrained by a particular discipline (i.e. behavioral health), they see themselves as free agents. They’re able to meet unhoused people where they’re at and help with securing temporary housing, navigating complex healthcare systems, and supplying people with basic necessities – no matter the time or day.
SHARE recognizes that every individual is unique and has varying challenges that complicate their circumstances, and that these individuals will need significant support – oftentimes for several months or even years. With more and more people experiencing homelessness, they know this work cannot be done alone. They have partnered with various other agencies to ensure unhoused individuals are connected to services, including the Modesto Police Department’s Community Health and Assistance Team (CHAT), Downtown Streets Team (DST), Turning Point, and Stanislaus County CARE.
Over the past two years, Stanislaus Community Foundation has granted more than $100,000 from the Housing Solutions Fund to support the vital work of the SHARE team. Steve, Frank, and the rest of the SHARE team are doing incredible work in our community to address homelessness. In 2023, they served over 400 clients – more than double the amount they served in the previous two years combined. The services they provide to the unhoused people in our community are critical and sorely needed. Stanislaus Community Foundation is honored to support SHARE and its unconventional approach to caring for one of our most vulnerable populations. To learn more about SHARE, visit their Facebook page by searching Stanislaus Homeless Advocacy and Resource Enterprise or call 209.993.4984.
To read more about SHARE and their work, check out this Valley Citizen article.