Hayward Downtown Streets Team
Chad Bojorquez is the Project Director for the Hayward Downtown Streets Team. Mr. Bojorquez will discuss the Downtown Streets Team (DST) program, which was founded in 2005 in Palo Alto by the downtown Business Improvement District. The successful program has since expanded to seven Bay Area cities, and recently launched in Hayward in June, 2016.
The Downtown Streets Team "Work First" model has won awards locally and nationally for its unique approach to tackling the issue of homelessness on a local level. Since 2009 Downtown Streets Team has found permanent housing for 552 of its Team Members and placed another 475 into jobs of over 90 days. In addition to massive savings to local government, the model provides added benefits to local businesses and the environment.
Photo: Hayward Downtown Streets Team members meet every Tuesday, 12:30 at Hayward Area Historical Society. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend and support their team-building success.
The mission of DST is to end homelessness through the dignity of work. Team Members participate in a volunteer work experience program that provides great value to partnered non-profits, local governments, corporate sponsors, environmental groups and the greater community. In exchange, Team Members earn food/basic needs assistance, housing search assistance, housing/shelter placement, case management, transportation assistance, Job Search Skills classes, employment placement, and more; all while rebuilding their dignity and rejoining society.
CHAD BOJORQUEZ BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Bojorquez oversees program operations and employment services for Team Members (unhoused clients) in the Downtown Streets Team program. Prior to his current role at Downtown Streets Team, Mr. Bojorquez worked as a Case Manager at a Bay Area nonprofit where he worked directly with clients in two housing programs. He attended the University of Southern California, majoring in Film and Creative Writing, and continued his education at San Jose State University where he studied Creative Writing. He has been with Downtown Streets Team for three years. Mr. Bojorquez is a graduate of Community Leadership San Jose (a program of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce) and American Leadership Forum – Silicon Valley, an Bank of America Local Hero. He has been recognized in for his personal and professional achievements throughout the Bay Area as a Junior League of San Jose Crystal Bowl winner, a Golden State Warriors Community Champion and a San Francisco 49er Community Quarterback. Most importantly, he is a husband and father of three.