The Yolo Wayfarer Center is commonly referred to as 'the homeless shelter.' That is one thing that they do- serve as an emergency shelter for the homeless. But they do a lot more than that.

The picture above is the new building of the Wayfarer Center. This is the building that some 'Friends of Historic Downtown' went to court to block. I guess they think that having services that treat homeless people is a bad thing. Some people believe that if we stop offering services to the homeless, they will just go somewhere else. That is not the case- most homeless stay in the same community for many many years. If we don't provide services these people will never get the treatment they need to overcome the problems that caused them to be homeless in the first place.

The Wayfarer Center offers 3 main services:

• Emergency Shelter (open during cold months)
• Residential Treatment (drug rehab)
• Transitional Living (for homeless families/individuals to get back on their feet)

They have a $1.1 million yearly budget to provide these services. In addition to the two buildings on 4th Street, they have 9 apartments, 1 women's house with 5 bedrooms and 4 three bedroom duplexes. Those facilities are used for the transitional living program.

The center has been in existence for 20 years as of March 2005. It was originally started as a soup kitchen, feeding the homeless. Eventually it turned into a 'cold weather shelter.' As a cold weather shelter, they could allow 25 people to sleep on the floor of the dining room between November and March. The old building is actually being torn down in April of 2005. In it's place a new building will be built - it will have dormitories and beds for 48 people - no more sleeping on the floor! It will also have a new kitchen, and they are including a restroom outside of the building to keep people out of the bushes.

The pantry in the building is stocked with food. Most of this food comes in from donations. The local supermarkets, warehouses and other businesses contribute much of the food that is eaten at the center.

This is the dining room. They serve meals here, and in the winter they allow 25 people to sleep on the floor.
Which is a lot better than sleeping out on the streets in the rain.

Many of the people who come to the shelter are given a kit containing some essential hygiene items. They also get a knit cap, and a new pair of socks. A shower and toilet are also available.

Juan Cerros
A few of the homeless people hang out in front of the Wayfarer Center- waiting for meals, shower, and a place to sleep. This guy was out in front, so I went to talk to him.

I walked up to him as he sat on a bench and asked if I could talk to him. He gestured for me to sit down, “Sorry about the mess, let me clean it up.” He moved the backpack, shoes, and his notebook off of the bench, making it seem like I was a visitor in his home.

I asked him where he was from. He told me that he was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and moved to California when he was twelve years old. “My father wanted me to get an education,” he said. He went to school in Winters, and moved to Woodland when he was about 29 years old. Juan got a job working for Excel Logistics on Pioneer- he cleaned the warehouse, and moved boxes. His long-term goal was to buy a mini-van. He found a Dodge Caravan for only $1,400. Life was good.

“Those were the best years of my life. I would go to work all day, and when I got home I would paint pictures for an hour and half each day.” He continued talking about the painting with a far-off look of loss in his eyes, “I had my own paints and everything.” He told me that he did two really good paintings - one of Aladdin, and another of a girl in a forest.

After a while, the warehouse he worked at was closed down. He couldn't pay rent and started living in his van. A few months later his van broke down and he began sleeping outside, “Near the train tracks at East and Main.”

"Now nobody will hire me. I don't have an address, or a phone number or anything. Not even Jack in the Box will hire me. But I want a job - I'll take any job."

I asked Juan what he did for fun, “I really like to clean, I like to make things shine.” I told him that no, I didn’t mean what kind of job he wanted; I wanted to know what he did for fun. “Oh for fun? I really like to play Hacky-Sack, I always carry two with me.” He took out a small leather ball from his backpack, it was worn, the red and blue panels had faded with time and use. He looked at me with a hopeful smile, “Do you want to play some Hacky-Sack? I’m pretty good.”

At the Wayfarer Center, I was told that about 80% of the people who come for help are addicted to drugs- and most of them are addicted to crystal meth. Now we all know that drugs are glamorous. ALL the cool kids are doing drugs these days - drinking, smoking pot, whatever. And the really cool kids graduate up the ladder to something like crystal meth- because if you are gonna do drugs, you should do them right! So we should show part of this glamorous life. Due to the magic of time-lapse photography, and the propensity for meth addicts to get arrested, we can see how meth affects people over time. These photos are NOT of people at the Wayfarer Center, they are just here to give you an idea of how cool meth really is. Let's call our first model 'Mercedes.' When Mercedes was arrested for possession by the Vancouver Police Department to take the picture on the left she had a full set of teeth. At this time she may have been using for a while (she got arrested a few times prior to this.) But wow! Look at that transformation- the sunken cheeks, the hair! Of course, she just got arrested for prostitution, so maybe she didn't have time to clean up. Yes girls - drugs are glamorous. 7 Year Itch Some girls actually think meth is a good way to keep their weight down. Well, maybe they'll remember that while turning tricks in the back of a Pinto. People say that beauty is only skin deep. Well not for meth users! They have an outpouring of beauty. You can see the beauty just oozing out of this guy. Meth users start to get a feeling that bugs are under their skin...so they start to scratch, and scratch, and scratch. Damn, I take my dog to the vet when he has fleas, who would want to do this to themselves?!? Yes - these will scar up! Another glamorous part of being a drug user! But it gets better folks- another police department has provided these sweet shots. The guy on the left looks like someone I might find at the golf course. Even with the Glamour-Shot photography, the guy on the right looks like a speed-freak. And it's not just the haircut.     This is 5 years difference! You know, the lady on the left is actually fairly attractive...the one on the right- well she's a god-awful mess. Of course it is the same woman ...after just 5 years on crank. This is the end of my sermon...Kids- you may think that drugs are cool- but take a look at the hideous mess there. She used to think drugs were cool too. Now all she thinks about is drugs...and when she'll get some more.

Drug addiction is a huge problem in our community. Drug addicts go out and do all kinds of things - lie, cheat, steal...they're like a bunch of lawyers without the suits. Because addiction leads to so many other problems, treating addiction is treating the root of many problems. This is very important work.

I toured the rehab facility, and I learned a lot. I can't tell you all of it right now because you probably still have the heebie-jeebies after seeing the pictures of the meth addicts. But I'll hit the highlights-

When someone is checked into the rehab program, they must agree to live by the rules of the facility. Those rules vary depending on which 'stage' of the program the patient is in.

• Stage 1 - Minimum of 14 days. Lockdown- no phone, cannot leave the facility. No visitors- no distractions.
• Stage 2 - Minimum of 16 days. Visitors on weekends okay, if approved.
• Stage 3 - You can request a 3 hour pass to leave on the weekend, but it must be 'therapeutic.'
• Stage 4 - Eligible for 8 hour passes on the weekends

If you don't follow the rules, you can get kicked out. But the biggest problem they have is with 'relationships' between the patients. It seems that when you put a bunch of people in an emotionally charged situation, things start to happen.

Angeles Paz
This is Angeles Paz, he is a 'guest' at the rehab center, meaning he is there because of an addiction. I sat and talked to Angeles for a while. He was a nice guy- energetic and gregarious. When I was in the kitchen, he was clowning around, and was more than happy to get into some pictures. Here's my quick interview:

Where are you from? I was born in Napa, but I've been in Woodland since '84.
What did you do for a living? I was in construction- carpentry, roofing, stuff like that.
Why are you here at the Wayfarer? I'm here for my addictions.
What are you addicted to? Meth and heroin.
How long have you been here? Since January 27th.
How long have you been clean? Since January 27th.
How did you get involved with drugs? I was trying to fit in- I got involved with gangs and drugs and violence.
Was this in Woodland? Yes, in Woodland.
What are your goals? I want to get back into society to be a functioning, productive citizen.
What are the major causes for people to get involved with that stuff? The biggest problem is dysfunctional families- not enough love at home.
Is there anything else you want to say? Wherever your life is at now, don't get involved with that stuff. Drugs and gangs - you'll end up dead or in prison.

When I was there, it was Good Friday. (Or, more importantly for me- it was Cesar Chavez Day- no work) The patients were coloring Easter Eggs, preparing for an Easter Egg hunt. The staff hid plastic eggs in the yard. Inside the eggs were prizes, things like 'an extra hour on a pass.' Or 'free soda.' Things the rest of us take for granted. (When we aren't in basic training.)

The patients were coloring Easter Eggs...then they had to go upstairs while the staff hid the 'special' eggs with prizes.

The egg hunt went over pretty well.

At the end of my tour I had a new understanding of what the Wayfarer Center does. They deal with people that many of us think of as human debris- people whose 'sell-by' date is way past. Most of these people are treatable, whether it means treating an addiction, or a mental illness. You can ignore these people and hope they go away, or you can treat them. The Wayfarer is trying to treat them - and make a real difference.

Find out what's really out there. Be yourself and make a difference.

	From:  Leona Jull - Date: 29-Mar-05
	Well Done! It looks great, I appreciate you taking the time to share us with our community.
	From:  amy jones - Date: 08-Apr-05
	Until I found this article, I was unaware of the everything that our community offers to help others who are in a bad situation. It is good to see that there is help for these people who so desperately need it!!
	From:  Rhonda - Date: 12-Apr-05
	Drugs are bad MMMmmKay
	From:  Tom Reed - Date: 08-May-05
	I have a little saying that fits in quite nicely here. Drugs are for those that can't handle reality, on the reverse side of this is Reality is for those that can't handle drugs. Nobody can handle drugs. Drugs handle everybody that they get into.
	From:  a very sad wife - Date: 29-May-05
	This is a great site. The pictures are amazing. and it sounds like you all are doing a great job, if only we could get meth off the street for good. my husband is an addict and its tore us apart and we only have one way of going right now, APART.
	From:  Mary - Date:
	Well done. I've been enjoying the articles, and I appreciate the way you mix your information with the individual stories and conversations. I've been wondering about the Wayfarer Center, and this was a good introduction. You treated the subject with respect. Thank you.
	From:  Dorene - Date: 12-Oct-05
	Excellent work. Keep doing it, for sure no one is beating down the door to take over the responsibility. Pictures were a dose of needed reality. God bless you all.
	From:  Cass - Date: 09-Nov-05
	Thanks for this reality check. I'm working on a project for college that revolves around documenting and aiding the homeless who have not yet been exposed to the idea of getting better. It's good to know that there are others out there who feel the same as I do.
	From:  Tiffany Waters - Date: 19-Jan-06
	This is a great site... More should view it.
	From:  ellen - Date: 22-Feb-06
	might have a link to the web site if they have one
	From:  Melony - Date: 16-Mar-06
	this is a great site and i think more people should learn about the effects that drugs have on not only the users but the family of the users also
	From:  William & Heather Hull - Date: 20-Mar-06
	Just wanted to stop by and say this sight is great!!! We were both reisdents at Walter's House at different times. The life changing recovery we recieved from this facility was priceless. We are now back on the right track of life. Our son is parented by healthy parents now and is growing beautifully. William is to be the next owner of the family business and I am on my way to recieving three college degrees. Thanks so much for everything! Keep up the good work!
	From:  Kathy R. - Date: 28-Oct-06
	Thank you for this story!! What the staff at Walter's House help do is GOD working threw them. The staff shows people love and truth in a safe enviorment. Being a recovering addict myself I know how important it is to be shown empathy, love and truth and having a save place to work through issues that we as addicts like to run from (emotions and Feelings) mostly.
	From:  marissa - Date: 01-Mar-07
	it was a really good site to look at,well i hope mr. angles paz keeps up the good work.
	From:  wuxiapan - Date: 13-Apr-07
	I am currently homeless and living in my truck in Woodland. If something doesn't "break" soon I might be coming to see you folks. Thanks for all you do.
	From:  Elizabeth Kather - Date: 21-Jun-07
	Hello, I am moving and have some unopened food. Do you take food donations? ekat77@gmail.com
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