New Beginnings Celebrates Anniversary, Garden Unveiling
By Nancy Isles Nation
Marin Independent Journal
Published June 17, 2001

Residents, volunteers and other community members yesterday dedicated a newly built organic garden and celebrated the first anniversary of New Beginnings - the 80-bed Novato homeless shelter and training center that has reversed the cycle of homelessness for about 160 of the 400 who have found respite there.

Alein Rubeck, a resident for six months, said New Beginnings is helping her to get back on her feet after finding herself without a home to go to.

Rubeck, 37, fell into a depression after giving up a baby to adoptive parents a couple of years ago. The pregnancy was troublesome and required several emergency room trips. The hospital bills stacked up, and in her bleak state of mind, she ignored them.

Rubeck has a good job as a tour coordinator but cannot afford housing because her wages have been garnisheed and probably will be for some time.

When Rubeck heard about New Beginnings, she applied to live there.

"It's a place for people in transition," Rubeck said. "I moved in so I can save money."

With the help of the staff at the center, Rubeck is fighting off her depression and building her self-respect.

"There is the stigma of being here but I don't even care," said Rubeck, who hopes to be able to afford to pay rent soon.

The residents can stay for a limited time, usually six months, and the 160 that have moved on to productive lives are the success stories of New Beginnings.

Thanks to community efforts, New Beginnings is a place where residents can live in dignity while preparing to move on. Marin households and businesses contributed $2.5 million to make the homeless shelter at Hamilton Field a reality.

The dormitories are spacious and clean with four beds to a room. Each bed is carefully made. Stuffed animals, special pillows and photographs give the quadrants of the rooms personal touches.

The dorms surround a grassy courtyard with a lounge nearby. Residents have access to a laundry room, computers, counseling and educational programs.

Produce harvested from the 21-row organic garden will be used in the center's Fresh Starts kitchen to provide healthy ingredients for residents' meals as well as for HomePlate Catering, a project of Homeward Bound of Marin, which operates New Beginnings.

"The community has been behind this project for quite a number of years now," said David Ejchorszt, program director. "The concept was to provide a place that shows the community cares."

Camille Scontrino, a Terra Linda resident who volunteers in the New Beginnings kitchen, said she enjoys helping.

"When you have a house and it's winter and it's raining, you think of all those people out there," Scontrino said.

Phil Lesh, former Grateful Dead bassist, whose Unbroken Chain Foundation helped pay for the garden, said there was a need that had to be filled.

"Homelessness is a cancer on the American society," Lesh said.

Resident Lee Williamson, who has been working on the garden, said he has used New Beginnings to get his act together when mental illness has made his life difficult.

"I'm doing something I like - watching things grow - and that helps me to grow," Williamson said. *

Back To Interviews / In The News Index