Ohana House

“Ohana means family, and family means

nobody gets left behind or forgotten”

Ohana House is an emergency and transitional housing model for adults aged 18 and older, and is open to Plumas and Sierra County residents. Ohana means “family” and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. PCIRC believes this name is appropriate in providing an emergency/transitional home for adults needing such support.

Ohana House provides an on-site 24/7 house manager and mentor and utilizes a comprehensive case management plan with wraparound services to assist youth in achieving their educational goals to graduate high school, navigate college and career plans, and achieve permanent and independent housing. Each participant receives assistance in accessing needed health, mental health and wellness services and assistance with program eligibility and needed paperwork to access social service and financial benefit programs. All program participants are required to take part in weekly life skills classes, budgeting workshops and community service activities to further increase their knowledge and abilities for successful transition. Ohana House residents have the opportunity to participate in a plethora of experiential learning opportunities to help support their journey.

Testimonials

There are not enough words to describe what this house and program has done for me. I have learned a lot and have created room to grow that I didn't know I had. This house is about improvement as well as safety that I have never had in my life. Cathy and everyone that works with her have changed my life and care about me and my progress. I have never had a family that was around and now I feel I have one. I went from nothing to something with this help and now I don't take it as help, I take it as love. Thank you to everyone that has been there for this program and continues to help those in need. -K

The Ohana House is the best opportunity I have had in my life. It would have still taken me longer to get my birth certificate and especially my job. I still wouldn't even have either of those. Right now, I would probably be homeless on drugs in Oroville, so I'm very grateful for everything Cathy gave to offer because not only did she give me a place to stay, she gave me a place to be healthy and live a clean, honest life. I am clean of everything because of her. I would have moved back to Oroville and got right back on. In addition to all this, I came here 120 pounds and now I weight about 150 pounds. - JG

The alcoholism destroyed everything, and it has drawn divisions in my marriage. My family is chemical dependent, and to sit there watching your own children suffer from addiction is heartbreaking. When I intercepted from the court room to the Crisis Center, I didn't know what to expect.

Being held hostage to my own addiction was one of the darkest moments of my life. I was seated with a whole table of council members all there to help me better my life. Being separated from my family felt very threatening at first, but the housing made available helped in the process of removing myself from a situation that wasn't getting any better. I didn't realize at the time that the person at the council table seated across from me would be seated at the same dinner table as me. I think about the conversation that night, and realize how captivating her story was. Cathy Rahmeyer, just an employee at the time, had a visionary idea and was behind the foundation. Cathy, I have to say, is the most impressive individual I've ever met. I can't express my gratitude enough for the help I have received and I'm just one client that has entered the doors of this place called the Ohana House.

Thank you so much for the hope and foundation given to me so that I may be able to build on my recovery. -P

I was evicted from my mom's house. I had nowhere to live, and instead of sleeping in my truck, I went to the Crisis Prevention Center for help. I then talked with Cathy Rahmeyer (thank God) and bless her heart, she put me in a motel to keep me from being homeless. This gave me the opportunity to move forward on getting my life back on track in succeeding with my life, and not feeling lost and hopeless. It was a frightening experience and eventually, I would have relapsed and resorted to alcohol abuse.

Now because of Cathy Rahmeyer, I was allowed to have a positive outcome of getting my life back on track. I now have been approved for social security due to medical conditions. Cathy gave me the opportunity of succeeding by letting me stay at the Ohana house.

I really have no idea what direction my life would be heading, and could have turned for the worst. The house has a lot of positive aspects that help structure a future for success.

The house has a zero tolerance policy, and all residents need to seek employment and attend many of its additional programs. Thank God, Cathy gave me this opportunity to get back on my feet. - LH

"Who are we as human beings if we ignore the suffering of others." - Anonymous

This is a question I think about often when I see homelessness and people suffering from addiction and mental illness. The amount of neglect they receive is upsetting and uncalled for. This is my testimony.

I am Hispanic and the age of twenty-three, in my short life I have experienced what seems to be two lifetimes of suffering and misfortune. As many others, I have been through some rough times that either hindered me from success or prevented me from enjoying certain aspects this life has to offer. I was lucky enough to grow up in a small community which has a lot of support and aid, for example, the Plumas Crisis Intervention Center.

This organization is perfect for people and families to get aid and resources that they may not have access to otherwise. Its mission, as stated; "The mission of Plumas Crisis Intervention and Resource Center is to offer individuals and families the opportunity to live to their own potential, and to be treated with dignity and respect."

This very mission is the foundation that people need to build upon in order to reduce homelessness and the bad stigma of mental illness and addiction. Plumas County alone suffers from an ample amount of substance abuse, and quite frankly, homelessness. This issue may not be as obvious as it is in larger cities simply because of the fact people who are homeless choose not to live in boxes on the sidewalk. In fact, many people live with a friend or relative, but to me this constitutes being homeless, because they often have no choice but to stay there. Rather, it's lack of housing, the strict requirements or simply because someone can't keep their mental illness and addiction under control. One thing is certain: homelessness is prominent in Plumas County and it needs to be stopped. The Ohana House is the perfect place to start and here is why. Click here to see more.