Pastor Helping Homeless Transition To Permanent Homes

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A pastor is helping homeless people get on a track to permanent housing.

Bella points out her new home and proudly shows others where she will now live. Her father Angel Martinez says he and his family fell on hard times and became homeless.

"We were staying in motels for like three months," he said.

He had an income, but it was being eaten up by his temporary housing.

"$380 a week gets costly and you feel like you're stuck in a trap because you can't save any money," he said.

Like many who are homeless, he just couldn't get any traction. Thanks to a connection with a new ministry, now he and his family have temporary housing with an action plan to one day get a home of their own.

Pastor Steve Lindner and his wife started Everyone Matters Ministries with the mission to help the homeless through a transition to more permanent housing.

"This program is not a hand out it's a hand up," he said. "In less than a year, 11 months, we've been able to help 51 people 13 families."

The ministry buys recreation vehicles, fifth wheels and pull trailers because they're cheaper than a mobile home and can be moved more easily.

"We provide the trailer for them to live in now the trailer requires insurance and maintenance because these aren't designed to live in 24-7 so we have to charge the tenant $100 a month," he said.

The cost of a trailer park rental space, plus the $100 to the ministry is much less than motel costs. That allows the savings for permanent housing to begin.