CHOA was part of the Arcadia Interfaith Action Group’s National Day of Prayer event. |
Mayor Resignation, Housing, and Prayer – May 2026
Friend of CHOA,
We know it is a difficult time in Arcadia, with our mayor resigning, pleading guilty of illegally being an agent for a foreign county. That is no small matter. This affects us all. You recall, our mayor was with us in our CHOA gathering last month! It is hard to see Arcadia being nationally and internationally known just for this situation.
CHOA will continue to navigate housing in Arcadia, make connections in the city with elected officials and city staff and churches, and build trust. We continue to see affordable housing being approved and built in Arcadia, as well try to find ways to connect people who are unhoused in our city with services and housing. This effort must keep going.
And of course, our reaction to the development of our mayor resigning, and working on housing in Arcadia, is to pray.
Here’s what is in this newsletter:
- City is going with HERO, a new Case Management organization: After years of contracting with LACADA, the City of Arcadia decided to go with HERO, starting in July, for case management when connecting to people who are unhoused in our city. CHOA provides a bit of details that we have learned, see below.
- Recap of the National Day of Prayer:. The Arcadia Interfaith Action Group had a gathering of people of 7 different faiths at their prayer gathering on National Day of Prayer earlier this month. See the picture above, and read more details below.
Peace,
–Mike Veerman
CHOA Team Lead
City of Arcadia is going with HERO for case management
The City has decided to go with HERO as the case management organization for people that are unhoused in Arcadia. (HERO stands for Housing Empowerment Recovery and Outreach). The City contracted with LACADA for years. HERO is a new organization.
CHOA has learned that key people that are on the HERO team were previously with LACADA. One of them was Matthew Brennen, who spoke at the CHOA Sharing Gathering last year. Another key member of the HERO team is Joshua Heinzman, who spoke at the Homelessness Symposium right here in Arcadia in February 2024.
CHOA is watching the changes. The change will require us to change many of the links and fliers we have in regards to Case Management, in our Resources web pages, see the link below. HERO starts in July, and CHOA takes July off, so you will see the changes on the CHOA website starting in August.
https://choaarcadia.org/
CHOA will hope to provide you all business cards for HERO and fliers, definitely by the October Sharing Gathering. This way you know who to contact when you are approached by a person that is unhoused, so you know how to get them connected to services and case management.
The faith leaders together at the close for the AIAG National Day of Prayer event.
CHOA part of the AIAG’s National Day of Prayer event
CHOA was one of the many participants at AIAG’s (Arcadia Interfaith Action Group) National Day of Prayer, in early May. The group is represented by 7 faiths: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Baha’i. CHOA and Foothill Unity Center also join in. The event was in Temple City this time, hosted by Rabbi Ira Rosenfeld and Temple Beth David.
The theme was “Peace begins with you”, and each participant offered a song of prayer in their faith tradition. Wendy McGrail (who is Catholic) on the CHOA team, sang with Father Kevin Rettig from Holy Angels the Prayer of Saint Francis Assisi, see the picture on the right. We also picture leaders from the Sikh tradition signing with their instruments, see the picture on the right. The largest group was the Buddhist choir, see the picture below. The talented Licata brothers of the Baha’i faith led the gathering in a few songs, and were joined by Rabbi Ira on the drums and the Jewish cantor, see the last picture below.
In this time of divisiveness (and violence towards people of different faiths), it was refreshing to come together, embrace our differences, sing and pray. We all had a good time appreciating each other, and listening to each other. In doing so, we find peace.
Rabbi Ira welcoming everyone.
Wendy McGrail from the CHOA team, and Father Kevin from Holy Angels, signing the Prayer of St. Francis.
Leaders for the Sikh tradition singing and playing their instruments.
Hindi and Sikh leaders sign together.
The Buddhist choir singing, with Ven. Hui Ze leading.
The Licata brothers of the Baha’i faith, Rabbi Ira on the drums, and the Jewish cantor singing together.