The We Care men’s homeless shelter endured several hardships in 2025, but the embattled nonprofit is hopeful a new year brings a new outlook.

Last year started poorly for the organization, with the city’s refusal in April to help it secure $270,000 in state grant funds — a move that led to a public spat between Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Amy Bublak. Then there was the loss of executive director Corey Mai, a Swiss army knife of a leader who handled a multitude of tasks at the shelter. Finally, We Care had to close the facility for the month of July due to lack of funding.

“It was definitely of the most stressful times for me, for all of us, at We Care,” said Sandy Singh, president of the nonprofit’s board of directors. It was rough, for sure, but also very frustrating because it didn’t need to be so rough.

“We’ve been pinching pennies for so long and we’ve cut in every way manageable. Is that sustainable over the long haul? No, not really.”

Things have been smoothed somewhat with the return of Mai as executive director — “I’m really glad to be back,” she said — and her first order of business is taking another swing at securing the Permanent Local Housing Authority Funds that were denied last year.

“This time we’re able to apply for $400,000,” said Mai. “I don’t know if we’ll get all of that; it’s based on the number of beds in our shelter (49). But the county has removed the requirement that the city has to contribute $1.”

Mai has already secured $81,033, payable over two years, from the California  Environment, Social, and Governance rapid re-housing program.

“This is a non-shelter grant for individuals experiencing homelessness, or living in conditions not meant for human habitation,” said Mai. “They have to qualify for the lease on their own, and then we will help with expenses for three months, and up to six months in some instances.”

We Care also has also been awarded $172,715 in Community Development Block Grant funds for non-shelter use.

“We’ll be working with La Familia to provide substance abuse counselors for group group classes and individual sessions, as well as for street outreach and education.”

Additionally, through HUD’s Permanent Supportive Housing program, We Care has seven units for homeless and disabled individuals.

“They have to be on Social Security to qualify,” said Mai. “The individual pays 30 percent of the lease and our portion is paid through a grant.”

We Care also has 10 affordable housing units that it received from the city.

Mai praised the community for stepping up last summer with private donations, which included a combined $100,000 from the Stanislaus Community Foundation, United Way, and Kaiser.

But there’s more to be done.

“We really, really need dinner volunteers,” said Mai. “And our winter clothes closet has been really bare this year. We need winter clothes.”

Groups interested in preparing meals for the shelter can use the facility’s 1,638-square-foot commercial kitchen.

“We’d actually prefer that,” said Mai. “I know that changes things for our volunteers, but that would be ideal.”

To volunteer to prepare a meal or to donate clothes, contact Mai at 209-606-9281.

Volunteers are also needed for the annual Point In Time survey of the unhoused, slated for Jan. 29. For more information, visit csocstan.com, email csoc@stancounty.com or call 209-558-2961. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and possess a working smart phone. Also, volunteers must view a brief training video.

Data collected from the survey helps county officials design more effective programs to aid the county’s unhoused population, and evaluate measures already taken to reduce homelessness.