I-HELP: Providing shelter and caring community

Cameron, it seems, was a grandmama’s boy.

He was born at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula while his dad was stationed at Fort Ord, and then the family’s commitment to military service took him all over the world. Still, Cameron always stayed connected to his grandmother. When she needed help because of a major illness, he didn’t hesitate to make his way back to Monterey to be there for her.

After she recovered, though, they realized her one-bedroom place wasn’t going to be big enough for both of them. Eventually, Cameron became homeless. But this isn’t a sad story. Cameron discovered I-HELP, the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program. There, he found a temporary roof over his head, food, friends, safety, support, landscaping work, and a way to save money. He hopes to use that money to find permanent housing.

Shelter for those in need

I-HELP is a nonprofit, relying on community support and grants — and Montage Health is one of those supporters, through its Community Benefit program. In 2024, the program partnered with more than 240 organizations like I-HELP that are working to improve the lives and health of Monterey County residents.

I-HELP has been here for people like Cameron for 33 years, working with more than 60 local faith communities and organizations to provide support to individuals experiencing homelessness. Each night, on a rotating basis among 30 of those faith organizations, individuals are provided a safe place to sleep in a shared space, a meal, and support and resources to help them move forward.

“We give them a chance to have a good night’s sleep and a full tummy so, during the day, they can go deal with all the people they need to deal with,” says I-HELP board member Marissa Kobylenski. “We really are a safety net. We don’t ask for their Social Security number or their driver’s license number. We do require that they talk to somebody on staff before they come in because we have to try to make sure they’re ready to do chores, live in a group situation.”

Accessing the program

The first step for those who want to access I-HELP’s services is to call the men’s program at (831) 205-3496 or the women’s program at (831) 393-5154.

“They leave a message, and we call them back,” Kobylenski says. They’re asked a few questions, including whether they can get to Monterey to catch one of two I-HELP buses to that night’s shelter sites. If the caller meets program guidelines, and there is room for that night, they are given the time and place for bus pickup.

“Once you are in the program, we will reserve a [nightly] spot for you until you choose to leave, behavior permitting,” Kobylenski says. “We don’t want to have them on the streets. It can be two days, or it can be more than a year” to get housing.

Serving the community

Montage Health is grateful that I-HELP is there to help bridge that gap in homelessness and has provided the organization with support from the Community Benefit program since 2023, says Michele Melicia Young, director of Montage Health Foundation. In 2024, Community Benefit support for a range of needs totaled $218.4 million countywide.

“We see the benefits across our healthcare system — fewer preventable illnesses, stronger support networks, healthier residents, and a community better equipped to thrive.”

Learn more about Montage Health's Community Benefit program and how you can support.