Ex-East Ender gives homeless in California a helping hand
A FORMER St. George’s resident is helping thousands of homeless residents in California.Peter Brangman-Burnett has been appointed associate director of the Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Centre (SAEHC) which since its inception in 1970 has assisted more than 10,000 individuals.
The facility is a special place where families are protected, educated and given referrals to access services for continued support.
Mr. Brangman-Burnett attended St. George’s Grammar School under the tutelage or Dulce Roe and Catherine Rideout before leaving to attend school in England.
Before joining SAEHC, he worked as a disaster response specialist with the US Small Business Administration for three years following his retirement from banking in 1999.
“We shelter 700-800 people on a given night in about ten programmes, designed to break the cycle of homelessness, and eventually return the client to mainstream living,” he said of his current position.
“As associate director, I am responsible to the executive director for various components of our programmes and sheltering programme.
“Each day brings new challenges and new additional assignments,” he explained. “In addition to supervising managers and directors, I also do public speaking, fundraising and grant writing.”
Mr. Brangman-Burnett said his greatest challenge was maintaining a keen perspective to create an environment where clients receive the greatest benefit from what he does.
“Yes, it is a mission from God, knowing that but for the grace of God go I,” he said with a chuckle.
The 66 year old is married to Robin Anne Moulds, a certified occupational therapy assistant doing rehabilitative work. He has two children from a previous marriage.
His daughter Cristy lives in Seattle while his son Bruce lives in nearby Vacaville.
In his time off, the former East Ender enjoys gardening, travelling, sailing and music and tries to return to Bermuda every three years to visit family, including his cousins Gary Brangman and Nancy Hooper, who works for the Corporation of St. George’s.
