[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 14, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING ROBERT D. PUETT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 14, 2010

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert D. Puett and 
recognize his contributions to homeless families and adults in Marin 
County, CA. Mr. Puett is retiring after 23 years of service with 
Homeward Bound of Marin.
  Born and raised in San Francisco, Bob earned a degree in sociology at 
San Francisco State University in 1972 and trained as a disaster 
shelter manager for the American Red Cross in 1983.
  In 1987, Bob began working as a counselor in Marin's winter emergency 
shelter program and joined Homeward Bound as a program director the 
following year. He managed shelters for the Red Cross following the 
Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 and the Oakland Hills wildfire in 1991.
  Always an advocate for those in need, Bob stayed involved when 
neighbors of the winter shelter protested its location at the Marin 
County Armory. With authorization from then-Marin County Supervisor Bob 
Roumiguiere, he managed an encampment at the Marin County Civic Center 
from April to October 1992 to demonstrate the need for a year-round 
shelter.
  The program moved several times in the next two years, landing at the 
former Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato in 1994. Bob recalls managing 
the shelter in a large surplus Army tent on a site that flooded 
regularly and, at least once, lost its roof. Eventually the shelter 
moved to the warehouse on the site of today's Homeward Bound 
headquarters.
  Taking advantage of legislation that authorized homeless services on 
decommissioned military bases, Bob helped lead a public education 
campaign to persuade neighbors of the Hamilton base to create a year-
round shelter. I am proud to have worked with Bob, the City of Novato 
and the Navy, which led to the opening of the 80-bed New Beginnings 
Center in 2000 with full community support. It was the first such 
shelter built in the country on a decommissioned military site.
  Bob became deputy director at Homeward Bound in June 2000, continuing 
to build on his desire to offer homeless people not only ``a hot and a 
cot''--a meal and a bed--but an avenue out of homelessness. He oversaw 
development of the Next Key Center, also at Hamilton, which opened in 
November 2008 with 32 studio apartments, new offices for Homeward 
Bound, an expanded kitchen for job training and an event space for 
public rental.
  The Marin County Human Rights Commission honored Bob's commitment and 
contributions to improving opportunities for people in need with its 
Martin Luther King, Jr., Award in 2006.
  At his retirement party, Bob accepted a ``Hair Raising Challenge'' 
and allowed his trademark ponytail to be cut in exchange for a $30,000 
contribution to support shelter and job training programs at Homeward 
Bound
  In retirement, Mr. Puett plans to join Homeward Bound's board of 
directors.
  Madam Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we thank Mr. 
Robert Puett for his many years of service on behalf of the people of 
Marin County. He has worked tirelessly to demonstrate his unwavering 
belief that people can overcome great obstacles to change their lives 
for the better. For this, he deserves our appreciation.

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