Last November, we unveiled our new strategic vision: To end homelessness for veterans and families throughout Sonoma County. The strategy for accomplishing this vision is:
- The adoption of systemic best-practices and
- The formation of multi-agency collaborations focused on targeted problem solving and measurable results.
So how are we doing? As a key stakeholder in this vision, I want to regularly update you on our progress
Ending Homelessness for Families
North County: We are working with North Sonoma County Services (NSCS) to increase the effectiveness of 11 NSCS transitional homes for families in Healdsburg. Over two years, NSCS will increase its annual placement rates into permanent housing from 10% to 60%. We will share both Rent Right and Work: Ready with NSCS to give their existing programs a boost in effectiveness. Additionally, we will become NSCS’s fiscal agent, which will streamline the agency’s administrative functions and save their organization money in overhead.
Mentor Me: We are working with Mentor Me to recruit 80 mentors for at-risk youth throughout Sonoma County to prevent homelessness for the next generation. Thanks to the Petaluma Community Foundation’s efforts to build effective collaborations to serve at-risk kids, we have formed a partnership with Mentor Me to make sure that every at-risk child in our community has a mentor.
If you aren’t involved with Mentor Me, I encourage you to become involved!
New Family Center: Coupled with existing housing programs for families, we will reopen our Family Center will and increase our capacity to serve families by almost 200% — from 12 beds to 35 beds. Energized by a very generous grant from the Ernest L. and Ruth W. Finley Foundation, the Family Center represents the only emergency shelter for families south of Santa Rosa.
Ending Homelessness for Veterans
We were delighted to learn that the North Bay Veterans Recourse Center (NBVRC) was successful with their application for a large grant (2 million dollars over 3 years) from the Veteran’s Administration to permanently house veterans in Sonoma County. As soon as we heard this news, we reached out to them to see how we could work together around our common vision of ending homelessness for veterans. Turns out that NBVRC has a great deal of resources to help veterans with housing, but they need the actual housing. We have four homes that we are currently using for transitional housing that we can convert into permanent housing for veterans. NBVRC would provide services and help veterans with rental subsidies until they are able to live independently.
Stay tuned for more developments as this planning unfolds!
Reducing Homelessness
West County: The County Community Development Commission (CDC) has contracted with us to help design and locate a shelter and housing program in the Guerneville area. Guerneville has long been a severely underserved area of Sonoma County and is home to hundreds of people struggling in homelessness. Its isolation makes it very difficult to connect people with homeless services elsewhere in Sonoma County.
Thank you for your continued confidence in COTS and your compassion for our homeless friends who are struggling. We could not do our work without your support and caring. While we have a ways to go, we’re beginning to see the fruits of the new way of thinking about how to address homelessness and I’m grateful to count you as a supporter!
Smiles,
