The New Face of Homelessness: James, Tiffany and Leandra
Collaboration to End Homelessness
Our Vision
In collaboration with strong community partners, our vision is to build a Community Services Center in south San Luis Obispo County that will offer a full range of resources to empower low income and homeless families, children and individuals to build self-esteem through acquiring the education, job training, food and medical services they need to become self-sufficient and productive community members.
The Challenge: the New Face of Homelessness…
There are 3,774 people in San Luis Obispo County without permanent housing—49% are children! The number of local homeless children has more than doubled in the past four years. Over 50% of the county’s 1,847 homeless children are 10 years old or younger. James, Tiffany and 3-year old Leandra are the new face of homelessness. Job loss, foreclosure and bankruptcy a year ago have left this small family without a home. The number of families becoming homeless has dramatically increased in recent years, in large part due to the economic crisis.
The Solution…
Ending homelessness involvesmaking sure people are healthy, well-nourished, and adequately prepared to find jobs. At the South County Community Services Center our 20,000 square-foot one-stop facility will include: job training and education classrooms, state of the art computer and career assistance lab, health clinic, daily meals, groceries, support to acquire housing, shower and laundry facilities, children’s center and playground, commercial kitchen, and support agency offices.
A Collaborative Effort…
Recently, the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation received a $1.5 million bequest to address homelessness in the South County. After a lengthy process, the Foundation selected the 5Cities Homeless Coalition as the lead organization. The Coalition is bringing together strong community partners in the South County to collaborate on this important Community Services Center project.
Resources
- San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation as stewards of the Klaproad Family bequest
- The 5Cities Homeless Coalition is working with partner organizations to establish job training/education programs in commercial kitchen food handling and culinary arts, warehouse operations, nonprofit leadership, office operations, and truck driving
- Cuesta College is working with the 5Cities Homeless Coalition to offer career/vocational training, teach job search and life skill classes, offer core curriculum classes, and Nursing School student intern programs
- SAFE (Services Affirming Family Empowerment) bilingual, bicultural family advocates will provide parenting education, translation services, connection with community resources, and case management
Support
- Community Health Centers will provide primary and ancillary health care services
- Mental health, substance abuse, and psychiatric counseling will be available.
- Healthy Living classes, plus school and community immunizations will also be offered.
- Veterans’ benefits assistance will be offered as almost 1 in 5 of the homeless in our county is a Veteran.
- Housing assistance for both interim and permanent housing solutions will be available.
Hope
- Altrusa International will offer literacy programs, a magazine and bookmobile, and after school tutoring programs
- South County People’s Kitchen will provide nutritious noon-time meals served by volunteers from 19 South County churches, the Santa Maria Rescue Mission and Arroyo Grande Hospital 365 days a year
- High school and college students will offer mentoring/tutoring programs
- We Hope You will commit one hour to be interviewed for confidential feedback to the Coalition Board on your personal opinions and perspectives on issues important to the success of the proposed South County Community Services Center project.
Funding…
- Our estimates indicate that $6.5 Million will be required for acquisition of a site, construction of the South County Community Services Center, and operation of the facility for 4 years.
- Service providers will each pay for their own employee salaries and benefits.
- The good news is that with the anticipated Klaproad Family bequest and in kind contributions, the additional funding support needed would be $5 Million.
- We Hope you will Support this important and much needed center for community Resources.
