Slide 1

Winter Nights Rotating Shelter for Homeless Families - A Project of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County Slide 2 Warm Winter Nights at Temple Isaiah, Lafayette Slide 3 Mission of the Interfaith Council The specific purposes for which this corporation is formed are to be a visible organization of faith groups who coordinate and empower work on behalf of the religious community for health and well-being of the larger community including chaplaincies, support of social justice, and respect for diversity through dialogue, worship and understanding. 1998 The specific purposes for which this corporation is formed are to be a visible organization of faith groups who coordinate and empower work on behalf of the religious community for health and well-being of the larger community including chaplaincies, support of social justice, and respect for diversity through dialogue, worship and understanding. 1998 Slide 4 Winter Nights Goals: Provide safe shelter and 3 meals/day to homeless families with children Provide safe shelter and 3 meals/day to homeless families with children Keep homeless families together Keep homeless families together Keep school-age children in school and achieving at grade level or above Keep school-age children in school and achieving at grade level or above Help families acquire sustainable housing Help families acquire sustainable housing Provide transportation to schools, jobs and daytime shelter for parents and children Provide transportation to schools, jobs and daytime shelter for parents and children Slide 5 Interfaith Council Member Congregations Contribute Space, Meals, Tutoring, Weekend Activities, Childcare, etc. Slide 6 Dinner at Lafayette United Methodist Church The hosting congregation provides three meals a day, including a bag lunch Slide 7 Nutritious Meals Three healthy meals per day Three healthy meals per day Congregations partner to provide, prepare & serve meals Congregations partner to provide, prepare & serve meals Slide 8 Winter Nights Programs: Traveling Tutors Team Traveling Tutors Team Reading Achievement Program Reading Achievement Program Financial Agreement and Counseling Financial Agreement and Counseling Homeless Court Homeless Court Volunteer Social Worker Volunteer Social Worker Daytime Shelter if Needed Daytime Shelter if Needed Transportation Winter Nights Van Transportation Winter Nights Van Slide 9 Reading Achievement Program Parents encouraged to read to preschool children All children encouraged to read or be read to for twenty minutes/day Reading rewards program including movie tickets - for all children Slide 10 Winter Nights People Served: Target population: homeless families with children in Contra Costa & Alameda Counties Target population: homeless families with children in Contra Costa & Alameda Counties Homeless Hotline calls and referrals are screened by volunteer social worker. Homeless Hotline calls and referrals are screened by volunteer social worker. Families must have a source of income Families must have a source of income Single fathers & mothers, as well as couples with boys and girls from birth to age 21 Single fathers & mothers, as well as couples with boys and girls from birth to age 21 No religious requirements No religious requirements No alcohol or drugs allowed; rules must be followed or leave the shelter No alcohol or drugs allowed; rules must be followed or leave the shelter Slide 11 The Majority of Winter Nights Guests are Children Daytime shelter offered at St. Vincent de Paul Oasis in Pittsburg Winter Nights Van available for transport to work, school and Oasis Slide 12 Winter Nights Achievements 2004 - 2014 In the past ten years of its existence, Winter Nights has sheltered and fed over 270 families (850+ persons) In the past ten years of its existence, Winter Nights has sheltered and fed over 270 families (850+ persons) More than 160 families found sustainable housing through Winter Nights More than 160 families found sustainable housing through Winter Nights With few exceptions, all school-age children have stayed in school and at grade level, some achieving scholastically and in sports With few exceptions, all school-age children have stayed in school and at grade level, some achieving scholastically and in sports Over three-thousand volunteers benefit by participating each year Over three-thousand volunteers benefit by participating each year Slide 13 Thousands of Volunteers Contribute Time, Money & Food Slide 14 Moving Day Every Two Weeks Slide 15 Concerns About the Future There is not enough affordable housing for families in Contra Costa County. There is not enough affordable housing for families in Contra Costa County. In January 2013, 3,798 individuals were homeless and there were only 1,925 beds available for all homeless individuals In January 2013, 3,798 individuals were homeless and there were only 1,925 beds available for all homeless individuals Between October 2014 & February, 2015, 71families 264 individuals applied to Winter Nights; shelter capacity is 30 people Between October 2014 & February, 2015, 71families 264 individuals applied to Winter Nights; shelter capacity is 30 people Slide 16 How You Can Help Educate yourself & others about Homelessness in Contra Costa County: http://cchealth.org/homeless Educate yourself & others about Homelessness in Contra Costa County: http://cchealth.org/homelesshttp://cchealth.org/homeless Support affordable housing in your community Support affordable housing in your community Contribute/Volunteer with Winter Nights Contribute/Volunteer with Winter Nights Slide 17 The End Winter Nights www.cccwinternights.org Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County www.interfaithcouncilccc.org