WINTER NIGHTS ROTATING FAMILY SHELTER

A Project of the Social Justice Alliance of the
Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County

The Winter Nights Program provides a clean, safe, and warm facility at night and a daytime services center during winter for homeless families with children and for homeless seniors.  The program will serve up to 30 persons at any given time.  Congregations throughout central and east Contra Costa provide space, meals, and volunteers.  Bedding will be provided, and professional staff will supervise the shelter 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  If your congregation would like to participate, please contact the office of the Interfaith Council at (925)933-6030.

Kraft Cares Donates

Kraft Care Donates $5000

Denise O'Mara from Kraft Cares presents a $5000 check to the Winter Nights Shelter.

Winter Nights Shelter last year provided:

  • A warm, safe place to sleep for 71 family members--majority children-- from mid-October, 2009, through April 26, 2010
  • Transportation to school each day for the children
  • Daytime “Oasis” (service center) for the parents to job search, access services, find low-income housing, shower, wash clothes
  • Case management by pro bono Social Worker
  • Bus and BART tickets for parents to get to work
  • Meals, tutoring and mentoring by volunteers at 26 host congregations
  • Opportunities for appearing in the Homeless Court to expunge records
  • Program monitoring and quality assurance
  • Professional staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Health care, screening, inoculations through Healthcare for the Homeless
  • A website with information
  • A budget of $126,504.00:  1/3 from foundations; 2/3 from individuals and faith congregations in Contra Costa County
  • At the end families were provided assistance by CalWORKS, BOSS, Hope Conference, and other programs, as they awaited longer-term housing with Shelter Inc and other housing providers.

Our goals this year will be to meet, and hopefully surpass, last year’s accomplishments

This Year’s Improvements:

  • Tent for each family
  • Traveling Tutors
  • Head Start at the Oasis
  • Full-time Case Management