Pajaro Valley Shelter Services

The Emergency Shelter is open 24 hours a day and families may reside in the Shelter for a maximum of three months. The Shelter's current capacity is twenty-eight women and children who are generally referred to PV Shelter Services by other social service agencies, schools, civic and/or religious organizations. There are occasionally density issues, and currently there is no capacity in the shelter for women with older male children (age is limited to twelve years old).

PV Shelter Services is a collaborator with several community agencies to provide coordinated case management support. Shelter residents sign a contract to abide by strict program requirements. Working with their case manager, residents develop written individual life plans to find jobs, housing, immigration assistance, counseling, education, language programs, parenting and budgeting skills and how to access community resources.

Each family is expected to save a substantial portion of their income from any source as well as establish at least five self-sufficiency goals. As a result of this tough love approach, approximately 75% of Shelter families move to stable housing, 70% have savings upon their departure and 65% have met at least three of the five self-sufficiency goals.

Transitional Housing and Long Term Support Housing for Homeless Families

The Transitional Housing Program consists of thirteen housing units for homeless families. The maximum allowable stay in the Transitional Housing Program is 24 months which provides time for families to stabilize and also enables many homeless families to be helped over time.

During their residency in the Transitional Housing Program, previously homeless families receive intensive case management as well as training in areas such as budgeting, job and parenting skills and methods to find and keep stable housing. Similar to the Emergency Shelter Program, there is a tough love strategy in place.

Transitional Housing Program families also sign a contract to abide by strict program requirements. Each family member over the age of 18 develops a written individual life plan with their case manager. Residents are required to set goals and save money. Non-compliance with program requirements can result in termination of the program contract. To date, PV Shelter Services is proud to say that 85-90% of the families in this program find stable housing again and numerous families have even become homeowners.

In 2009, PV Shelter Services began a Longer Term Supportive Housing Program with four housing units. This program provides housing, and support services as needed, to families who are making progress toward stability but need more time to build their resources and skills. Residents in these units are supported with Section 8 funding which permits PV Shelter Services to charge market rent.