St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County

Many people find themselves facing a housing crisis when financial difficulties make it impossible to meet essential needs like rent, utilities, and food. Our primary goal is to keep people from losing their housing during a crisis, while assisting them with planning to prevent future problems. Experienced, trained volunteer counselors meet with people in their own homes, at their convenience, to remove barriers like lack of transportation, child care, or the inability to take time off from work to seek help. SVDP volunteers listen and assess the situation, identifying the best intervention to stop the crisis and stabilize the household. Immediate aid is often given during the visit, such as groceries; temporary rent help, assistance with utility or other bills; plus information about other resources.

Our volunteers also meet with clients over time to help them create a plan to make sure they can get back on track to maintain their housing. We can help individuals and families develop a network of support so they can enjoy greater stability into the future.

HOT ends chronic homelessness one person at a time. An innovative and collaborative program working to end chronic homelessness in Marin, HOT brings together leadership from community partners to find housing solutions for the most vulnerable homeless people in our community. HOT case managers on the street connect with chronically homeless individuals often suffering from multiple disabilities, medical conditions, addiction and mental health problems. The HOT Team works with people wherever they find them, developing trust, gathering necessary documents, and securing interim housing. Once stabilized, each client is connected with compassionate care and moved toward permanent, supportive housing. From 2017 to 2019, our HOT collaborative reduced chronic homelessness in Marin by 28%

SVDP's Housing Help Desk provides counseling and emergency needs to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Basic items like blankets, clean socks, and toiletries are readily available. The Help Desk also provides limited financial aid for critical needs. Under professional case management supervision, SVDP leverages trained, experienced volunteers to help with critical needs and get back into housing as quickly as possible. Counselors assess barriers to housing and create a personal housing plan, identify program eligibility, look for and locate housing options. Once housing is secured, SVDP may provide move-in expenses and a rental deposit. The Housing Help Desk ends homelessness every year for approximately 56 families and 115 individuals, many of whom are elderly, disabled, or veterans.

In partnership with Marin Superior Court and Legal Aid of Marin, SVDP hosts a monthly Community Court in the Free Dining Room facility after hours. Community Court makes court proceedings accessible to homeless, marginalized people in a familiar atmosphere in an effort to increase participation and reduce penalties for minor offenses. Seeking to reduce the criminalization of homelessness, the court recognized that all too often these are "lifestyle" violations directly related to a lack of housing. Community Court provides relief to an overcrowded court calendar while eliminating warrants and outstanding fines that may be damaging a person's credit, impacting their driver’s license or otherwise making it harder for them to get back on their feet. Community Court aims to convert fines to community service hours, connect participants with social services, medical treatment, rehabilitation programs and job seeking assistance. Reservations are required for participation.