Pajaro Valley Shelter Services

The Transitional Housing Program consists of fifteen housing units for homeless families. During their residency, 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. The maximum allowable stay in the Transitional Housing Program is 24 months. In 2009, the Organization began a Long-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. PVSS' Innovative Evidence Based Program - The organization utilizes case management services in a four prong approach: 1) Care of self: (e.g. counseling, self-esteem and empowerment skills); 2) Care of family (e.g. parenting and household management skills); 3) Care of finances (e.g. how to budget, banking skills); and 4) Care of housing (e.g. cleaning and basic maintenance skills to become good tenants). Every family meets with their case manager on a regular basis to evaluate family needs and status of their goals and their savings plans. This intensive case management helps clients to focus on their emotional stability, financial understanding, parenting skills, communication skills, and more. All client families must set at least five self-sufficiency goals and meet at least three of them with the support and assistance of the case management staff. The organization has achieved a 70-85% success rate for families who leave the program, who meet at least 3 out of 5 of their goals, have savings, find stable housing and are self-sufficient.