HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County

We are the largest provider of Cold Weather Shelter in Santa Clara County. From the mid October through April, this program provides nights of shelter, meals, essentials, and safety to adults and families.

Provides chronically homeless households with the assistance they need to obtain housing, improve their self-sufficiency, and maintain their housing.

The Street Outreach Program provides targeted outreach to homeless individuals living in the City of San José as well as homeless encampments within the city limits. The program strives to build trust with homeless individuals with the goal of linking them to shelter, medical care, housing, public benefits, and other services. The Outreach program has beds set aside at HomeFirst’s Boccardo Reception Center for individuals interested in more intensive assistance with getting into permanent housing

Currently, Santa Clara County has the highest percentage of unsheltered homeless veterans of any area in the U.S. At the Boccardo Reception Center and the Sobrato Family Living Center, HomeFirst offers the most comprehensive set of services for homeless veterans in the County, including mental health counseling, employment placement, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and support for families of veterans who are at risk of homelessness.

The challenges our clients face range from unemployment and substance abuse to ongoing health issues like PTSD and mental illness. We see veterans of conflicts ranging from the Korean War to deployments of the present day. Although veterans who served in the late Vietnam and post-Vietnam era are at greatest risk of homelessness, veterans returning from the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq often have severe disabilities that are known to be correlated with homelessness.

Provides emergency shelter to veterans at the BRC for periods of up to 90 days, plus a wide variety of supportive services including referrals to permanent or transitional housing.

Provides for up to two years of transitional housing and comprehensive, on-site support services to up to 20 single veterans on the BRC campus.

Provides 10 emergency shelter beds and basic needs assistance for transition age foster youth (ages 18-21) who are unhoused.

The Sobrato House Youth Center is home to three vital programs to serve youth without a safe and stable place to live. Case management, residential, and supportive services are delivered to Transitional Age Youth (TAY) who have aged out of the foster care system and need a safe place to build skills so they can be transitioned into the greater community.
Supportive services at Sobrato House under Emergency Placement for Non-Minor Dependents provides eight emergency placement beds for non-minor dependents between 18 to 21 years old. This is a stabilization center to support youth who are seeking housing and/or a longer term foster placement. This program assists youth in meeting the requirements of extended foster care and offers help with food, transportation, and clothing. Eligibility is determined by the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services.

Provides 24 months of housing in scattered sites within Santa Clara County, case management, and supportive services for youth ages 18 - 24 years who are aging out of the foster care system.

A multi-service transitional housing program for homeless families with children in South Santa Clara County, which includes seasonal housing for migrant farm workers with families.

A multi-service transitional housing program for homeless families with children in the City of Santa Clara.

The Supportive Housing Program (SHP) has eighteen dedicated transitional housing beds at the Boccardo Regional Reception Center for mentally ill homeless adults and older adults referred to HomeFirst by the Department of Mental Health (MHD). SHP provides case management and other support services to enable them to obtain the skills and income needed to move into stable housing and maintain their housing in a way that satisfies health, safety, and quality standards.

A 90-day program for clients with short-term medical issues that provides a warm place to sleep while they recover.

Requirements: Referral for this program comes from Valley Medical, typically the onsite clinic. To learn more, call (409) 510-7543.

HomeFirst’s New Start Program assists clients who demonstrate a strong interest in becoming employed, helping them achieve self-sufficiency and housing stability. New Start provides a shelter stay for up to six months, job training and employment workshops, and supportive services to 30 homeless individuals. Applicants accepted into the program volunteer a minimum of 24 hours a week at the Boccardo Reception Center performing janitorial or kitchen services.

New Start allows clients to sharpen and add skills through their volunteer work experience. They will be trained on their position and will attend workshops that help them become more employable. Workshops cover a variety of topics such as resume building, interview skills, communicating with co-workers, problem solving, and team-building. Clients also have access to an Employment Specialist who will provide an individualized plan of action and one-on-one job coaching.

HomeFirst staff works proactively with the clients to establish a plan to make sure that goals are being met. Clients have the opportunity to gain a positive reference from program staff when their time in the program is over. As they progress through the program, their participation, work ethic, and abilities will be assessed and included in their reference. HomeFirst’s employment program will facilitate interaction with potential employers and actively pursue employers to consider our clients for employment. Clients will also be provided referrals to various agencies and as needed for additional supportive services.

John H. Boccardo Family Living Center (BFLC): with 26 transitional rental units in San Martin
A multi-service transitional housing program for homeless families with children under the age of 18 in South Santa Clara County, which includes seasonal housing for migrant farm workers with families. Families pay a below-market rental rate so they can build financial resources while working to achieve stability and permanent housing.
The bilingual program manager maintains a small pantry of food and household supplies from which residents can "shop” in times of special need. Residents are encouraged to participate in a financial literacy program on budgeting and saving. A computer room, annual backpack and new shoe drive, along with holiday meals and gifts are especially popular.
Sobrato Family Living Center (SFLC): with 50 transitional rental units in Santa Clara
A multi-service transitional housing program for homeless families with children under the age of 18 in the City of Santa Clara. Families pay a below-market rental rate so they can build financial resources while working to achieve stability and permanent housing.
Through HomeFirst Tutor Club at SFLC, students receive weekly homework assistance and are encouraged to participate in our STEM Summer Camp so that they can begin new school year running and on point. Backpack and shoe drives, meals at the holidays, and access to various community resources are available through the bilingual property manager. SFLC families also enjoy fun activities with the 49ers and the Sharks.
Sobrato House Youth Center is a 19,000-square foot facility in downtown San José housing two additional programs serving youth without a safe and stable place to live.
Transitional Housing Placement Plus (THP+):
Provides 24 months of housing in scattered sites within Santa Clara County, case management, and supportive services for youth ages 18 - 24 years who are aging out of the foster care. Some residents have children of their own who are included in case management considerations.
Transitional Housing Placement Plus – Foster Care Program (THP+FC):
Provides non-minor dependents in extended foster care with rental assistance to live independently. The program assists youth with grocery and transportation, helps with budgeting, developing a savings plan, working on specific goals. Those with children of their own are included in case management planning.
Veterans Transitional Housing:
Provides for up to two years of transitional housing and comprehensive, on-site support services to up to 20 single veterans on the BRC campus.
Willow Street Housing:
Provides permanent housing with case management and activity coordination to 35 veterans who have been chronically homeless. The property on the grounds of the VA center in Menlo Park is a beautiful and inviting home base for those who served our Country.