Program expands to shelter 35 homeless families at Arturo Ochoa Migrant Center in Gilroy
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. — Each year, the County of Santa Clara’s Cold Weather Shelter Program (CWSP) provides homeless individual and families with a respite from cold and inclement weather from the Monday after Thanksgiving through March 31, with up to 395 additional beds offered at shelter locations. Beginning Nov. 28, the program will offer 130 shelter beds at the Gilroy Armory and 125 beds at the North County Winter Shelter in Sunnyvale. Additionally, the County has expanded its program this year to offer shelter to 35 homeless families at the Arturo Ochoa Migrant Center in Gilroy.
“Sheltering homeless children, families, and individuals is of critical importance,” said County of Santa Clara Supervisor Mike Wasserman. “We must do all we can to prevent cold weather deaths and remember that every single person who comes to the shelter is somebody’s son or daughter, brother or sister, mother or father and they need our help.”
The Gilroy Armory Shelter and the Sunnyvale Shelter will provide warm beds, two nutritious meals a day, and a hot shower to clients. A variety of supportive services will also be offered, including guidance to help set short-term goals, employment resources, medical care, and referrals to other services. Volunteers provide haircuts and donated toiletries and clothing are available to those who need them.
Both County shelters will be operated on a referral basis, working closely with HomeFirst to identify individuals/families who will be referred to the shelters to have a guaranteed bed throughout the CWSP period. HomeFirst will coordinate referrals for both sites. For individuals seeking shelter at the Gilroy Armory, call 408-489-8781 or for the Sunnyvale Shelter, call 408-854-4670.
“Our clients are so vulnerable this time of year. One of the key things we do to prevent illness and death is to operate the Cold Weather Shelter Program for the County of Santa Clara,” said Andrea K. Urton, HomeFirst Chief Executive Officer of HomeFirst, which operates both County shelter sites, and the Boccardo Reception Center in San Jose. “Shelters save lives and give us a critical opportunity to engage with clients. For many people experiencing homelessness, a shelter stay is the first step on the path to a permanent home.”
The new Ochoa Winter Family Shelter located at Arturo Ochoa Migrant Center in Gilroy will offer shelter to 35 homeless families, and up to 140 additional beds. The center, located on Southside Road, will provide intensive case management services to all the families, enabling them to receive the appropriate assistance they need to make the transition to stable housing. For homeless families seeking shelter in the Gilroy area, they can call St. Joseph’s Family Center for a referral at 408-842-6662, ext. 21.
“The Cold Weather Shelter Program provides shelter to bring homeless adults and families in from the cold,” said Bob Dolci, Housing and Homeless Concerns Coordinator with the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing. “We strive to make additional beds and warming centers available during extreme and inclement weather.”
The Office of Supportive Housing can expand its shelter capacity and open winter shelters early for inclement weather when there is forecasted overnight low of 38 degrees or lower with a probability of rain less than 50 percent; or there is a forecasted overnight low of 42 degrees or lower with a probability of rain of 50 percent or greater.
During declared Inclement Weather Episodes, up to 192 additional beds will be available at other shelter locations in the County, including Bill Wilson Center, City Team Ministries, HomeFirst’s Boccardo Reception Center and the Gilroy Armory, Life Moves’ Georgia Travis House and Montgomery Street Inn, Project WeHOPE and Salvation Army.
SHELTER INFORMATION
Gilroy Winter Shelter
National Guard Armory
8490 Wren Avenue, Gilroy, CA 95020
408-848-8023 (during operating hours only) or 408-489-8781
This shelter will serve adults and families, with beds for up to 130 people. The shelter will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily. Clients must be onsite by 6:00 p.m. for intake. The shelter will provide a warm bed, two nutritious meals, and a hot shower. A variety of supportive services will also be offered, including guidance to help set short-term goals, employment resources, medical care, and referrals to other services. Volunteers provide haircuts and donated toiletries and clothing are available to those who need them. Finally, limited case management services will be provided by St. Joseph’s Family Center.
Ochoa Winter Family Shelter
Arturo Ochoa Migrant Center
Southside Road, Gilroy 95020
408-842-6662, ext. 21
This shelter will serve 35 homeless families who will be sheltered in individual units. St. Joseph’s Family Center will provide intensive case management services to all the families, enabling them to receive the appropriate assistance they need to make the transition to stable housing. Referrals are handled by St. Joseph’s.
North County Winter Shelter
999 Hamlin Court, Sunnyvale
408-854-4670
This shelter will serve adults and families, with beds for up to 125 people. The shelter will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. daily. Clients must be onsite by 5:00 p.m. for intake. The shelter will provide a warm bed, two nutritious meals, and a hot shower. A variety of supportive services will also be offered, including guidance to help set short-term goals, employment resources, medical care, and referrals to other services. Volunteers provide haircuts and donated toiletries and clothing are available to those who need them.
Boccardo Reception Center
2011 Little Orchard, San Jose, 95125
408-510-7502
This shelter serves adults only. All beds that are not in use by regular programs will be made available up to the shelter’s capacity of 250. Clients must be onsite by 3:30 p.m. to join the lottery for bed assignments, and the shelter opens at 4:00 p.m. The shelter provides a warm bed, two nutritious meals, and a hot shower. A variety of supportive services are also be offered, including guidance to help set short-term goals, employment resources, medical care, and referrals to other services. Volunteers provide haircuts and donated toiletries and clothing are available to those who need them.
Rotating Church Shelters
Faith In Action
408-644-0318
The 10 churches in this rotating shelter (in Sunnyvale, Saratoga and Cupertino) provide a supportive shelter environment for 15 homeless men in our community, providing case management with a focus on establishing a stable, self-sufficient lifestyle and moving into permanent housing. These churches rotate monthly from church to church throughout the year and provide a clean and sober living environment. Prospective candidates can apply by contacting the person sited above.
The Village House
408-997-5111
Starting in January 2017, the seven churches in this rotating shelter (starting at Holy Spirit Parish in Almaden Valley) will provide shelter, meals, showers and a safe environment during the evening for 15 medically fragile women who live on the streets of San Jose. These churches will rotate monthly from church to church throughout the year. Another two (2) churches will provide day-time respite for these women. Referrals are made through the Valley Homeless Healthcare Program at the Alexian Homeless Clinic.
St. Francis of Assisi/Most Holy Trinity Churches
408-202-7630
408-439-1667
Starting in January 2017, these two churches in this rotating shelter will provide shelter, meals, showers and a safe environment during the evening for 15 single men who live on the streets of San Jose. These churches will rotate weekly starting at St. Francis of Assisi. Referrals are made through the Valley Homeless Healthcare Program at the Alexian Homeless Clinic.
Winter Faith Collaborative
408-849-9609
Starting January 2017 this network of 14 faith communities in San Jose, Campbell, Milpitas and Cupertino will provide both overnight indoor shelter and overnight safe parking for approximately 200 individuals and families over the winter season. Services will include meals, restrooms and showers. Each community will determine its own nightly capacity (ranging from 10 to 30) depending on what resources are available. Two other communities will provide day-time respite for the guests.
Shelter guests from last winter’s program will have the first priority for placement. New candidates will be referred by two local agencies based on the shelter location. New candidates can apply by contacting the person listed above.
Hotel de Zink
650-853-8672 x 438
The 12 churches in this rotating shelter (in Palo Alto and Menlo Park) provide a supportive shelter environment for 15 homeless men and women, providing case management with a focus on establishing a stable, self-sufficient lifestyle and moving into permanent housing. These churches rotate monthly from church to church throughout the year. Prospective candidates can apply by contacting the person cited above.
For more information on shelter locations and warming centers around Santa Clara County, call the Office of Supportive Housing at (408) 793-0550.