1). How long has there been an Emergency Winter Shelter in Santa Clarita?
2). Are there really homeless people here in Santa Clarita?
3). How many people use the Shelter?
4). What services do the Shelter provide?
5). Who runs the Shelter?
6). How is the Shelter funded?
7). What is the level of community support for the Shelter?
8). What are the plans for the Shelter's future?
9). What can Shelter supporters do to help?
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1). How long has there been an Emergency Winter Shelter in Santa Clarita?

The 2006-2007 season is the tenth winter the Santa Clarita Community Development Corporation (SCCDC) has operated an emergency winter shelter (EWS). The Santa Clarita Shelter first opened on December 1, 1997, and served area clients through April 30, 1998. Since then, the Shelter has been open between December 1-March 15 of each year (with occasional late openings due to issues with the approval of the selected sites). For the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons, the Shelter was housed in temporary structures set up in a corner of the parking lot at the Metrolink station off Via Princessa in Canyon Country. In 2004-2005, 2005-2006 and this season, the EWS was located at 21190 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita 91350, in the Centre Pointe industrial park a couple blocks west of the Sports Complex and Golden Valley Road.

2). Are there really homeless people here in Santa Clarita?

Yes, as detailed in the report submitted in 2002 by the Homeless Advisory Task Force. Many live in cars, or in the Santa Clara River bed. Sheriff's Department deputies attempted to count the homeless population back in the mid-1990s, and found between 75 and 150 homeless people in the Santa Clarita Valley. Since then, the overall population of the SCV has increased by some 35%. Each winter the Shelter has been open, attendance has been steady, with the shelter filled to capacity on cold and rainy nights.

3). How many people use the Shelter?

In winter 2003-2004, the Shelter served 133 different individual clients, some staying only a night or two, with others staying through much of the winter. In addition to the individuals, the Shelter served 16 families comprised of 28 adults and 24 children via its Family Aid Program. Families were temporarily housed at a local motel (per contract with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), children under 18 are not permitted to stay at the Shelter itself). The number of clients served in subsequent seasons has continued to rise.

4). What services do the Shelter provide?

The Shelter provides people a place to take a shower; have a hot, nutritious dinner (as well as breakfast and a "to-go" sack lunch the next morning), sleep (a cot, pillow and blanket are assigned to each client); do laundry or get clean used clothing; obtain counseling; look for a job (job board and referrals); and get basic medical care (referrals and transportation). Clients check in from 6-10 p.m. (later is okay with proof of after-hours work) and must check out by 8 a.m. Clients are required to obey posted rules, which include zero tolerance for alcohol, drugs, weapons, and violence; smoking only in a designated area; helping with chores and clean-up as requested by staff; and abiding by the call for lights out at 10 p.m.

5). Who runs the Shelter?

The Shelter is operated by the Santa Clarita Community Development Corporation, a California non-profit corporation. The group incorporated on April 30, 1996, and was granted tax-exempt status by the IRS on March 18, 1997. The directors and officers of SCCDC are all volunteers; none receives any monetary compensation. Tim Davis, SCCDC President, is a retired USAF lieutenant colonel and a former President and General Manager of several Defense Electronics companies. Mark Young, SCCDC Vice President, is a partner in the law firm of Sievert, Young & Donahoe LLP. While the Shelter is in operation, SCCDC employs four to six part-time paid employees to staff the Shelter, provide overnight hosting Sunday through Thursday, and augment security. During the winter, the SCCDC also administers the Shelter's Family Aid Program, which pays for emergency temporary housing for local families, and helps the parents to secure employment and independent housing.

6). How is the Shelter funded?

The SCCDC funds Shelter operations with a combination of grants from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), Yahoo Employee Foundation (YEF) and CAM Johnson, as well as proceeds of SCCDC fundraisers (such as an annual golf tournament in October), plus private donations from civic organizations, schools, churches, businesses and caring individuals throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

7). What is the level of community support for the Shelter?

Many of the same individuals and groups who donate cash, food, clothing and/or supplies also volunteer their time helping out at the Shelter, often in regular rotation as overnight hosts, food servers and safety patrollers. Developed over seven consecutive seasons, the Shelter's volunteer base of more than 2,000 individuals represents nearly 40 SCV religious organizations (including Lutheran Social Services) and congregations, civic organizations, schools, service clubs, and businesses. Without the community's support, the Shelter would not exist.

8). What are the plans for the Shelter's future?

The SCCDC is dedicated to fostering and sponsoring the creation and operation of additional community services to aid people in need in the Santa Clarita Valley. Toward that end, the organization's Board of Directors, in conjunction with the County of Los Angeles and City of Santa Clarita, are now pursuing a permanent location for the emergency winter shelter, as well as ways to provide transitional housing and gradually expand SCCDC programs and services.

9). What can Shelter supporters do to help?

Many donation and volunteer opportunities are available. The SCCDC invites supporters to contribute time, goods, services, dollars. Write the SCCDC at 24901 Orchard Village Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355, call the Shelter Hotline at 661-312-5845, or email Tim Davis at tadavis@earthlink.net. Monetary contributions are fully tax-deductible (federal and California); major credit cards are accepted.

The SCCDC is actively recruiting additional board members with specific professional expertise. The organization will apply those skills in efforts to secure a new location for expanded service offerings. Call SCCDC Vice President Mark Young at 818-461-3400, ext. 3, to find out the time and location of the next SCCDC Board of Directors meeting.

Thank you for your interest!