FOR RELEASE ON OCTOBER 07, 2007
Local Families with Children in Danger of Sleeping on the Streets
Santa Clarita Emergency Winter Shelter Puts Out a Plea to the Community
With three weeks left in the Emergency Winter Shelter Season, the Santa Clarita Shelter, operated by the SCCDC, is in danger of not being able to fulfill its purpose where families with children are concerned. This winter has seen a significant increase from last year in the number of families with children in need of shelter services. This increase has already utilized the SCCDC's entire 2006-07 budget for the Family Assistance Program, and no additional governmental funding is available. The SCCDC needs to immediately raise at least $4,800 to keep the Family Assistance Program operating through March 15.
For safety reasons, children 16 and under cannot sleep at the Shelter. Therefore, the Shelter provides local motel accommodations to qualified families with children. To qualify for the Family Assistance Program, the parent(s) are required to work with a case manager, who helps them get back on their feet. Several families have already found jobs and housing this winter through the Family Assistance Program. Without this service, these children would be forced to sleep on the streets, or if they are lucky in their family car.
Over 90% of the people served by the Shelter had their last home in the Santa Clarita Valley. By putting out a call to the community to help our neighbors in need, the Santa Clarita Shelter hopes to continue its mission to help prevent families with children from having to sleep outdoors or in cars, and to offer hope and a “hand up” to parents who want a better life. The cost of the motel accommodations is $66 per room per night; normally, 3 or 4 families are housed each night, at an average total cost of $231 per night.
Please make a tax deductible donation of any amount. Your $231 donation will cover one typical night for the Family Assistance Program; $66 will cover one family’s stay for a night; any amount will help. Donations can be made by check payable to “SCCDC” (note “FAP” in memo section) and mailed to:
Santa Clarita Shelter (SCCDC)
24901 Orchard Village Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Or donations cab be made online with your major credit card at www.SantaClaritaShelter.com.
The Santa Clarita Valley Emergency Winter Shelter assists people with the help they need to improve their individual or family circumstances. Open from December 1 through March 15 each year, the Santa Clarita Valley Shelter provides shelter, food, clothing, medical and mental health services as well as other assistance and referrals to its clients. Because children under 16 are not permitted to stay overnight at the EWS, qualifying local families with children receive shelter in a local motel.
The assistance that the Santa Clarita Valley Shelter provides is a direct result of its many supporters and volunteers. In order to continue helping our hungry and homeless neighbors, please become a volunteer for the Santa Clarita Valley Shelter or make a donation today.
For additional information or to make a donation to the Santa Clarita Valley Shelter, please visit us online at www.SantaClaritaShelter.com
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Dana Mech, SCCDC Board Member
Phone: 661.977.3505, ext. 1
Email: dmech@ingenuitymktg.com
