FOR RELEASE ON JUNE 15, 2005
Santa Clarita Valley Shelter Helps People Get Back on Their Feet
The shelter is proud to announce the record number of people it was able to help this season
With the 2006-2007 winter season now closed, the SCCDC is releasing its performance records to the community. During this season’s operation, the Santa Clarita Valley Shelter and the Family Assistance Program served 199 people, including 22 families and 40 children. On average, the shelter provided accommodations (at the shelter or in a local motel) for 39 people per night. Almost 50% of local people in need of shelter this year were between the ages of 24 and 44, while 21%were younger than 18. In addition to providing necessary housing, the shelter, along with its more than 2000 volunteers, served more than 3,100 breakfasts, 4,200 dinners and handed out more than 3,800 sack lunches.
The essential component of the Santa Clarita Valley’s Emergency Winter Shelter is its day time case management, which was made available this year due in part from the support of Supervisor Michael Antonovich. This program offers assistance to adults staying in the shelter and requires adults who stay at the at the motel to partake in day time case management, which provides people with housing and job placement assistance – during normal business hours – when people are more easily able to contact potential employers and landlords. 85 adults (some with 2 or more children) took advantage of this program. Because of this crucial program, more than 56% of participating clients were able to find either work or housing during the three month period of the shelter’s operation. Comparatively, other shelters without daytime case management reported a less than 3% success rate.
Although the shelter is currently closed, the SCCDC remains hard at work raising funds and gearing up for its next season. Currently the SCCDC is looking for numerous volunteers to assist in our efforts. Please contact us for more information at 661-618-2978.
Please make a tax deductible donation of any amount. A $231 donation will cover one typical night for the Family Assistance Program; $66 will cover one family’s stay for a night; and any amount will help. Donations can be made by check payable to “SCCDC” and mailed to:
Santa Clarita Shelter (SCCDC)
24901 Orchard Village Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Or donations can 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
