Every year in Sonoma County, about 8,000 people are homeless. COTS is the primary provider of emergency shelter, shared housing and related services in south Sonoma County and helps over 1,000 homeless neighbors each year.
During the last year, COTS provided:
" 44,000 bednights
" 500 life management workshops
" 6,500 meals
" 10,000 plus hours licensed child care
&and many other essential services to help homeless families and individuals to get back under a roof of their own.
Emergency Shelter Programs
Center for Homeless Children and their Families: A year-round emergency shelter for families with children, which accommodates up to 35 people at any one time, providing shelter, food and intensive assessment/case management services for up to 60 days (11,000 bednights per year).
Faith-Based Shelter:
Coordinated by COTS staff, 18 congregations provide companionship, food and up to 12 additional sleeping spaces to homeless families during the school year (2,700 bednights per year).
Winter Shelter:
Cold weather shelter for homeless adults operated by COTS five months per year. The Winter Shelter provides sleeping accommodations for approximately 50 adults from November to March (8,100 bednights per year).
Opportunity Center:
Multi-service day-time shelter. Provides showers, laundry, message center, telephone, mail and locker services. Staff provides assistance with employment referrals, housing referrals, counseling, assistance with chemical dependency and referrals for health care. Opportunity Center clients provide thousands of community service hours each year, thus actively giving back to the community (450 clients each year).
I dont know where our family would be today had we not been welcomed into the COTS family. Being there turned our lives around!
- Linda, mother of two sons
- Linda, mother of two sons
- Janet, mother of 3-year-old
Childrens Haven:
Located at the Center for Homeless Children and their Families, the Childrens Haven program offers licensed day care and other comprehensive services to sheltered children and their parents, including parent training, counseling and assessment (190
children per year).
- Bruce, father of 11 year old daughter
Affordable Housing
Housing Services Program:
Shared and Transitional housing for previously homeless families and individuals using ten residences in Petaluma and Rohnert Park. This program provides safe, affordable housing in a mutually supportive, service-enriched living environment (23,000 bednights per year).
Rebuilding Shattered Lives
Life Skills Training:
COTS holds results-oriented workshops in parenting skills, money management and other life skills. COTS also leads a team of health professionals from other agencies to address the dual problems of chemical dependency and mental illness. We provide assessment, treatment, referral, support, education and relapse prevention (700 clients each year).
Homeless Prevention Assistance:
COTS provides first months rent and deposit assistance for homeless individuals or families who are securing permanent housing (40 clients each year).
- Darren, COTS former resident
I am touched by my work with COTS and grateful that I can contribute in such a meaningful way.
- Pat, volunteer at
COTS Childrens Haven
Community Support
Now in our twelfth year of providing essential services to homeless people, COTS is strongly supported by the communities of Petaluma and Rohnert Park, and the County of Sonoma. COTS works cooperatively with numerous social service providers in our region. In the last year, community volunteers provided over 6,700 hours of their time.
COTS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt agency. We welcome financial contributions and inquiries about volunteer opportunities. COTS is a participating agency (#1486) of the United Way.
You can download a printable version of this fact sheet by clicking here (Adobe Acrobat viewer required).
Phone: (707) 765-6530 " Fax: (707) 765-5747
Email: " www.cots-homeless.org
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