Rental Assistance
For families and adults facing an acute crisis, COTS can at times provide targeted financial assistance, such as a month's rent or help with a utility bill. This type of assistance is limited to families or individuals in the local community. Requests for help are considered on a case-by-case basis.
The Food Box Program
Many families and individuals today are faced with terrible choices, having to decide between essential needs such as food and heat. Some go hungry in order to pay their rent.
Therefore, COTS distributes free weekly food boxes to families and individuals in need throughout the community. Each box weighs approximately 40 pounds, with enough food for about 32 meals. Last year, COTS' Food Box Program prevented 650 Petaluma families from sliding into homelessness.
COTS volunteers deliver about 300 food boxes per week. Boxes include fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
Vida Nueva
Not everyone can achieve complete independence. People with mental or physical disabilities may require ongoing support, and they too deserve a secure, dignified life.
Vida Nueva is a 24-unit, 75-bed permanent supportive housing complex in Rohnert Park, primarily serving families with at least one disabled member. Vida Nueva provides a tight-knit community where families help and encourage one another, while receiving ongoing guidance and assistance from on-site staff. Services include: one-on-one counseling; substance abuse prevention; budgeting and credit repair; parenting education; and a free lunch program for children.
Permanent Supportive Housing for Veterans
COTS currently provides permanent supportive housing for 17 chronically homeless veterans in Rohnert Park and Petaluma, operating eight 2-bedroom apartments for this purpose.
Services include intensive case management, emergency supplementary food (through our Food Box Program), and access to Rent Right and Work Right skills trainings.
COTS is committed to expanding this vital housing resource for our community's veterans.
Integrity Houses
Integrity Houses are self-managed, clean and sober, shared houses for single homeless adults.
COTS identifies local property owners who are interested in leasing their homes for shared, affordable living. A COTS Manager selects the tenants, sets up the furnishings, and facilitates the lease process between owner and tenants. Tenants pay rent directly to the owner and are responsible for the smooth operation of the home. COTS will intervene only when necessary, to resolve exits and refer eligible tenants to fill vacancies.
We gratefully acknowledge the pioneering work of Oxford House, on which we have based our Integrity Houses.
COTS plans to expand this program from our current 9 homes housing 37 residents to over 50 homes serving 200 residents in the next five years! If you have rental property and are interested in becoming an Integrity House landlord, .
Basic Principles:
- Homes are privately owned, leased to COTS graduates
- Program offers COTS graduates stable, permanent, and supportive housing
- Program offers homeowners reliable pre-screened tenants
- Homes ideally offer sufficient room for group living
- Tenants are committed to sobriety
- Homes are self-managed and democratically run through cooperative decision-making
Here's what Integrity House owners say about the program:
"We are happy to be able to help COTS graduates just by giving them the same opportunity anyone else would have. We never have a moment's worry and we are especially pleased that our tenants love the house and have made it their home." - Karen Saunders
"I believe in second chances. I have special feelings for people in need who are trying to rebuild and improve their lives. I'm in a position to offer affordable rent in exchange for great tenants who take a lot of pride in being under a roof of their own." - Dot Henderson