Emergency Shelter for Families Reopens
Petaluma’s Committee on the Shelterless is just two weeks away from resurrecting a key family homeless shelter that was shuttered three years ago due to funding cuts.
The shelter, known as the COTS Family Center, will serve homeless families with children. About half will come from referrals through Sonoma County Child Protective Services.
“Breaking the cycle of homelessness for children is a core mission at COTS,” said Mike Johnson, CEO of the Petaluma nonprofit. “Homelessness is probably the biggest risk factor there is.”
The 11-room shelter will have the capacity to house 35 children and adults each night. The length of stays at the shelter will range from three to six months, depending on the difficulty families have finding housing.
According to preliminary data from the 2015 Sonoma County homeless count, 367 homeless families with children were counted during the winter, down from 451 people two years earlier. It is unclear how many homeless families there are in Petaluma, but Johnson said COTS’ ultimate goal is to find housing for all of them.
Read more in the The Press Democrat
Thank you community partners for your generous contributions of time and resouces:
- Ernest L and Ruth W Finley Foundation
- Architectural Design & Restoration, Inc.
- Audio Visual Design Group
- Center Electric
- Centsationalgirl.com — Kate Riley
- DSB+ Commercial Floor Finishes
- Friedman's Home Improvement
- Gabbert Accoustical Inc.
- Richard Hillery
- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
- Jerry Thompson & Sons, Inc.
- Midstate Construction
- Ohana Construction
- PACC Leadership Class 2015
- Petaluma Community Guild
- Petaluma Healthcare District
- Petaluma United Methodist Church
- Cory Price
- Rebuilding Together Petaluma
- Save Energy Company
- Sherwin-Williams Paint Store