An update from Mike Johnson, COTS CEO, on how COTS is improving our homeless services system through innovation and collaboration.

Dear Friends,

Many of you have heard about this year’s sudden reduction in government funding. Before I get into the nuts and bolts, let me assure you that we are in good shape thanks to the Sonoma County’s Board of Supervisors, the City of Petaluma, and private citizens who stepped up to support us this year.

Responding to challenge is part of our organization’s DNA. This time around, we’re adapting through collaboration and re-invention. Here’s what we’ve been up to:

• We’re collaborating with the Veterans Resource Center to provide 21 homeless veterans with permanent housing and the services they need to move forward in their lives.
• Our Sober Circle, involving numerous entities, has already convinced 20 homeless people with addictions to leave the streets and enroll in treatment and housing programs.
• Last year, we provided expert consultation to North Sonoma County Services in Healdsburg. As a result, they housed 100% of their homeless families. This year, we hope to build a similar collaboration with Sonoma Overnight Services to house 72 clients from the Sonoma Valley.
• Together with our healthcare partners, we are working to keep healthcare costs down for the entire community by providing alternatives to the Emergency Room for the most health-challenged street homeless.
• Many of our clients deal with serious health challenges. All of them deal with stigma. This year, we are re-inventing our food programs into a Wellness Café, which will serve whole, healthy foods, including fresh Sonoma County produce. Our atmosphere will change too, offering a comfortable respite for our guests. We will also provide employment training to help our friends find and maintain jobs in the food service industry.

Thank you for making an investment in COTS that strengthens and enriches us all.