Can You Help? 22 Women for 22 Women This year, the City of Santa Rosa has chosen to put no general funds into homeless programs and instead focused its federal Community Development Block Grant funds only on large, mixed gender shelters which provide the most number of "Bed Nights" per dollar. We understand and agree with that decision because we know that the community needs a safety net where vulnerable men and women may lay their heads at night.

However, when, in 2006, we replaced our old, "temporary" emergency shelter with Sloan House, we determined that large rooms filled with cots would not be the environment that would facilitate the kind of recovery for homeless women we envisioned. Sloan House, a ranch style home, located outside of the bustle of the City of Santa Rosa, provides a safe and pleasant home for 22 women and their children. If they commit to resolving the issues that led to their becoming homeless, they are able to live there for up to six months.

Fifty percent of women currently living at the shelter are older than 50 and 62% are homeless for the first time. When they arrive at Sloan, any medical/dependency needs are dealt with first. Then, case workers help them focus on job skills, financial literacy, and education. From there, the women may go to transitional homes or, if possible, into their own apartments. The aim is to take them out of homelessness permanently - 22 women at a time.

The success rate at Sloan is encouraging. Last year, 45% of the women moved into permanent or transitional homes and an additional 17% made "safe exits" - meaning that they either moved to another facility for further help, into a motel, or, in a small number of cases, back to their family, but, most importantly, not back on the street or sleeping in a car. The remaining 38% may have moved out of Sonoma County, were hospitalized for medical or mental illness, or could be considered chronically homeless and will still need further help.

So, we are looking for a team of 22 women who will commit to raising at least $1,000 each for the 22 women at Sloan - 22 Women for 22 Women - to ensure that they continue to have a safe place where they can get their lives in order. 22 Women for 22 Women is part of our overall fundraising campaign, 22 Women at a Time with a goal of raising $200,000. It's a tough challenge but we believe that, with the support of the people of Sonoma County, we can do it. A donation of $28 pays for one homeless woman for one night. $590.00 will provide her food and shelter, case workers, and other rehabilitation services for a month. $3,500 covers a complete 6-moth stay and all services. 

If you are willing to join our 22 women team, know someone you think would be interested, or are able to make a donation please click here.