Did you know that Sonoma County …

ü      Is the fourth least affordable place to live in the entire country.

ü      Has lost over 5,000 jobs over the last two years due to the collapse of the burgeoning high tech industry.

ü      Has an estimated 4,000 – 5,000 homeless people with only 800 shelter beds available.

Did you know that Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County

ü      Has operated “Chanate” -- the county’s only non-sectarian emergency shelter for homeless women -- for the last 15 years.  Although there are a number of mixed gender emergency shelters in the county, Chanate’s clientele is reluctant to use them since, according to recent surveys, up to 70% of the women who seek shelter at Chanate have experienced prior sexual assault or abuse. 

ü      Is consistently forced to turn homeless women away from Chanate due to lack of space.

Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County’s Response

ü      Has formed a strong and effective coalition to enable us to expand our shelter services.

ü      Has enlisted the County’s support resulting in their agreement to provide free County land to house a new shelter with 24 beds.

ü      Has organized a fundraising committee with faith based, construction industry, private philanthropist, and service organization representation. Goal of the Committee:  to raise $185,000 in private local contributions by October 2003.  Success to date:  Raised almost $90,000 in the first month.

ü      Has received $400,000 in State of California Proposition 46 Funding

ü      This new expanded shelter will allow us to extend the current 21 day stay to 30-60 days, offering more homeless women the time they need to take the necessary steps to break the cycle of homelessness and move toward self-sufficiency.

Architectural Rendering of the Proposed Expanded Shelter By: Katherine Austin, AIA, Architect

All pictures are of actual clients and staff not clip art.  Please make a request prior to using in any other format. 

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