Program areas at St Vincent de Paul Society District Council of Marin County
Homelessness services - our home-visit homelessness prevention program provides emergency rental assistance, utility assistance, and other financial aid, preventing approximately 1,800 households from being evicted each year, including hundreds of older adults. Our housing help desk provides walk-up housing search assistance and direct client aidfor people who are newly homeless and chronically homeless, including older adults. Our homesafe program provides housing navigation, case management and financial assistance to clients referred from adult protective services. Our homeless outreach team helps chronically homeless individuals with complex health problems secure permanent supportive housing.
Conferences - in most catholic parishes within Marin County, small groups of men and women organize local volunteer efforts to assist neighbors in need. These groups, known as conferences, provide help to people of all faiths and backgrounds, preventing eviction and homelessness by addressing financial crises on a case by case basis. Some of the services offered include emergency financial assistance for utilities and rent, food pantries, overnight shelter vouchers, and assistance with obtaining clothing and furniture. While not social workers, volunteers also provide solace and comfort for people at risk of isolation and depression.
Free dining room - the free dining room was created in 1981 to serve hot, nutritious meals to people who are experiencing homelessness and those who may be precariously housed. The dining room also provides a vital entry point for families, adults, people with disabilities, older adults and veterans to connect with safety net servivces and housing solutions. The free dining room has served more than 2 million meals, often providing the only sustenance of the day for the people we serve. Many diners are Marin's "working poor," struggling to stay housed, experiencing poverty and trying to make ends meet. The dining room currently serves over 180,000 meals annually.