South County Compassion Center

When people find themselves without a home they often don't know where to turn,  or who they can trust. They don't know where they will be safe.

The Gilroy Compassion Center is there for the families and individuals who need help. They find staff and volunteers who understand their situation  and can help them meet basic needs: food, clothing, personal hygiene.

They get help staying connected to the world with a mailing address, a place to charge their phones receive messages.

An intake with a case manager helps determine what they need most in the short run AND what it will take for them to get back on their feet. It is a journey, rarely simple, but the caring people at the Compassion Center are there to provide support every step of the way with programs that include:

• DAY CENTER with basic needs, bathrooms, shower, laundry, message center, and daytime respite from the street.
• ALMOST HOME - a safe and legal camping program that provides an opportunity to camp with dignity while working on self-sufficiency. Participants work as a team and also provide volunteer hours at the Compassion Center.
• INTAKE (ViSPDAT) - For people who have been homeless for a long time and have chronic illnesses, mental illness, and physical disabilities, intake and entry into the county database / vulnerability index is the entry point to a system of care leading to permanent supportive housing.
• FOCUS -Safe parking with case management leading to housing and self-sufficiency for families who sleep in cars or RV's. They get access to showers, meals, bathrooms, and a place to do laundry.

VALUES 

• Compassion for those who need help
• Respect for people of different faiths, perspectives, and abilities
• Cooperation among individuals and organizations working towards the same goals
• Partnership rather than duplication