Housing First Initiative

Housing First is an initiative by the Mayor of Richmond, in collaboration with the Richmond Rotary Club, to transition people from homeless camps into housing for a year. So far, we have transitioned a mother with four children and a mother with one child who were living in vehicles in dangerous and unhealthy RV camps. One goal of the program is to build self-sufficiency for the families when the leave the program. Both mothers are employed or employable, but unfortunate circumstances left them homeless. Rotary Club members are well-connected and will play a mentoring and advocacy role so that participants can access all available services needed to transition to self-sufficiency. Unlike most homeless programs that simply provide services and perpetuate homeless camps, this program is intended to result in permanent transitions.

 

Getting housing paid for is just the 1st step. Once these families are safe in their new homes, they need basic essentials such as furniture, Kitchen supplies etc... to really make it a home. We are asking our amazing community to help us get as many families off the street and into safe places to live where they can thrive! Watching a worried mother and a scared child light up with smiles of hope and relief is the very best return on your investment. Please donate and share this information widely.

We are seeking funding to expand this very successful program. If you would like to donate, make a check out to Richmond Community Foundation – Mayor’s Community Fund and mail it to:

 

Tom Butt, Mayor

City of Richmond

450 Civic Center Plaza

Richmond CA 94804