Administrative Offices: 1726 Professional Drive Sacramento, CA 95825 916.971.1566

Quinn Cottages: 1500 North A Street Sacramento, CA 95811 916.492.9065

Serna Village: 5836 Dudley Blvd. McClellan, CA 95652 916.339.2746)||

Mission

We develop healing communities that are solution-focused, participant-driven and strength-based, where homeless people help themselves - and each other - through their transition from the streets to self-sustainability.

• Solution Focused: Applicants commit to sobriety, self-defined personal development goals and voluntary service.
• Participant Driven: Residents are engaged as participants rather than recipients in every aspect of program operations.
• Strength Based: Using the Resiliency Method, we do things with people—not for them.

Philosophy & Methodology

CHI's program methodology was cited by evaluation expert Bonnie Benard, MSW as a national model for adapting the Resiliency Method to homeless transitional service. Our strength-based approach focuses on assets rather than deficits or liabilities. Program residents are engaged as participants rather than recipients and involved in all aspects of program operations, from tenant screening and staff hiring to community ambassadorship and corporate governance. Doing things with rather than for program participants moves away from the provider/consumer model, and represents a middle alternative between the behavior-modification approach of traditional social service programs and the services-optional "housing first" model. Participants use the PASSPORT to SELF-RELIANCE which they helped design to self-track progress toward self-defined personal development goals. The RESIDENT COUNCILS directly involve participants in defining policies, developing curriculum, assessing performance.

Legacy

Cottage Housing Inc. was formed in 1994 by a coalition of civic leaders seeking innovative alternatives to short-term, crisis-oriented response to the homeless dilemma.

In its first decade of operations, nearly 75% of participants graduated with housing secure, income stabilized, and sobriety intact.

This success is made possible by our collaboration with the participants and alumni of our programs and with Mercy Housing California —the project's construction and property manager—as well as numerous community allies.

CHI launches our second decade with plans to double residential capacity from 241 to 500 bedrooms that accommodate over 1,000 homeless parents and children annually.

Success

• Creating Employees: Participants leaving in 2008 increased employment by 273% while lowering welfare dependence by more than half.
• Reuniting Families: Each graduate saves taxpayers up to $100,000 annually by avoiding more expensive/less effective institutional options.
• Finding the American Dream: Two dozen alumni went from homelessness to home owner.

Want to get involved?

http://www.cottagehousing.org/volunteer-options/

Interested in Donating? https://cottagehousing.webconnex.com/donate-now