COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP INC
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Community Working Group, Inc. is to address the needs of the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in the Mid-peninsula area (Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park) by marshalling community resources and coordinating strategic alliances with community partners for the development and operation of housing and services and by serving as advocates on their behalf.
About This Cause
Community Working Group (CWG) incorporated in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, private nonprofit organization. Its mission is “to address the needs of the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in the Mid-peninsula area (Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park) by advocating for the development of affordable housing options and the provision of supportive services. It will do this by marshaling community resources and coordinating strategic alliances with other community partners.” The primary project of CWG has been the development of the Opportunity Center of the Mid-peninsula (OC) near downtown Palo Alto. The OC is a multi-use structure with two service centers and 88 units of affordable housing. The populations served at the OC are 150+ homeless individuals in the Mid-peninsula area, 50+ homeless families with children, and the hundreds of low income families and individuals who are currently housed but are at risk of becoming homeless as a result of occurrences such as family emergencies, job layoffs, medical crises, rising rents, foreclosures on their rented housing, or conversion of rental properties. In the service centers there are both hospitality services and rehabilitative services. The hospitality services, available to all and providing a welcoming experience, include drop-in services, showers and laundry facilities, lockers, light snacks, information and referral, transportation assistance, a clothes closet, inter-faith chaplaincy, and fellowship. Rehabilitative services are available to those who seek to transform their lives and to move out of homelessness or prevent it from occurring. These services include coordinated case management, mental health and substance abuse counseling, job training and counseling, medical screening, legal assistance, money management training, and support groups. In addition to these services, families also receive respite child care, after school programs for children, parenting classes, and housing search coordination. Above the service centers, are four floors with affordable apartments, also targeting homeless, formerly homeless, and individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless. There are 70 SROs (Single Room Occupancy) for singles, and 12 one-bedroom and 6 two-bedroom apartments for families with children. Residents of the apartments may also access the services provided in the service centers, at their discretion. The all volunteer CWG Board of Directors has decided that instead of following a traditional pattern of nonprofit organizational development through the hiring of professional staff, CWG would partner with existing nonprofit organizations that already have expertise in service delivery for the homeless and at-risk populations and expertise in affordable housing development. Thus, CWG selected the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara to co-develop the housing at the OC and LifeMoves to manage and deliver services at the Center. In addition to these partnerships, CWG utilizes consultants rather than permanent staff to assist the Board in operating the organization. CWG cultivated broad public support for the OC and secured private and public contributions for its construction. CWG continues to oversee the operation of the Center, serving as trustees on behalf of the Mid-peninsula communities. In addition to the OC, CWG has two additional affordable housing developments for individuals and families with very low or extremely low incomes -- Alma Garden (10 apartments) and 801 Alma Family Housing (50 apartments of 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms). CWG has partnered with Eden Housing in the development and operation of 801 Alma. CWG continues to seek new affordable housing possibilities in its 3 core services communities (Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park) and in Redwood City, San Mateo, Mt. View, and Sunnyvale. It's Board of 13 members is always looking for individuals interested in and/or committed to providing housing and supportive services to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to join the Board. If you are interested, just send us an email.