1. Winter Nights
Rotating Shelter for Homeless Families - A Project of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County

2. Warm Winter Nights at Temple Isaiah, Lafayette

3. Mission of the Interfaith Council
“The specific purposes for which this corporation is formed are to be a visible organization of faith groups who coordinate and empower work on behalf of the religious community for health and well-being of the larger community including chaplaincies, support of social justice, and respect for diversity through dialogue, worship and understanding.” 1998

4. Winter Nights – Goals:
Provide safe shelter and 3 meals/day to homeless families with children
Keep homeless families together
Keep school-age children in school and achieving at grade level or above
Help families acquire sustainable housing
Provide transportation to schools, jobs and daytime shelter for parents and children

5. Interfaith Council Member Congregations Contribute Space, Meals, Tutoring, Weekend Activities, Childcare, etc.

6. Dinner at Lafayette United Methodist Church
The hosting congregation provides three meals a day, including a bag lunch

7. Nutritious Meals Three healthy meals per day
Congregations partner to provide, prepare & serve meals

8. Winter Nights – Programs:
“Traveling Tutors” Team
Reading Achievement Program
Financial Agreement and Counseling
Homeless Court
Volunteer Social Worker
Daytime Shelter if Needed
Transportation – Winter Nights Van

9. Reading Achievement Program
Parents encouraged to read to preschool children
All children encouraged to read or be read to for twenty minutes/day
Reading rewards program – including movie tickets - for all children

10. Winter Nights – People Served:
Target population: homeless families with children in Contra Costa & Alameda Counties
Homeless Hotline calls and referrals are screened by volunteer social worker.
Families must have a source of income
Single fathers & mothers, as well as couples with boys and girls from birth to age 21
No religious requirements
No alcohol or drugs allowed; rules must be followed or leave the shelter

11. The Majority of Winter Nights Guests are Children
Daytime shelter offered at St. Vincent de Paul Oasis in Pittsburg
Winter Nights Van available for transport to work, school and Oasis

12. Winter Nights Achievements 2004 - 2014
In the past ten years of its existence, Winter Nights has sheltered and fed over 270 families (850+ persons)
More than 160 families found sustainable housing through Winter Nights
With few exceptions, all school-age children have stayed in school and at grade level, some achieving scholastically and in sports
Over three-thousand volunteers benefit by participating each year

13. Thousands of Volunteers Contribute Time, Money & Food

14. Moving Day Every Two Weeks

15. Concerns About the Future
There is not enough affordable housing for families in Contra Costa County .
In January 2013, 3,798 individuals were homeless and there were only 1,925 “beds” available for all homeless individuals
Between October 2014 & February, 2015, 71families – 264 individuals – applied to Winter Nights; shelter capacity is 30 people

16. How You Can Help
Educate yourself & others about Homelessness in Contra Costa County:
Support affordable housing in your community
Contribute/Volunteer with Winter Nights

17. Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County
The End
Winter Nights
Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County