Living Room Center Inc

TO EASE ADVERSITY AND PROMOTE STABILITY, DIGNITY AND SELF-RELIANCE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN SONOMA COUNTY.

THE MISSION OF THE LIVING ROOM CENTER (TLR) IS TO EASE ADVERSITY AND PROMOTE STABILITY, DIGNITY AND SELF-RELIANCE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN SONOMA COUNTY. THE LIVING ROOM CENTER IS A DAY SERVICE CENTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. TLR SERVES ALL OF SONOMA COUNTY FROM ITS DOWNTOWN SANTA ROSA LOCATION. THE CENTER IS OPEN WEEKDAYS FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M. TLR PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS, IN SHELTERS AND IN CARS ACCESS TO VITAL SERVICES, MEALS AND A SAFE SPACE TO BE DURING THE DAY. TLR RUNS TWO PROGRAMS, THE WOMEN'S PROGRAM AND THE MOTHER AND CHILD PROGRAM (MAC). BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2021 AND DECEMBER 31, 2021 TLR SERVED OVER 1,100 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING MORE THAN 200 CHILDREN. 29,041 MEALS WERE SERVED, 4,240 VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE USED AND OVER $11,000 WORTH OF IN-KIND DONATIONS WERE RECEIVED, INCLUDING CLOTHING, FOOD, TOILETRIES, DIAPERS, BLANKETS, AND SLEEPING BAGS. NO FEES ARE CHAGED FOR OUR SERVICES.TOTAL PROGRAM EXPENSES WERE $501,698 EXCLUDING PAYROLL-RELATED EXPENSES. PAYROLL-RELATED EXPENSES FOR THE PROGRAM WERE $393,112 (FROM STATEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES).THE WOMEN'S PROGRAM DELIVERS EMERGENCY AND SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDING REFERRALS TO HEALTH AND HOUSING SERVICES, MEALS, COMPUTER AND PHONE ACCESS, FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS, CLOTHING, COUNSELING, HELP WITH TRANSPORTION AND ASSISTANCE WITH SETTING UP NEWLY OBTAINED HOUSING. MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS LIVE ON THE STREETS OR IN CARS, SO TLR PROVIDES SLEEPING BAGS, TARPS AND WEATHER GEAR. CLASSES ON RESUME WRITING AND COMPUTER SKILLS ARE PROVIDED. THE GOAL IS TO RAISE SELF-ESTEEM AND ENCOURAGE SKILL BUILDING AND SELF-CARE SO THAT THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO SUCCEED.THE MAC PROGRAM IS ESSENTIALLY A PARENTING PROGRAM. IT INCLUDES PARENTING CLASSES, MODELING OF PARENTING BEST PRACTICES, ART THERAPY, AND EXTRA ACTIVITIES IN THE SUMMER. TLR DISTRIBUTES DIAPERS, STROLLERS, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, CHILDREN'S CLOTHING AND AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS, OFFERS ENRICHING ACTIVITIES AND MAKES REFERRALS TO APPROPRIATE AGENCIES. THE GOAL IS TO STRENGTHEN THE MOTHER AND CHILD BOND, FOSTER RESILIENCE TO OVERCOME ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, AND PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.