Ritter Center

RITTER CENTER'S MISSION IS TO PREVENT AND RESOLVE HOMELESSNESS AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH, DIGNITY, AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY IN MARIN COUNTY BY PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY, CULTURALLY SENSITIVE, EASILY ACCESSIBLE MEDICAL CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

CASE MANAGEMENTTHE CENTER'S CASE MANAGERS MEET ONE-ON-ONE WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE. CASE MANAGERS EVALUATE EACH CLIENT'S IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM NEEDS THROUGH AN INTERVIEW ASSESSMENT PROCESS. TOGETHER, THE CLIENT AND CASE MANAGER DEVELOP A CASE PLAN TO HELP STABILIZE THE CLIENT AND CREATE A PATH TO INCREASED SELFSUFFICIENCY. CASE MANAGERS SPECIALIZE IN PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: HOUSING (THROUGH THE HOUSING FIRST PROGRAM AND OTHER SUBSIDIES SUCH AS SECTION 8 AND VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING), SUBSTANCE ABUSE, GOVERNMENT BENEFITS INCLUDING PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, JAIL RELEASEPLANNING, AND ASSISTANCE WITH MONEY MANAGEMENT THROUGH A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE PROGRAM. DURING THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 573 PATIENTS AND PROVIDED 594 SERVICES.

FOOD PANTRYTHE CENTER MAINTAINS THE LARGEST FOOD PANTRY IN MARIN COUNTY. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE CENTER HAS DISTRIBUTED AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 20,000 BAGS OF GROCERIES TO OVER 3,000 HOUSEHOLDS PER YEAR. THE PANTRY SERVES BOTH HOUSED AND HOMELESS CLIENTS WITH NUTRITIOUS SUPPLEMENTARY FOOD ITEMS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. THE MAJORITY OF THE PANTRY'S FOOD IS DELIVERED BY THE SAN FRANCISCO/MARIN FOOD BANK WITH SMALLER CONTRIBUTIONS FROM STORES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY. DURING THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 1,747 PATIENTS AND PROVIDED 13,459 VISITS. DAY SERVICE CENTERTHE DAY SERVICE CENTER IS A CLEAN, SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT PRIMARILY FOR USE BY PERSONS WHO ARE HOMELESS. THE CENTER PROVIDES EMERGENCY MEDICALLY NECESSARY SHOWERS, HYGIENE SUPPLIES, LAUNDRY FACILITIES, AND RESTROOMS. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE RELATIVELY SMALL SPACE FOR THE DAY SERVICE CENTER LAUNDRY AND SHOWERS, THEY WERE NOT SAFE TO OPERATE AND ARE TEMPORARILY CLOSED. THESE SERVICES WILL RE-OPEN WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. DURING THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 58 PATIENTS AND PROVIDED SERVICES TO 131 PEOPLE.CLOTHINGSINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1980, THE CENTER HAS BEEN SUPPORTING THOSE EXPERIENCING POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS BY DISTRIBUTING CLOTHES. THE CENTER MAINTAINS A STOCK OF EMERGENCY CLOTHING ITEMS AND SURVIVAL GEAR ON SITE FOR THEIR HOMELESS CLIENTS INCLUDING RAIN GEARS, SLEEPING BAGS, AND WARM SOCKS.

HEALTH CENTERTO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE AND FOCUS ON SUPPORTING THE WHOLE PERSON. OUR HEALTH CENTER PROVIDES PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO OTHERWISE COULD NOT AFFORD IT, AND EVERY CLIENT RECEIVES A COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PLAN. OUR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, SAIMA FIRDOOS, MD, AND A TEAM OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS PROVIDE PREVENTATIVE CARE AND ADDRESS URGENT CONCERNS. RORY RIEGER, MA, CADC-II, CCTP MANAGES OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM TO PROVIDE PSYCHIATRY, PSYCHOTHERAPY, AND SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELING. DURING THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 1,122 PATIENTS AND PROVIDED 4,636 VISITS.

BEHAVORIAL HEALTHTHE CENTER PROVIDES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING AND PSYCHIATRIC MEDICINE MANAGEMENT. THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM WORKS IN AN INTEGRATED AND HOLISTIC MANNER WITH THE CENTER'S MEDICAL AND CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. THIS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS MAKES UP THE CENTER'S BEHAVIORAL WELLNESS EDUCATION AND LIFE LEARNING (BWELL) TEAM. THE BWELL TEAM MEETS WEEKLY TO CREATE AND UPDATE HOLISTIC TREATMENT PLANS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX NEEDS. DURING THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 216 PATIENTS AND PROVIDED 1,621 VISITS.