WEST COAST CARE FOUNDATION INC

West Coast Care is a non-profit organization that has touched the lives of more than 30,000 homeless since 2006. Mission Statement:The West Coast Care Foundation administers direct intervention and outreach services to homeless persons in order to help them into housing, shelter facilities, medical facilities, reunite them with their families or other caregivers, and to help them rebuild their lives. Our Recovery Model is one of the most effective ways to address the needs of the homeless and the communities they live in. We have a proven method that continues to reduce thenumber of people living on the street in our service areas. WCC will offer training and assistance to other cities, groups and agencies to further reduce street homelessness. We foresee a future that includes more recovery teams in critical areas throughoutgreater Los Angeles.Programs and Services:WCC's recovery model has been successful by implementing these four key components:(1) Meeting the immediate needs and establishing trust is the initial focus of our WCC staff. This is accomplished by meeting daily with the homeless on the street - providing nourishment, lavatory supplies and simply being a friend.(2) The second phase centers on assessing the needs correlated with the person's state of homelessness. We overcome issues and develop a plan, often networking with local social service providers.(3) Reconnecting the homeless with family, friends and/or services is the primary focus of WCC staff. Repairing pivotal relationships has proven to be the key component to sustained long-term recovery.(4) WCC maintains a detailed client profile and account of services. Counseling support continues as long as necessary. Our focus is a change in direction, purpose and morale.WCC began providing services in Santa Monica in 2006 and demonstrated that social service providers could successfully break through the resistance to change behaviors associated with chronic homelessness by bringing consistent and continual outreach directly to the streets where homeless people were living. WCC's staff consists of dedicated personnel that have human service experience and are driven by their advocacy for the homeless. Two full time employees (project manager and outreach staff) and one full time volunteer operate the homeless outreach 7 days a week. One full time administrative manager and one part time administrative assistant operate the front and back office.Program Impact and Outcomes: WCC has helped more than 12,000 homeless persons since establishment in 2006. The WCC staff keeps a detailed log of contacts made throughout the year to maintain accurate records. These contacts include daily contacts with homeless and those assisted, interviews with the homeless in jail, Contacts with the local Police Dept., Fire Dept. and Lifeguards, contacts with the city of Santa Monica Human Services Dept., visits to homeless in area hospitals, and assistance to local businesses and residences.