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CC 03-18-2025 Item No. 1 Report of activities from West Valley Community Services_Written CommunicationsCC 03-18-2025 Item No. 1- Regular Meeting Report of activities from West Valley Community Services Written Communications Serving the community for more than 50 years Our mission is to unite the community to fight hunger and homelessness. Our vision is a community where every person has food on the table and a roof over their head. About WVCS “West valley community services as a whole have made a huge impact on our lives that words cannot even describe. I will forever be grateful and send people their way as they are all not only helpful but genuinely kind and care for others well being. Thank you so much for all you do”-Sam Our Clients ●West valley residents ●Multicultural ●Multilingual ●Single adults ●Couples ●Families ●Seniors ●At-risk youth ●Domestic abuse survivors ●Disabled ●Homeless and/or unstably housed Income eligibility ●$46,000 individual income ●$96,000 family income (four person household) Our Services We provide a variety of critical safety-net services: ●Food -shopping ●Food -delivery ●Rental assistance ●Housing referrals & support ●Affordable housing ●Family support ●Homeless services ●Case management & system navigation ●Information and referrals ●Education and advocacy ●Employment and Financial assistance referrals Our Intervention ●Choice -Pantry to Market ●Food access is looked at with the lens of nutritional meals ●One stop shop approach ●Mobile operations (9 locations) ●Lived experience conversation ●Service learning opportunities ●Hunger and Housing advocacy for systems change WVCS Client Data (2023-2024) By the Numbers People came to WVCS for the first time Men, women, and children assisted Meals made possible by our food pantries Emergency rental assistance provided 2100 4,303 1,124,300 $ 1,066,119 Cupertino-2023-2024 ●304 new individuals ●453 households accessing Market ●400 individuals participated in Special Programs ●107 households received rental assistance in the amount of $196,182 ●Rental assistance in high demand, requests for support from small business owners and seniors on fixed income Our Approach ●Prevent imminent evictions and/or utility shut-off ●Reduce food costs, preserving household assets for other essential expenses (rent, childcare, medical bills, utilities, transportation) ●Provide assistance in navigating benefits available through the social services system in the County ●Help clients remain housed/house un-housed clients ●Develop a plan to reduce long-term debt and save money ●Explore new income and employment opportunities ●Support long-term stability and health for children and other household members ●Work with clients to develop and implement a plan that supports long term stability End Hunger and Homelessness ULTIMATE IMPACT PROGRAM COMPONENTS Food Market and Park-it Market Basic Needs Supports and Eviction Prevention Homelessness Supportive Services Community Access to Resource & Education (CARE) Program Homeless with significant financial and food needs In Crisis Vulnerable Self-Sufficient Unstably housed and financially vulnerable with significant food needs Stable housing and finances with regular food needs Self-sufficient in housing and finances with occasional food needs Programming not needed Outcome Areas: Program Components: Service Populations: Se l f -Su f f i c i e n c y Ma t r i x Depending on prescribed program intervention, and depending on where each service population group sits in the self-sufficiency scale, WVCS has expectations for how individuals or families should experience movement on that scale with the amount of intervention provided. As an individual receives services from programming, they can move into a new service population category and continue through additional programming to support their evolving needs. The matrices below convey how service populations are expected to move from one self-sufficiency level to the next with program intervention. Expected Outcomes Based on Life Circumstance and Program Participation WVCS has four program components that individuals in each service population category will interact with depending on their needs: SERVICE POPULATIONS WVCS thinks about its clients in four categories based on their life circumstances to make determinations for what services to offer clients: 1.Homeless with significant financial and food needs 2.Unstably housed and financially vulnerable with significant food needs 3.Stable housing and finances with regular food needs 4.Self-sufficient in housing and finances with occasional food needs OUTCOMES Food Security Financial security Housing security WVCS expects clients to improve in one or more of those critical areas corresponding to the program components they receive and their ability to engage in WVCS supports. WVCS uses a self-sufficiency matrix that identifies four progressive levels of development (in crisis, vulnerable, stable, and self-sufficient) for three critical areas of a person or family’s life: VALUES Compassion: We respond to the needs of others with sensitivity and kindness. Dignity: We treat everyone with honor and respect. Integrity: We operate with honesty and strong moral principles. Service: We bring the community together to help others. Diversity: We value each individual’s uniqueness. Ingenuity: We approach our work with creativity and resourcefulness. Stable WVCS Theory of Change IMPACT STORY Matthew is a 55-year-old client coming to WVCS since August 2024.He lives in an RV with his father,who is experiencing dementia.The client has utilized our food pantry multiple times weekly to assist his father and himself while they survive on general assistance income.Each time we speak with this client,we are thanked for WVCS generosity.Mathew indicated that without WVCS,they could not afford daily food.Matthew also told the case manager during their regular check-in that no one else checks on them,and WVCS is the first agency that goes above and beyond to ensure they are being supported. Cindy is a 71 year old senior living in Cupertino. Cindy came to WVCS requesting assistance with her back-due rent from May, August, and September after she reported that her identity had been stolen and that someone had closed her bank account. This left her unable to receive her SSI and ultimately unable to pay her rent. Cindy got a 3-day notice and was understandably stressed out by her situation. WVCS was able to assist her with her back due rent. The case manager also helped Cindy obtain a DMV voucher for a new ID at a reduced rate. The case manager additionally noticed several fees and transaction in the her bank statements which she was unaware. The case manager supported the client with canceling those services to relieve Cindy of some financial burden and enable her to pay for her basic needs. Pictures WVCS Market Pictures Park-it Market-DeAnza College Pictures-Back to School Pictures-Gift of Hope Pictures-Resource Fairs Pictures-Grocery rescue program Volunteerism