Founded in 1988, COTS was an expression of two local residents’ concern for children and adults who were sleeping in culverts, dumpsters, or other unsafe and unsuitable conditions. Our founders, Laure Reichek and Mary Isaak, raised money, enlisted community support, educated the larger community about homelessness, and created temporary shelters throughout the city. Their vision was to end homelessness.
Now, over thirty years later, we are still engaged in this challenge with the hope of ending homelessness in Sonoma County.
There are few things more damaging to the human spirit and more harmful to an entire community than for a person to experience homelessness. Homelessness is complicated and there are many reasons why a person becomes homeless. Those reasons cannot be solved by a hot shower, a warm meal, or a bed. If we are to help someone, then we must address the issues that caused their homelessness, including loss of employment, physical and behavioral health challenges, childhood trauma, and lack of social supports and life skills.
With your support, we can continue our mission of assisting those experiencing homelessness in finding and keeping housing, increasing self-sufficiency, and improving well-being. Thank you for helping us create a community where everyone has a place to call home.
