Beyond Shelter
Shelter may be the most obvious type of support COTS provides to families and individuals, but it certainly is not the only type. For example, our clients are required to save a percentage of their income each month (40 percent for families; 70 percent for individuals). This goal helps prepare them for a move into permanent housing within four to six months of their arrival in shelter.
COTS case managers work with families and individuals living in the community as well as in shelter – setting goals, helping them negotiate the complex welfare system, connecting them with affordable childcare resources and much more.
From Oct. 1, 2008 to Sept. 30, 2009, COTS provided outreach and support services to a total of 212 homeless adults and 153 homeless families (203 parents and 248 children), in emergency shelter and in the community.
In addition, with the help of volunteers, COTS provides clients with a number of opportunities for education and personal growth. These have included workforce training programs, budgeting and financial management workshops, parenting classes, computer training, creative writing groups, women’s groups, individual tutoring, cooking and grocery shopping classes, and healthy food demonstrations.
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