Community Service Alliance

Causes: Homeless & Housing, Homeless Shelters

Mission: To be a catalyst of subsidized low-rent housing, training and transitional job opportunities for homeless men so that shelter population and accompanying public costs are reduced.

Programs: See schedule o community service alliance (csa) was founded in 2004 to introduce a new approach to individualized training and support, low rent housing, and transitional jobs for homeless persons. The mission of the organization is to be a catalyst for lasting relationships between people emerging out of homelessness and people willing to participate in their transformation. We accomplish that mission by providing affordable, short-term housing, identifying and securing local work experience and employment opportunities, and offering training that fosters personal, behavioral and spiritual support and development, all to promote the eventual independence and self-sufficiency of the men we serve. This past year has been one of growth and opportunity for csa and the men in our community who need us the most - men who are homeless, impoverished, marginalized. Three houses ~ procop house, fulton house and sandy's house ~ and the capacity to meet the needs of 41 men a continuum of housing to address short-term, and now long-term needs a much needed focus on homeless veterans additional employer and landlord partners that work with us so that csa's impact isn't "just a place to stay- and a growing network of individuals, faith communities and other organizations who provide a caring heart and a supportive hand so that the men we serve can be grounded in the values and faith that will help enhance their journey to independence. Journeys like the one of procop house resident, joe. Joe spent his youth in the foster care program. As soon as he was eligible, he joined the marine corps. After his discharge, joe pushed himself away from his family, lived off the streets, used drugs and alcohol to excess, and took advantage of the kindness of others. At the age of 25, broken, alone and without any other places to turn for support, joe came to csa and began a year-long journey of transformation. He immediately cleaned up his act and focused on positive changes that would lead him down a path of discovery and renewal. Csa connected joe with community resources to help with his goals. He obtained a part-time job with another nonprofit agency as a way of making an income and "giving back" to others. Today, joe has a full-time job driving for an executive car service and is making final plans to move on from procop house. For men like joe, and other chronically homeless and impoverished individuals, stable housing is an essential component of successful transition. The solution to the problem of chronic homelessness is permanent supportive housing, which is housing coupled with supportive services. With appropriate supports, permanent housing can serve as a foundation for rehabilitation, therapy, and improved health. Csa specifically addresses the gaps that exist in the community for men who are homeless and impoverished, and provides exactly the types of services and support to help move the men we serve in the direction toward success. However, csa believes in the principle of not doing for the poor what they have - or could have - the capacity to do for themselves, so we strive to empower our men through short-term housing, employment, and behavioral change to help their transition out of poverty and homelessness. Csa believes its program is perfectly aligned with our community's goal to address housing instability and the additional barriers and challenges it presents.