I began helping this agency over twenty years ago serving homeless men a meal on Sunday night. I joined the board ten years ago and have seen the mission serve men, women and children find housing, learn to get a job or to improve to a better job. They provide interim housing and services to aid the residents find permanent housing. They offer services in English and Spanish . They provide life skills training, health assessment and financial skills to help the resident become self sufficient .
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I have done volunteer work at the agency for homeless men, women and children. I started by providing Sunday night dinner when the cook was off. We were a team of three and cooked and served the residents. This was indeed an activity that made us feel that we were needed. We loved interacting with the residents and they told us how much they loved our meals.
San Jose Obrero Mission offers Financial Literacy, Life Skills and Career Training classes in English and Spanish to all of the participants. All the participants are assigned a case manager that helps them with their needs. The program helps the participants to be self-sufficient and increase their self-esteem with various workshops offered by outside services. Through the community linkage agreements, the participants can be seen by other counselors, doctors and receive other services free of charge to them. Once a the participant is ready to exit, the case manger arranges the proper transportation so that the participant is able to go to their new place.
I work with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and do regular outreach with the residents at San Jose Obrero Mission's two sites: Women and Families in Crisis, and Men in Crisis. SJOM staff gives hope to men, women and children who are experiencing homelessness by providing them with high-quality services, safe facilities, and opportunities and motivation for personal and career growth. The staff really cares, and often goes above and beyond what they have to, for example, organizing special events on their own time for clients to attend and to raise money for SJOM. SJOM is open to people from all backgrounds, but is particularly capable at serving Latino clients, and is a pillar in the Pilsen and La Villita communities. A story I often hear from clients is this: "I have been in Pilsen for 20 years. I always knew this place was here, but never thought I would become homeless. Now that I am in this situation, I am so thankful for San Jose Obrero Mission. Without them I would be sleeping in the street. Because of them, I got a job, am saving money, and am getting ready to move into my own place."
San Jose Obrero Mission is an agency which provides employment and housing. There Interim Housing Program serves single men, women with children and single women as well. San Jose Obrero Mission helps participants get on their feet, with income, housing and programs that will benefit them. I have seen participants successfully complete the program and find housing thru San Jose Obrero Mssion.
Thank you San Jose Obrero Mission for taking on an issue that many people feel is a strain and epedimic on our society. Keep on standing up for those that are most vulnerable.
A friendy and warm enviroment. A system that works. The participants are expected to follow house rules but are also made to feel part of a family. Not your average shelter. It encourages and assists the participants to become self suffient once again and gives them the life skills to maintain the knowledge learned at SJOM.
This is a Interim Housing Program ,serving women with children and single women as well. This program is open all year around, they offer comprehensive services that empower its Participants to transform their lives. Great Place!!
San Jose Obrero Mission is a non-profit organization that really helps the people in need. Not only by providing our men, women, and families with shelter and food but with so much more. SJOM provides programs like life skill and career classes so our men and women are equipped for the real world. SJOM is preparing each person to get back into society by helping them find a job and a place to live. As a volunteer coordinator I have seen the reward of helping out the families by taking care of the kids so mom can go and find a job or go to that job interview. Honestly, being a volunteer and serving the people in my community is the best job ever.
I have witnessed first hand the good this organization does for the community. They provide comprehensive services to the clients there, from life skills to job skills to meals. I was impressed at the lengths they go to to help the clients. From trying to hunt down documentation for benefits and I was so impressed by the quality of meals they served. The shelters are super clean and very safe. I was honored to volunteer there and feel they are such an asset to the community.
As a resident of the community that is served by San Jose Obrero Mission, I feel privileged to have firsthand knowledge of the comprehensive services that are provided by this not-for-profit organization. The staff members are very committed to delivering a nurturing and safe environment for all participants who come through their doors. The executive director, Israel Vargas is dedicated to making the aspirations of all participants a reality through training and by seeking out varied resources to empower participants through employment and housing opportunities.
I have worked with the Executive Director of San Jose for years on various homeless initiatives. When Israel became the director of this amazing shelter in the Pilsen area in Chicago it was as if that corner of the neighborhood had been lifted up. Israel is a great leader and his staff is very caring and professional. The men and woman they serve have told me on more than one occasion how much they feel valued and supported. That means a lot for this particular community.
I serve as Executive Director to San Jose Obrero Mission. In the past four years San Jose Obrero Mission has become a pioneer of a new kind of Interim Housing in Chicago. Focusing in the Latino communities, our bilingual services exemplifies the services we offer to our Latino men, women, and children ensuring education on every level be the foundation that will stabilize peoples lives. As a former homeless man i understand the journey of a person or familiy without support or resources to become contributing members of society. As we hold everyone accountable, we have seen many thus far move into permanent housing which brings us joy to know that we are helping the economy as we help others.
I came to San Jose in the Fall of 2011 after meeting the Director at a community event. He was so passionate about San Jose Obrero that when he said, "You simply have to come take a tour and see what we are all about", I took him up on his offer. This truly is a place for those that want to change, rebuild thier lives to be. SJOM partners with individuals, families that are homeless and are committed to ending that cycle in their lives. As I walked through and observed the interaction of staff members with participants, saw the structure, and shoulder to shoulder approach in helping the participants rebuild their lives I knew I had to give a helping hand. I have taken others now to Tour SJOM and they too feel the energy and passion and have given their helping hand. San Jose Obrero mission is changing lives.