St Vincent De Paul Society

Programs: Council programs - the council operates the rotating emergency shelter team (rest) winter shelter expansion in conjunction with dozens of local congregations. Rest provides a much-needed respite during the winter months for up to 40 men and 20 women. The marin homeless outreach team (hot) is a collaborative effort of local public and nonprofit entities designed to bridge the system gaps and assist those in greatest need to access permanent housing. Hot focuses on finding housing solutions for the hardest-to-serve chronically homeless individuals. The council also operates 8 permanent supportive housing units for formerly homeless people, provides the transportation and structure for the southern marin meal program and hosts the community court for low income and homeless individuals.

free dining room - the free dining room was created in 1981 to serve marin county's hungry citizens nutritious, well-balanced meals in a welcoming atmosphere. The free dining room has served more than 2 million meals since then, often providing the only sustenance of the day for those who eat there. Many diners are marin's "working poor," struggling to stay housed, living in poverty and trying to make ends meet. The dining room serves senior citizens, veterans, and people with disabilities, both homeless and housed in the community. The dining room currently serves over 200,000 meals annually.

conferences - the society's 12 subordinate conferences provide homeless prevention throughout marin county. Through the home visit program, over 2,000 individuals and families struggling to remain housed received rental assistance, food, and utility bill assistance. In addition, the homeless help desk assists people living without housing with critical needs including transportation, prescriptions, dental care, rental deposits and housing.