Sacred Heart Community Service

Essential services:- welcome center - the main registration area for the organization provides resource referrals and information. The welcome center also distributes newborn layettes to expecting parents and offers 4 bus tokens per month for doctor and parole appointments.- food pantry - provides a 3-day supplemental supply of food once per week regardless of zip code. The pantry also provides surplus fruits and vegetables up to once per week as well as bag lunches each day. We provide non-cooking bags for families without cooking facilities. Additionally, the pantry supplies diapers for children under 3 and formula under 1, subject to availability.- clothes closet - provides gently used clothing, blankets, and linens to customers, once per week and distributes survival sack backpacks full of hygiene supplies, underwear, socks, and a blanket to unhoused customers.- la mesa verde - organizes low-income families and master gardeners to build and maintain organic home gardens, enabling them to grow healthy, nutritious food. This initiative includes providing hands-on training, resources, and ongoing support to ensure families can successfully cultivate their gardens. By fostering self-sufficiency and promoting sustainable practices, the program aims to improve food security and overall well-being in the community.- tap (transit assistance program) - we have established a contract with the valley transportation authority (vta) for the transit assistance program (tap). This program provides reduced monthly adult bus passes to our members. While the standard cost of a vta bus pass is $90, tap members pay only $25 in cash per pass. Tap passes offer unlimited rides on vta buses and light rail for the entire month indicated on the pass. This partnership aims to enhance accessibility to transportation for low-income individuals, supporting their mobility and independence within the community. The program is designed to ease the financial burden of transportation costs, contributing to the overall well-being and economic stability of our members.

Family assistance:family assistance - provides assistance to families and individuals at high risk of losing their housing. The intervention delivers case management coordinated with multi-month rental assistance for secure and appropriate rental housing.

Energy assistance programs:- low-income home energy assistance programs - provides assistance to help pay utility bills and avoid energy related crises for households that are experiencing financial hardship.- water assistance relief - provides payment assistance to help low-income households pay their drinking water and wastewater bills. Since october 2021, the organization has served many households, restored water and wastewater services, prevented disconnections, reduced water bills, and provided water conservation education to santa clara county residents in partnership with santa clara valley water district and the low income water assistance program.

Self-sufficiency programsfamily support network:- safe, secure, and loved: resilient families (ssl:rf) - a preventive workshop designed to address child abuse and neglect by empowering parents and caretakers in san jose and gilroy with essential skills to provide sensitive and supportive care to children aged 0-3. The program emphasizes the importance of fostering healthy attachments between children and their caregivers, which is vital for building resilience in young children. Strong attachments not only help children cope with the challenges of poverty but also improve their social, behavioral, and academic outcomes. Through participation in this program, families can potentially reduce their need for future intervention services from schools and child protective services.- english as a second language (esl), parenting classes & early childhood education (ece) - these classes are designed for parents and their children aged 3 to 5 years. The parents of preschoolers program provides parents with valuable insights into various parenting techniques and child development approaches, while also teaching basic english skills essential for effective communication with their child's physician, teacher, and other professionals. At the same time, children attend early childhood education (ece) classes, where they learn kindergarten readiness skills, preparing them for a successful start in school.education: - after school academy - provides after school learning, outreach, and enrichment program for children from grades 1-5; tutoring and homework time; organized activities and field trips; protein and fruit snacks provided each day. Past academy students in grades 6-8 engage in leadership development by assisting younger students and learning mindfulness techniques to cope with stress and emotions in a healthy manner.-summer academy -provides summer camp with an academic focus for children entering grades 4-8; designed to enrich their summer with learning and prepare them for the coming school year; weekly field trips; afternoon enrichment activities.-computer classes - classes taught at varied skill levels are offered in both english and spanish.economic justice network- digital inclusion program - these classes, offered in both spanish and english, cater to community members at beginner and intermediate levels. Upon completing the program, participants receive a free device to help bridge the digital divide. The program also assists under connected households in accessing affordable internet connectivity, ensuring they stay connected and empowered.- employment services - assists job-seekers to secure employment by providing them with support and resources that empower them to become economically self-sufficient. Services include individualized assessment, job readiness and skills development workshops, vocational counseling, and financial education.- asset building for independence - provides individuals and families with concrete pathways to economic self-sufficiency through financial educational classes, individualized coaching, and income tax assistance. Programs include: volunteer income tax assistance ("vita"), financial education workshops, public benefits eligibility screening, and individualized credit coaching.- logrando juntos - a financial literacy club that harnesses peer support to help individuals and families improve their lives. In this program, members are grouped into cohorts of 10 to 15 people. Through the logrando juntos program, the organization offers workshops on identity theft, credit building strategies, budgeting and saving and planning for paying for college.

Power and organizing:- power and organizing - enriches our community by strengthening the voice and presence of low-income community members and their allies in decision-making processes that impact the structural cause of poverty. Through leadership development, research, education, and action, the organization's members directly benefit the communities it serves by identifying and addressing the issues that matter to individuals the most. Since 2009, the organization has leveraged that trust of the community in creative ways to build a grassroots base, program collaborations, and advocacy coalitions. Collective campaigns have led to meaningful victories for affordable housing funding and production, minimum wages, tenant protection, carceral reform, racial equity, and immigrant rights.

Community outreach and education:- volunteer office - engages community members and customers in structured volunteer services at the organization.- outreach and education - reaches out to the community to engage and educate people about poverty and potential solutions to poverty in santa clara county. Includes educational classes and immersion programs.

Organizational development/other to accommodate:- data analysis & program improvement - provides for the collection of data on strategic priorities, service provision, and their outcomes for use in analyzing the effectiveness of programs and strategies and informing any modification of services, policies, and procedures as necessary.