COMMUNITY IMPACT
With a well-known and wide spread knowledge that Riverside County is extremely under-resourced with regard to all homeless related services most especially in the area of housing (emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive), Project T.O.U.C.H. was strongly led to help fill that gap.
In 2007, the need was identified to assist local law enforcement with regard to homeless related calls. Law enforcement was frustrated with the lack of services and resources in the region to be able to effectively respond to these overwhelming needs. Through Project T.O.U.C.H.’s partnership with Law Enforcement we were able to assist both the individuals and officers on the front lines when the calls were placed saving the officers and municipalities many valuable man hours, yet the most important tool of all was still missing…EMERGENCY SHELTER AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING!
In 2009, Project T.O.U.C.H. began sheltering people from the winter elements inside of local churches. By truly serving those in need – the coalition grew rapidly which fueled the political will of the community to meet the most basic of humanitarian needs. By simply adding the component of housing we were able to make a profound difference in the lives of individuals as well as law enforcement.
- Our shared housing and homeless prevention program was established in 2011. It arose out of the desire of 35 chronically homeless individuals who made the decision they no longer wanted to be homeless
- After the closing of the winter shelter those 35 clients occupied our first 5 apartments.
- With their commitment and dedication to helping others, the blueprint of this model was established
- Within one year, the results of their hard work and dedication allowed us to grow to 23 apartments
- Because of these unsung heroes – for the first time we were able to house women, children and families
- Through the dedication and servanthood of our clients this self-sustaining model continues today
- Within the last year, we have been able to purchase a 22 bed facility giving us more control over costs – providing more sustainability to the organization
- Project T.O.U.C.H. has been operating an annual winter shelter for the past 7 years. The first three years based out of local churches, the last four years the shelter has operated out of a local Extended Stay Hotel.
From the inception of these programs – Project T.O.U.C.H. has been honored to serve municipalities and individuals alike saving cities and tax payers countless dollars by taking care of their most vulnerable citizens.
