Email Us!  FreshStartWC@comcast.net

Fresh Start is a respite and service center for those who are among the homeless and at risk of becoming homeless. In addition, Fresh Start serves both the unemployed and the working poor. The beauty of Fresh Start is that everyone is equal and all are respected. There is no time limit or restrictions on most of our services. People come to Fresh Start, not only for help, but also for the sense of community and solidarity.

Fresh Start provides:

·        A safe, quiet, peaceful atmosphere.. “like home”

·        Breakfast including cereal, eggs, milk, fresh fruits & vegetables, snacks, fresh juice, sodas, coffee & tea, Lunch and food to take to camp for dinner

·        Phones & computers that can be used to search for housing & jobs, scheduling of medical appointments & reconnecting with family

·        Three showers and the ultimate luxury, a bathtub

·        Washer & dryer, a living room for visiting, a “quiet room” for resting & 2 rooms for communal meals

·        Personalized case management

·        Friendship, care and support…A strong sense of community

·        Advocacy and assistance in accessing county, state and federal benefits

·        Legal Clinic

·        Medical Clinic

·        HIV Testing

·        Job Seekers Clinic

·        Alice’s Garden (providing fruits and vegetables for our lunches)

·        Food Pantry (primarily canned foods)

In addition to offering support and encouragement and helping one another make the tough daily decisions leading to a better future, participants are involved in the regular day-to-day operation of our respite center. Former participants sit on our Board of Directors. Volunteers from the community often donate lunch. We meet two days a week in the Fellowship House of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. St Paul’s donates the space and all utilities.

Non-Shelter Amelioration: Living outside is difficult. We provide tents, sleeping bags, water, food, and other items necessary to keep people healthy and warm while living outside. Police agencies tell us that our work in this area lessens the impact of homelessness on the community and cuts down on petty theft.

Court/Community Service advocacy: Participants are able to perform volunteer service at Fresh Start in lieu of jail times for many court-related issues. The volunteer service is designed for the individual and may include NA/AA meetings, literacy classes, living skills, and budget management, or anger management classes, if needed.

Union Dues: We assist out of work former union members to reconnect with their unions. We will assist with the payment of back union dues and related costs (e.g., tools, work boots, and transportation) when possible because union jobs are the only true living wage jobs that are available.

Speaker’s Bureau: Fresh Start participants, Executive Director & board members are available to speak to community groups.

Kids in School: Keeping homeless children in school by advocating on their behalf with the school district to make certain state laws/guidelines that apply to homeless children are followed. We also assist with school supplies, books, field trips and school clothes.

Independent Living: Several participants who received section 8 vouchers or who live in subsidized housing could not live independently without substantial support services. We provide those services.

Budget/Money Management: A retired business person helps people with budgets and money management.

Major Services:

·        Legal Assessment Workshop (weekly)

·        Legal Clinic (monthly)

·        Medical Clinic (weekly)

·        HIV Testing (monthly)

·        Employee Counseling and Employer Contacts

·        Transportation Services

In the years we have been in operation, it has become apparent that one of the major reasons for the success of Fresh Start is our consistency in providing services. Participants say that they “do not have to tell their story over and over again to strangers, dredging up a lot of pain in order to get help.” No one is “blamed”; nor are participants judged.

We thank you for taking the time to become acquainted with Fresh Start.

Fresh Start lives due to the friendship and support of many people in our community and through the generosity of others who support our work and the manner in which it is conducted.

Thanks to our many supporters and the generosity of San Francisco Radio Station KGO Thanksgiving Charity Drive and other corporate, union and private donors. 

Therefore, your support and friendship means all that much more to us.  All donations to Fresh Start are tax-deductible.