Here are some stories of actual PLACE clients. For more information on PLACE, click here.
Mary found herself and her six-year-old daughter homeless last year because of escalating utility costs which left her unable to pay her rent.
After moving into a residential motel Mary acquired a HUD voucher and began actively house-hunting.
With a landlord referral from the PLACE program, Mary found a safe, HUD-subsidized one-bedroom apartment for her family. She received
assistance from the CARES program for a portion of her delinquent City of Redding utility bill and agreed to a six-month payment plan for the balance owed.
Once stabilized in housing, Mary expressed to her PLACE case manager a desire to use her newly acquired knowledge to assist others in
their housing search. She stated “I wish I had known how to get my own credit report, how to complete applications and which landlords to avoid if you had an eviction”. Mary’s wish came true.
At the urging of her PLACE case manager, who also assisted with her resumé preparation,
Mary applied for and landed employment with an agency where she had worked in a clerical position through a CalWORKs Work Experience.
Mary now works full-time for an agency helping clients with employment and housing searches.
Mary, as a recipient of extended six month PLACE case management and mentoring, is now in a position to lend the same support and encouragement to others.
Martha had been residing with six children in one room at a residential motel since the fall of 1999.
Though she was not seeking housing when first contacted in January 2000, she had become overwhelmed and discouraged.
Martha had no transportation, and found searching for housing with six children very difficult.
PLACE Program staff worked with her for three months before she was ready to try to reconnect with services.
Martha cooked all meals for her family in a microwave and electric skillet; her oven did not work.
She and her family of six slept on two beds and on the minimal floor space available. Martha’s
children attended school regularly, were always clean, well fed, and well mannered. These attributes played a huge part in her obtaining housing.
Martha moved into a home in the fall of 2000. After she had been in her new home for a week, the PLACE Program
received a call from the property manager stating that he had received two calls from other tenants stating that Martha and her children were GREAT NEIGHBORS!!!
Martha now has her drivers license, has purchased a used van, and is a an insured driver.
More Info
» Contact
our PLACE staff
at:
NVCSS
2400 Washington Ave
Redding, CA
96001-2832
(530) 241-0552
(800) 846-1451
» Child—"Mommy what is the name of this motel?”
Mother—“This isn’t a motel, this is our new home!”
Child—“Mommy what’s a home?”
Statement from a three year old who just moved to an apartment after living in a variety of motels for over a year.