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Sibling Piggyback

It started when a homeless man died in one of our churches.

Our goal is to prevent and end homelessness!

We serve homeless and struggling families in the

Santa Clara River Valley with shelter, food, resources

and case management.

 

We work in partnership with Ventura County Continuum of Care,

Food Share, Waste Free Ventura County, Behavioral Health and

State of California CalRecycle

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Street Outreach

This is the most difficult part of our

work. Living on the street becomes normal, and if substance abuse is

part of their life, everything is more

complicated.They lose their important

documents, their phone, and miss appointments. They regularly change

phone numbers and everyone loses contact with them. We go where they

are and, with time, the goal is to 

register them in the Homeless Management Information System to track their progress and needs.

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Project Shine

Because so many kids live at

Harvard, we try to make life at the shelter seem normal. As a result, they regard Harvard as their home.

Tailored activites are arranged and trust groups come to Harvard to provide various activities including crafts, 

tutoring and inspiring conversations.

Harvard Shelter is a better place because of the kids. Parents separated from their own kids share in their

care and nurture--and the kids have each other to entertain.

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Food Rescue

Thanks to a grant from CalRecyle, State of California, we became pros

at rescuing food. We have two

refrigerated vans and travel throughout

the County on a daily basis to visit

various grocery stores and food outlets including Amazon, Costco, Trader Joe's and many other stores.

As a result, we manage to distribute

1 million lbs of food each year to our community and our shelter food budget is at zero. We are an efficient operation and do a lot with a little.

Homeless Family Shelter

Get to Know Us

Harvard Shelter is a place where families who have lost hope can find it.  

SPIRIT of Santa Paula has been serving the least powerful and most vulnerable in the Santa Clara Valley since 2002.  It provides 49 beds year-round, 175 meals a day to shelter guests and people on the streets, case management to help people get back on their feet to find permanent supportive housing, and showers to homeless neighbors in the Valley.  We distribute 1 million pounds of food each year to people who are food insecure.  

We have the highest Platinum Rating with GuideStar for fiscal transparency.

Needs of the Week

We appreciate your generous contribution and every little bit goes a long way

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Shelter Needs

  • White T - shirts (new preferred)

  • Pillowcases, zippered and moisture proof

  • New men's or women's underwear

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Donations of Funds

  • Gasoline for the vehicles

  • Utilities 

  • Insurance

  • Supplies

  • Daily Operations

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Help If You Can

Our biggest concern today is funding for July, August and September. Please help if you can.

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"One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone."- Shannon L. Alder

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