Our Mission & Vision
Mission – To provide access to the services homeless people need to survive, become stable, and lead self-sufficient lives. Be an active partner in creating permanent affordable housing.
Vision – Our vision is that we all may one day live in a community without homelessness.
Our Approach
Through every program we manage, we are the first contact with our unhoused individuals. We are constantly assessing the evolving needs of those we serve, and are agile in adapting and expanding our programs to meet those needs.
“I cannot express how grateful I am for all your help. I never thought I’d find myself in this situation, but then again I’m sure millions of others around the country are saying the same thing.”
—Victor
For example, before the cold weather sets in, we launch a coat and blanket drive and spread the word that we’ll be taking referrals to our Cold Weather Shelter. Once winter arrives, we canvas our encampments with literature on safety measures for winter storms and provide warming center access information. When the pandemic set in, we distributed PPE to the encampments, disseminated safety protocol information in an accessible manner, and coordinated with the County Health Department to conduct regular testing of local encampments.
We also worked with the County Office of Supportive Housing to keep providing services in a safe manner even during outbreaks. Recently, we’ve expanded our operations to meet unsheltered clients where they live by providing services in the field.
Our History
2011
In 2011, a group of concerned citizens in South County came together to address the absence of critical services for the homeless in Gilroy. Collectively, they formed The Gilroy Compassion Center to take the lead in addressing the problem of homelessness in South County. Since 2011, the Compassion Center has opened South County’s only Drop-in Day Center for the homeless, where we provide basic needs services, individualized case management assessment, wrap-around support, and referral services.
We have hosted numerous Homeless Connect events where other agency service providers are on-site for unhoused Day Center clients to inquire directly for the services they need. We developed and piloted the Almost Home Camping Program that provides a safe haven for the unsheltered to camp and get access to important resources. A few years ago, the Compassion Center partnered with Santa Clara County, Home First and St. Joseph’s Family Center to provide a shelter for the unhoused during the winter at the Gilroy Armory.
2017
In 2017, the Compassion Center partnered with the City of Morgan Hill, Morgan Hill Police Department, County of Santa Clara, and the Morgan Hill Unified School District (MHUSD) to pilot the Safe Park Program, which is designed to provide respite and resources for local unsheltered families, and to facilitate family transition to more stable housing. To date, 58% of those who have entered the program have found sustainable permanent housing. We are presently searching for sites in Gilroy where we can replicate this program.
2020
In September 2020, we launched our Outreach component to reach more of our unhoused residents where they live by canvassing the streets to identify campers and directly deliver basic needs services, case management, and wrap-around services and agency referrals.
2021
In spring of 2021, we began our Emergency Rental Assistance Program in partnership with Destination: Home. It’s much harder to house someone than to keep them in their home. Our goal with this program is to prevent homelessness before it starts.
In the summer of 2021, we expanded efforts to provide the basics to encampment dwellers where they live through our Mobile Outreach. We also added weekly “Un-housed Popup Markets" at various locations throughout the South County, providing almost all of the services previously supplied to only the few who were able to visit our Day Center. These services include a medical van, weekly food boxes, personal portable toilets, and vouchers for laundry, and shower access, an on-site case manager, and much more.
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