With no limit of stay, families can enter into secure housing.
In fact, 2/3 of all SOP families transition into secure housing within 1 year of entering the program.
With no limits of stay, SOP assisted 78 unhoused families, which totals 194 individuals, in 2019. Either permanent supportive housing or renting their own place, families were less likely to return to housing insecurity.
Maria Flores and her son Mateo embrace in the hallway of their new apartment building. In 2019, the two were evicted from the apartment Mateo had lived in since birth.
Credit: Marissa Leshnov / The Hechinger Report
Play Phone Interview of
Anonymous SOP Alum Testimony
[In my first week] I feel so grateful, I came here with nothing, no job, no house, no place to go. I was sleeping in my car. I have no one. But here . . . there is food, I am warm and happy.
I feel safe because like the [shelter monitors] walk around at night and check on us. Nothing bad will happen. I am safe, I can relax.
I was sleeping in hotels night after night. [The price] was stopping me from saving money to better my situation. I had heard stories about how dangerous shelters can be, but [Jacqui] welcomed me. She made me feel safe.