OUTREACH forges links between people needing services and those who can help by providing transportation, social services, and financial services. Because of OUTREACH, more than 14,000 elderly, disabled of all ages, low-income persons, and families in Santa Clara County are able to benefit from vital services supporting their health, well being, and independence.
OUTREACH programs:
Paratransit - Door-to-door paratransit
is arranged for any county resident with a disability preventing
them from safely using public transit. Service is provided every
day of the year, allowing over 10,000 people access to medical
care, shopping, educational opportunities, and more. This year,
OUTREACH will provide over one million rides safely connecting
riders to their destinations. Riders range in age from toddlers
to those over 100 years of age.
The Guaranteed Ride Home - for
those leaving public assistance and joining the work force. OUTREACH
will provide approximately 30,000 rides for persons and their
low-income families, to help job retention and foster self-reliance.
Over 1,000 parents with young children are currently riding. This
is a demonstration project involving the Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), County of Santa
Clara Social Services Agency, and OUTREACH.
LIFT - After-School Transportation for
School Aged Children - FREE after-school transportation from school
to day-care, after-school programs, neighborhood and community
programs, and so forth selected by the family. Each destination
has adult supervision. Eligible children are ages 5 to 13 years,
who are CalWORKs and low-income. Rides are provided Mondays through
Fridays, and flexible schedules are accommodated. All rides are
pre-scheduled and are within 5 miles of their school location.
All vehicles have attendants on board for the safety and security
of the child riders. This demonstration is made possible by the
County of Santa Clara, Social Service Agency, the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission (MTC), and the Valley Transportation
Authority (VTA).
Senior Outreach - Hands-on
assistance is provided to frail seniors and disabled adults needing
help obtaining available services. Trained social workers work
with nearly 2,000 residents, filling out forms, applying for benefits,
arranging for medical or in-home care, or other services as needed.
Our goal, as always, is to keep people living as independently
as possible. OUTREACH workers maintain offices in four community
centers around the county to more readily be available to isolated
seniors, and go to their homes as needed.
Money Management - Personal money management services are provided
to low-income people whose health and independence are threatened
by their inability to manage their own financial affairs. OUTREACH
Money Management Counselors develop a personal budget and plan
for each of the 400 to 500 people in the program each month. The
Counselors receive checks, manage the funds, pay bills, and deal
with any problems, ensuring that each service recipient has their
basic needs met. Many of these clients would otherwise remain
homeless.
Energy Program - Energy conservation
and financial assistance for seniors and disabled persons so that
they can better cope with energy shortages, reduce their energy
usage and bills, and get financial assistance to pay their utility
bills.
"The mission of OUTREACH is to connect individuals in
the Bay Area with the services they need to maintain or improve
their independence and dignity. We do this with a holistic approach,
applying technology and partnerships to achieve the highest benefit
for our clients and community."
OUTREACH
926 Rock Ave., Suite 10
San Jose, CA 95131
Telephone: (408) 436-2865
Fax: (408) 382-0470
E-mail: admin@outreach1.org