Help For Homeless Needing A Warm Place To Stay

Photo taken by: Stephene Tune

Sonora, CA – Tuolumne County Social Services and charities are working together to meet the majority of homeless needs during this inclement weather, and the CAO office is providing ways others can assist as well.

Currently, the cold conditions do not meet the Tuolumne County Extreme Temperature Contingency Plan to open a 24-hour emergency shelter and provide outside emergency services money, according to county OES officials. However, the Tuolumne County Department of Social Services says it has enough state funding to continue to provide hotel stays for those who are eligible. They include people over the age of 60, people with disabilities, families with children, and young adults aged 18 to 26. Questions regarding the eligibility of services can be directed to Social Services at 209-768-9784. Those in need can call up until 9 p.m. during a weather event or 209-533-5719 during normal business hours.

Another shelter source is Compassion Outreach. It has funding for hotel stays for individuals and families who meet their criteria. For more information on eligibility, call Shelley Muniz at 209-770-4347 or Nancy Scott at 209-352-3398.

Those wanting to know how they can assist the homeless during times of bad weather have the option provided by the CAO’s office below:

• Donate Funds to Compassion Outreach by calling 209-770-4347. All donations are tax-deductible and will be used to provide hotel stays for the unhoused.
• Donate cases of bottled water, individually packaged snacks, socks, and hand-warmers to the Tuolumne County Behavioral Health Enrichment Center located at 101 Hospital Road in Sonora, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Volunteer when the Enrichment Center is used as a warming center. Call 209-533-7083 for more information. information.
• Reach out to your church leaders to discuss opening warming centers and/or overnight shelters for those in need.