The City of Santa Rosa, in conjunction with Catholic Charities, the shelter operator, will open Samuel L. Jones Hall (SJH) homeless shelter and community center at 4020 Finley Avenue, on Finley Avenue near South Wright Road in southwest Santa Rosa, on Monday, November 14. A dedication ceremony is planned for Thursday, November 10, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend and tour the facility. The building is currently being renovated. Services will be similar to those at other shelters operated by Catholic Charities. SJH will offer services to willing participants towards attaining transitional and permanent housing through money management, referrals to treatment, and obtaining health and social security benefi ts.
The shelter will be one of several programs operated by Catholic Charities in the Santa Rosa vicinity, joining Brookwood, Russell Avenue, the Family Support Center, the Homeless Service Center and Nightingale Respite Program. Clientele will be screened off site and be agreeable to shelter rules. SJH will have an 80- bed capacity on a year round basis, though it will start with fewer and build to 80 as additional funds are raised to support needed staffi ng and services. The 12.3-acre SJH site was previously an Army Reserve training center. Approximately 5,800 of the17,000 square foot structure will provide two dormitory rooms. A commercial kitchen, new restrooms with shower and laundry facilities, as well as an approximately 1,000 square foot dining/meeting room will serve the shelter. Offi ces will be provided for shelter staff and the Santa Rosa Police Department.
In addition to its Wish List on page 6, Catholic Charities is seeking newer small refrigerators, a TV, DVD, and VCR, and cash donations for institutional beds, vinyl covered mattresses, and a new leather or vinyl sofa and chairs for Samuel L. Jones Hall. The City’s Department of Recreation and Parks will use the Community Center portion of the building as a gymnasium and meeting facility. Recreation and Parks is developing programs that will start in November/December to serve the immediate neighborhood. An independently accessible storage room for the City’s Graffi ti Removal Program is adjacent to the Community Center. Samuel L. Jones Hall has been years in development.
Thanks to the efforts of the City of Santa Rosa, Community Foundation, County, and Task Force through Shelter Solutions, along with Catholic Charities and many others, it will be a welcome new resource for local homeless people.