The City of Santa Clara contracts with a number of agencies to provide community services to our residents, especially those that are low income.  Here are brief descriptions of a few of the local nonprofit agencies funded by either the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement program or the Redevelopment Agency Affordable Housing Fund program.  A full list can be found on the City’s website at http://santaclaraca.gov/plan_inspection/hou_npp.html.

EHC LifeBuilders

This organization helps homeless families become self-sufficient.  It operates the Sobrato Family Living Center in Santa Clara which offers a dynamic approach to serving, educating and supporting all families so that they can stay in a family unit while they find their way out of homelessness.  EHC LifeBuilders works with volunteers to mentor and educate youngsters and train parents on a variety of levels, from life skills to money management to job search.

Even though there has been a steady rise in family homelessness, EHC LifeBuilders Family Division continues to positively impact the lives of hundreds of families in Santa Clara County through education and innovative housing solutions. Since 2001, 97% of EHC LifeBuilders families have moved into stable housing.  For more information about EHC LifeBuilders, visit www.ehclifebuilders.org or call 539-2100.

Heart of the Valley

For 19 years, Heart of the Valley volunteers have helped seniors who reside in West Santa Clara County.  Its mission is to help seniors stay independent.  Escorted transportation is provided to medical appointments, shopping and errands, hospital and cemetery visits, and other errands. Volunteers also provide a wide variety of in‑home services, including handyman services, yard work, house projects, visitation, help with paperwork and computers, do shopping and run errands.  Heart of the Valley is not able to transport wheelchair clients.

Clients must be 59 years of age or older. There are no waiting lists, no applications to be filled out and no billing charges, although requests for assistance must be made 7 days in advance. The City of Santa Clara subsidizes rides for all Santa Clara seniors. For information call Heart of the Valley at 241‑1751 or check out www.servicesforseniors.org.  Volunteers are always needed.

Project Sentinel

Project Sentinel provides housing counseling, information and referral, and dispute resolution to both tenants and landlords in Santa Clara City.  Agency staff explains the applicable rights and responsibilities in rental housing situations such as termination of tenancies, repairs and maintenance, rent increases and security deposits.  When needed, professional mediators are available to help resolve disputes.

Other services of Project Sentinel focus on housing discrimination issues. Fair housing investigations include paired testing, witness interviews, surveys, and document review.

Project Sentinel also provides assistance to homebuyers and homeowners. The agency assists first time homebuyers address credit issues, as well as explains the mechanics of financing and purchasing a first home.  The agency also offers intervention for homeowners facing mortgage default.

Services are timely, free, neutral and confidential.  Project Sentinel has educational literature available in various languages, including Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. 
For more information and assistance, call 720-9888.

Silicon Valley Independent Living Center

The Silicon Valley Independent Living Center is a community-based resource center to help people with disabilities who live in Santa Clara County attain independence. The agency offers a variety of services including:  assistive technology services, housing referral, independent living skills training, individual and community advocacy, information & referral, benefits counseling, recreation services, peer and therapeutic counseling, personal assistance referral and management training, residential training, resource library, computer skills, vocational training, and job placement.  For more information call 894-9041 or visit the website at www.svilc.org. 

Support Network for Battered Women

Domestic violence affects one in three women and is an escalating pattern of behavior where one partner in an intimate relationship controls the other through force, intimidation or the threat of violence. The Support Network for Battered Women offers a 24‑ hour toll‑free help line in English and Spanish (1‑800‑572‑2782), emergency shelter and assistance, bilingual crisis counseling, weekly support groups, individual therapy for women and children, children's programming, and legal services.  For more information please visit the website www.snbw.org or call 541-6100.