Meeting Sponsor for May 21, 2012 - Jeff Raimundo - Townsend Raimundo Besler & Usher

For more than 15 years, Cottage Housing, Inc., has been dedicated to providing healing communities to help individuals and families transition from homelessness to self-sustainability.

Today, homelessness remains one of Sacramento's most visible and difficult social problems.

More than 1,500 people live on the streets, in the American River parkway and in local shelters on any given night.

Success does not come easy for the folks who find themselves in need of the kinds of unique services provided by Cottage Housing.

Many have suffered through drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness, prison and jail terms, broken families, abuse and neglect.

Cottage Housing's participant-driven approach at Quinn Cottages on North A Street and Serna Village at McClellan Park has been widely recognized as one of Sacramento's premiere success stories.

Today thousands of Cottage Housing graduates have gained good jobs, advanced their education, reunited families, own homes and have been clean and sober for years, thanks to the program's one-on-one approach.

And that's a benefit not only to those who succeed in their quest, but also for taxpayers.

Taxpayers save approximately $48,000 for each person released from prison and who does not return.

Taxpayers save about $50,000 a year for each family permanently reunited, taking kids out of protective services and foster care.

Taxpayers save more than $10,000 a year for each person who finds a job and no longer needs welfare and food stamps.

Cottage Housing can't do it alone, however. Like all charitable organizations in these tough economic times, they need your support.

Please consider what you can do to help attack homelessness in Sacramento. Google Cottage Housing Inc. or go to www.cottagehousing.org to see how you can help attack homelessness in Sacramento.

Thank you.