Sonoma Applied Village Services (SAVS) is a small homeless service agency in Sonoma County California. Our focus is street outreach.   Since 2020 we’ve served more than 2,500 individuals experiencing homelessness, of whom 29% are Latinx. 

We’re small, passionate and effective.  Our administrative work is done by volunteers, allowing our staff to focus on helping people.  Two members of our 3-person staff are first and second generation immigrants. 

We have always been fearless in including people from the communities we serve in our board, staff and planning.  Our first board included a formerly-homeless, formerly-addicted Latina, who remains a treasured board member today.  Our small staff has lived experience of homelessness and addiction as well as immigration.

We are Trusted Messengers.  We currently and routinely disseminate “Know Your Rights” materials, housing resources and immigration information.  We help homeless people get into stable shelter and housing - often the first step toward a job.

Currently we:

·       Employ a bilingual outreach case manager to serve Spanish-speaking homeless people.  

·       Cook and distribute 50-60 nutritious meals twice a week to homeless people throughout Santa Rosa. 

·       Manage a weekly afternoon space of belonging at at local community center.

SAVS is well known and connected with other homeless agencies.  Currently, our closest partners for weekly and daily work are the Jesus Cares 2020 Kitchen and The Arlene Francis Center.  We've successfully implemented five years of Sonoma County Health Department Street Outreach grants as well as several grants from the Sonoma County Community Foundation.

We are part of the community we serve; we respect our clients and know the value of empowering their lives.