The mission of Abode Services is to end homelessness by assisting low-income, un-housed people, including those with special needs, to secure stable, supportive housing and to advocate for the removal of the causes of homelessness. The nonprofit was founded in Alameda County in 1989 after a small group of people came together to address the growing problem of homelessness in Fremont and the Tri-Valley Area. Today Abode Services serves thousands of people each year in Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Napa counties.

“We develop and implement innovative programs, combining housing and services to end homelessness,” says Bronwyn Hogan, Abode Services’ Vice President of Community Relations. “Our agency is built on the principles of Housing First, which finds that once formerly homeless persons have a roof over their heads, the services that follow are much more effective at helping them address any long-standing issues. That provides them stability that allows them to keep their housing and work toward a better future for themselves and their families. Housing First is a proven approach that has yielded far superior results than those of past strategies for ending homelessness. Our results show how effective our work has been at ending homelessness for vulnerable children and adults in our community.”

In Livermore, Abode runs Carmen Avenue Apartments, a 30-unit multifamily supportive housing development that opened in 2008 as the state’s most highly scored green affordable housing development thanks to its use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient technology. The one-acre property offers affordable housing and supportive services to community members who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Clients include domestic violence survivors, physically disabled persons, and youth aging out of the Alameda County Foster Care system. The development is near public transportation, shopping, employment, and educational facilities, and its amenities include a community room, office space, laundry room, play area, and a gathering area with a barbecue pit.

In Dublin, the nonprofit has partnered with the Office of Veterans Affairs to provide services and support to residents at Valor Crossing. Valor Crossing is a transit-oriented, affordable, supportive housing community that has set aside 25 units for formerly homeless military veterans. Abode Services also has developed or manages supportive housing developments that specifically assists veterans in other Bay Area cities.

Since 2010, Abode Services has provided homes to nearly 14,000 adults and children. Minors make up 20% of the population it serves. Abode has partnered with nearly 2,500 landlords and property owners since 2013, providing rental assistance and services with the goal of keeping thousands of adults and children stably housed. In 2020, Abode assisted 10,531 people and ensured that on any given night thousands of people slept in a home rather than on the street. More than 1,650 people were able to transition from Abode Service programs into permanent housing of their own.

“We provide units for our participants while offering landlords a range of services and incentives, working to ensure a smooth and mutually beneficial housing process for our participants and property owners,” notes Hogan.

The work of Abode Services is made possible by volunteers, community support, and donations. Each March Abode Services hosts its annual signature fundraising event, the Journey Home Breakfast. The next Journey Home Breakfast will be held on the morning of March 4, 2022, at the Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley.

For more information about Abode Services, please visit www.abodeservices.org.