SHORT TERM RECOVERY
Recognizing those most vulnerable, those at the front lines of climate impacts, addressing needs, activating support systems of recovery
Unlike other victims of the fires that have devastated Sonoma County, undocumented immigrants do not qualify for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Lack of immigration status, limited English proficiency, and fear of immigration enforcement will also impede their access to disaster-relief services, even when they are eligible. Lack of familiarity or comfort with law enforcement, county departments, and financial institutions present additional barriers. Consequently, the fire victims will face significant challenges in meeting basic needs and rebuilding their lives here in Sonoma County where the cost of living is very high. The undocuFund will ensure that undocumented families in Sonoma County impacted by the fires will have the support and resources they need to recover and rebuild. The UndocuFund provided direct funding to undocumented immigrants in Sonoma County and their families to help with fire-related expenses. Between October 2017 and the Fund’s closure in December 2018, it raised and distributed roughly $6 million in direct assistance to almost 1,900 families whose lost homes, possessions and earnings in the fires. Many thanks to the hundreds of donors who made our work possible.
The Family Farm Recovery Fund provides disaster relief to victims of the 2017 North Bay Fires specifically from the agricultural community, including farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, farm interns and those whose livelihoods are directly tied to agriculture. Funds are available to help cover losses of homes, belongings, infrastructure, income, jobs, etc., with an aim to help recoup losses not covered by insurance or other, more traditional aid programs and a preference given to those enduring financial hardship or disadvantage, both before and after the fires. Funds are limited and assistance is not guaranteed, but we will do our best to support those in need during these tough times. Please fill out the below form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. To establish an integrated network of social and professional hubs across California where farmers connect, collaborate and find the resources they need to thrive within local food webs that stimulate stronger local economies, create social equity and sustain our natural resources.
Disaster Relief Fund: Legal Aid - mission is to promote social justice and advance basic human rights for vulnerable people in our community. The only agency in Sonoma County providing complete crisis legal services for battered women and children, and to those at risk of homelessness. We accomplish our work through the support of a broad range of Sonoma County benefactors and business leaders, as well as through volunteers throughout the legal and business communities. Legal Aid serves over 1,200 victims of Domestic Violence, 500 abused or neglected children, and over 1,000 families faced with homelessness, annually. Over 1/3 of our clients are Hispanic, and all are low income. Our services are unique within Sonoma County and the need for these services continues to grow.
Reach for Home provides opportunities and support for clients to work toward self-sufficiency, independence, and permanent housing. Reach for Home's mission is to end homelessness in North Sonoma County. Partnering with numerous organizations, we help people in North Sonoma County who are struggling with or at risk of losing housing. We are transforming lives by engaging our clients in an action plan for their success, and providing them with the skills needed to attain permanent housing. The Reach for Home Program is based on four main pillars: Outreach, First Step Housing, Family Transitional Program, and Rapid Re-Housing. The goal of our programs is for our clients to create a path to find long-term housing, generate income, achieve sobriety, and build functional life skills. On average, each client spends approximately two years in our services.
Cope Family Center empowers parents, nurture children and strengthen communities. We provide parents with the education, resources and support they need to raise children who thrive. Founded in 1972 in response to a child abuse-related death, Cope Family Center began as a volunteer grassroots organization focused primarily on child abuse prevention and awareness. Cope provides the support parents need to manage a variety of stressful situations and challenging life events so they can raise children who thrive. In the aftermath of the fires, this support will be in even greater demand. Cope is here to help alleviate the financial, mental and emotional stress by providing crisis intervention services, distributing emergency aid and connecting families with other community resources for further support. In addition, our parent education services help empower parents with the knowledge and skills to help them be present, engaged and nurturing parents even while managing the stress and trauma of the fires.
SoCo Music Coalition is a community focused music education center, whose students were directly impacted by the wildfires in 2017. A few of their families were unable to continue affording classes and concerts, but knew their children needed to express their pain and loss in healthy ways, within a supportive environment, with capable and caring adults and music guides. SoCo Music Coalition, is a group of experienced musicians, teachers, and business professionals who aim to provide people with the opportunity to learn to play and perform music. We use a band format, as it teaches collaboration and provides students with actual performance opportunities, as well as a musical library, for which they can borrow instruments.
UpValley Family Centers provide guidance, support, and resources in the community, in the home and for the individual, so that everyone can achieve a better life. The centers are based in Calistoga and St. Helena in upper Napa County - serving youth, adults and families in the communities of Calistoga, St. Helena and the surrounding areas of Deer Park, Angwin, Pope Valley, Lake Berryessa, Oakville, and Rutherford. Believing that healthy families are the foundation of a strong community, providing strengths-based, culturally relevant services, and coordinating resources and activities that educate, develop skills and promotes health and well-being. The UpValley Family Centers use a family resource center model for serving our community. In 2018, UpValley Family Centers served over 3,000 individuals, 468 households received Holiday Assistance and Emergency Aid (boosting their family's economic stability). 388 people assisted with immigration applications, consultations, and information. 130 children reached through our weekly Niños Activos playgroups. Our free tax preparation assistance program served 732 households, generating $887,000 in refunds.
CAFE | Conservation Action Fund for Education educates, engages and empowers the public on issues that concern sustainability and the environment in the North Coast region of California. Our primary mission is to provide education, engagement and empowerment. Wildfires that broke out across northern California in October 2017, wiped out thousands of Sonoma County structures and homes, burning over 100,000 acres of land, leaving properties layered in hazardous containment, from fire retardant, heavy metals and toxic ash to organic byproducts and exposed sediment that threatened our watershed. Public agencies partnered with grassroots organizations to create a Watershed Taskforce, sourcing control at burn sites, and short-term containment strategies, followed by long term remediation and monitoring.
