Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS) is designated as the Emergency Assistance Network agency (EAN) for all zip codes in Sunnyvale, CA. As the safety net agency in our community, SCS addresses immediate critical needs to help families and seniors stay housed with food on the table and utilities turned on as they work toward self-sufficiency. We serve every eligible client who comes to us for help, never turning anyone away due to lack of resources - even though that has become increasingly challenging with the rapidly growing need for our help. Our clients are Sunnyvale residents and homeless families. Last year we served over 6,800 individuals, disbursing nearly $800,000 in financial aid. Families receiving financial aid received a personalized 3-month budget to help them get back on track. As one of the largest partners of Second Harvest Food Bank, we engage over 1,000 volunteers help to distribute 850 tons of nutritious food and fresh produce annually. In the last three years, SCS has built a strong foundation in comprehensive case management for homeless individuals as well as seniors and families in crisis. We have collaborated on new health and wellness programs to support healthy nutrition and financial education and credit repair to help clients become self-sufficient. In 2015, we launched our Supportive Services for Veterans Families, funded by the U.S. Veterans Administration to assist veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to move into stable housing.
Founded in 1970, Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS) is an independent, nonprofit emergency assistance agency. SCS' Comprehensive Emergency Assistance includes the following client services:
* Financial assistance for rent, utilities, medical care, prescriptions, and other critical bills, as well as for deposits for homeless families who have sufficient income for monthly bills but do not have the required deposits
* "Produce Mondays" giving more than 800 families 25-40 lbs. of fresh fruits and vegetables each week, along with recipes and information on healthy living, in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank
* Monthly food distributions, giving three days of nutritious food each month
* Pantry Days giving families a choice of days to select food, produce, household items, and "extras" each month
* Daily emergency food bags, in collaboration with Sunnyvale FISH
* Kids' Head-to-Toe Summer Program, giving extra nutritious foods when school meal programs are unavailable, backpacks filled with supplies, and shoe gift cards to 1,300 children
* Community Christmas Center affording 1,500 families and seniors the dignity of choosing a two-week supply of food, new toys and gifts for infants through teens, and a household gift
* Bus passes and gas vouchers for job and medical appointments
* Three months of budgeting assistance and financial counseling
* Referrals to medical, mental health, legal aid, shelters, employment and education programs, as well as credit and budget counseling
* Health and wellness information and events for clients
* Hosting of partner agencies on site to deliver client services and program enrollment, including SALA (Senior Adult Legal Assistance), Second Harvest Food Bank/CalFresh, Santa Clara Family Health Foundation, and AARP free tax return services
* Household items, "care" backpacks for the homeless, reconditioned bicycles and other "in-kind" assistance
* "Work First Sunnyvale," our joint program with Downtown Streets Team in Sunnyvale that last year helped 50 individuals in their effort to move from homelessness to housing and employment through the dignity of work
* Client advocacy at local, state, and national levels for basic human needs of food, affordable housing, and access to medical care
* Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) to assist veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to secure stable housing and self-sufficiency.
