On August 15th, Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa Community Health (SRCH), co-hosted a special event, “United in Health and Home.” This open house brought together community leaders, stakeholders, and advocates who share a commitment to ending homelessness and improving health outcomes in Sonoma County. The event took place at Caritas Center, a collaborative space that embodies the power of partnerships.
Key speakers included Catholic Charities CEO Jennielynn Holmes, Congressman Mike Thompson, Council Member Chris Rogers, and Santa Rosa Community Health CEO Gaby Bernal Leroi. Each speaker underscored the profound impact of integrating healthcare with homelessness services, offering a glimpse into the transformative work happening at Caritas Village.
As Catholic Charities CEO Jennielynn Holmes said, “Caritas Village was a grand vision for us to be able to do things that were radically different by building a program from the ground up that uniquely addressed the individual’s complex needs and challenges.” Holmes celebrated the collaboration with Santa Rosa Community Health, which has allowed Catholic Charities to house individuals in half the time it took before Caritas Center opened its doors.
A highlight of the evening was the guided tour—the first guided tour to ever include the SRCH Clinic and SRCH Mobile Van. Attendees explored the innovative facilities at Caritas Village, including the aforementioned spaces, as well as the drop-in center and the Nightingale recuperative care facility. There was a palpable sense of excitement as guests asked questions about how these services work together to address both immediate and long-term needs for the unhoused. The tour sparked meaningful conversations about care models, post-hospital care for the unhoused, the need for increased funding, and the importance of co-locating health services with shelter operations. The event also focused on the recent Policy Paper , United in Health and Home: A Progress and Challenges Brief, and the Caritas 2023 Impact Report, which outline both the successes, and the challenges faced since Caritas Village opened. One of the primary goals is to expand coordinated care through mobile clinics, street medicine, and recuperative care programs - an approach that Congressman Mike Thompson praised as “absolutely brilliant” and vital to the success of Caritas Village.
Council Member Chris Rogers emphasized three words that capture the heart of this mission: “stability, hope, and partnerships.” He shared stories of how Caritas Village is helping individuals move from homelessness to stable housing, offering not only shelter but a pathway to a healthier, more hopeful future.
At the end of the night, the takeaway was clear: Caritas Village is making a measurable impact in Sonoma County, transforming lives by providing comprehensive, compassionate care. As Jennielynn Holmes noted, “The co-location of services at the Caritas Campus has not just been a vision, it has been a revolution in care and support.”
We invite you to dive deeper into the work being done at Caritas Village by reading the full Policy Paper and Impact Report. These documents provide a thorough overview of the challenges and successes we’ve encountered as we continue to serve Sonoma County’s most vulnerable citizens. Together, we continue to turn our vision into reality.
"In conclusion, let us celebrate our progress, but let us also acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. Let us take a moment to honor the achievements, the lives uplifted, and the community strengthened. But let us also look to the horizon with determination. For our work is not done until every person in Sonoma County has a place to call home and the health to enjoy it. We must continue to work together, to innovate, and to care. Because together, we can build a healthier, more just community. Together, we can end homelessness. Together, we can be united in health and home. " - Jennielynn Holmes, Catholic Charities CEO
