About Familia Center
Familia Center is extremely responsive to the needs of low-income Latinos and functions as a one-stop resource center. The Center focuses on identifying the needs of the clients and making sure that they are met. Familia Center assists families by providing them with a number of direct services at the site and helps them with appropriate referrals to save them time and make it as easy as possible for them to access the services they need. An example of Familia Center's responsiveness is the creation of the Carolyn Symonds Dolores Huerta Food Pantry in 1993. Additionally, Familia Center works closely with other community organizations specializing in the areas of employment, housing, immigration, domestic violence, nutrition, and drug and alcohol prevention.
Each year, Familia Center serves over 800 families (at least 4,000 individuals). Ninety-two percent of the Center's clients are Latino and very low income--99% of households with an average family size of six earn less than $20,000 annually, with 46% of these households earning less than $9,000. The majority of families are immigrants from Mexico and Central America who come to the United States to work. The employment available to them in the service industry and agriculture does not provide them with a livable wage or health benefits.
The Center's workshops and support services address a wide range of health and social issues and promote physical, social and economic well-being by providing essential information and support to help clients make positive changes in their lives. The Center also offers assistance in completing a wide range of forms and applications such as rental agreements and employment applications in addition to translating what the forms ask.
Information and referral and case management ensures that clients avail themselves of a ll local resources to assist them in breaking the cycle of poverty. Clients learn how to navigate the system so that it works for them and their families. Staff play a critical role in helping clients apply for and secure government public benefits.
Because low-income youth need opportunities outside of school to improve their health, education, and overall well-being, youth programs are designed to build self-esteem and confidence and enhance the lives of children who would otherwise be at risk for getting involved in delinquency behaviors and activities. Our after school homework club services children from the surrounding neighborhoods and recruits volunteers from the local community college, Cabrillo and University of California Santa Cruz to tutor and assist the children with home work. The teen program is made up largely of teens who have recently immigrated from Mexico and El Salvador and those who have grown up in our programs.