Community Supported Shelters

“Co-executive directors erik and kristin de buhr married couple”

“Css has a stewardship council which has the power to elect or remove memers of the board of directors and the council. It does not have the power to make binding or enforceable decisions on matters reserved for the board of directors, including adopting budgets, authorizing expenditures, setting policies, or determining the organization's programs or activities.”

“Form 990 is prepared by an outside accounting firm and then reviewed/revised by the finance committee. It is then sent to each member of the board of directors inviting them to review, comment or raise questions prior to filing.”

“The organizations conflict of interest policy covers directors, officers, key management, employees like the executive director and the chief financial officer, founders of the organization and major donors and family members of the above. Insiders are required to disclose annually any interest that could give rise to a conflict of interest. The secretary maintains a list, updated annually, of those persons with potential conflicts of interest. The secretary monitors the list and reports conflicts to the president who then refers them to the board of directors.”

“Available upon written request.”

“Css offers temporary shelter, personal development, and skill building to the homeless. The safe spot program is a model for legal and sanitary homeless encampments. Each client in the community is paired with an advisor to help find a path to an improved living situation.”

“Volunteers help with the following operational activities: manual labor to build conestoga hut micro-shelters and other temporary shelter construction projects, food distribution to camp communities from local food bank system, food preparation for meals after camp work parties and special events, firewood processing for use in camp communities, on-the-ground camp management is facilitated by client peers (activities such as camp maintenance, management, transportation, food safety are example activities that client peers engage in), organizational governance is performed by a group of volunteer board members.”

“Two new part-time employees were hired during this fiscal year. Css hired a second action plan advisor to work with veteran clients in the safe spot program. With help from a foundation grant, css was able to hire a project coordinator to oversee constoga hut construction, shop management, camp infrastructure improvements. At the safe spot for veterans, css built a modular sink building equipped with hot water, remodled the front fence and added privacy screening, and upgraded the roofing on 14 constoga huts. These upgrades were funded by a foundation grant from wells fargo. Css also purchased a hydraulic dump trailer and other tools with the same funds for the purposes of firewood pick up and distribution. To help better serve hygiene needs, css began partnerships with two other local groups to provide opportunities for bi-weekly showers and monthly laundry service.”

“The css client assistance program proivides clients with assistance in taking steps to move to an improved living situation. Some of the types of assistance include help with obtaining personal identification documents and birth certificates, preparation for interviewing, and assistance with job search.”