Serving People In Need (SPIN) seeks to assist homeless and low income individuals and families through a network of comprehensive support services to become self-sufficient and no longer dependent on public support.

Description:
Serving People In Need (SPIN) has established three successful programs to give low-income or homeless individuals and families in Orange County a hand up, not just a hand out. 94% of funds directly benefit the clients. These programs include:

Guided Assistance to Permanent Placement (GAPP)
This Program is designed to assist families with children moving out of long-term shelter by providing move-in costs. This program focuses on case management for up to two years and support services including assistance with child care costs, job development, budgeting, counseling, tutoring, workshops, work related car repairs and other useful services.

Substance Abuse Recovery Program (SARP)
This Program provides indigent individuals with move-in assistance to a SPIN approved recovery home while the client obtains full time employment. This structured 12-step recovery program is designed to help substance abusers to achieve self-sufficiency. It also offers long term case management and support services including transportation, counseling, clothing and emergency medical and dental assistance.

Street Service Program
This Program prepares and delivers 350-400 meals each week along with hygiene kits, warm blankets, rain ponchos, and referrals to shelters and special requests as needed.

In 2006, SPIN provided services for 46 GAPP families (117 individuals), 653 individuals in SARP and served 15,800 meals for Street Service. 85% of clients achieved self-sufficiency.

History:
In 1987 Sam Boyce founded Serving People In Need (SPIN) with six friends who wanted to help the homeless of Orange County. Each week the group visited homeless families and individuals, distributed food and asked questions to determine the factos that led to their situation. the responses rarely differed: "I lost my job, couldn't pay the rent, and was evicted Now I've found another job but I can't afford another apartment." The other common theme: "I can't stop abusing substances, so I've lost everything, including my loved ones."

SPIN was incorporated in 1989 and now has 19 members on the Board of Directors and 10 members on the Advisory Board. Today, we work throughout Orange County to help serve thousands of homeless families and individuals to achieve self-sufficiency.

Contact people:

Kim Frazier, Volunteer Manager, (phone), (email) Jean Wegener, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Address:

151 Kalmus Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (See a map)

Directions:

We are close to Redhill and Baker in Costa Mesa.