The new option is called transitional family housing, which is available to low-income and homeless families. It also has separate units so families can maintain privacy as they prepare to search for long-term options, says Emergency Housing Consortium Director of Housing and Government Affairs Poncho Guevara.

Ten brand-new studio apartments were completed in December 2003 at the James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center on Little Orchard Street in Willow Glen.

"With the downturn of the economy, we're seeing more first-time homeless families than ever," Emergency Housing Consortium Director of the Family Division Jennifer Hodgson said. She added there are approximately 80 families on the waiting list for the apartments.

While the 10 new units have been in use for six months, the Family Resource Center just opened its doors on May 25, with counseling offices to offer homeless families space to see case managers in private, two new computer labs—one for researching jobs online and one for children to do their homework—and a clinical-services area for families needing health care.

"The unique thing about this program is we are able to take homeless families, put them in a fully furnished apartment and immediately have services geared to get them back on their feet in record time," said Emergency Housing Consortium President and CEO Barry Del Buono.

The transitional-housing units are available to the families for 90 days while the parents receive counseling and job services and the children are given after-school tutoring at the Family Resource Center.

The Family Resource Center was built and furnished with the help of various community partners and donors. HomeAid Northern California, the charity arm of the Home Builders Association of Northern California, provided $100,000 in funds and services to complete the resource center, led by a team from KB Homes.

"There's a tremendous sense of satisfaction in building this project," HomeAid Northern California Board of Directors Chairman Doug Krah said. "We're looking forward to doing more with EHC."

Emergency Housing Consortium transitional-housing program manager Cathy Heerey said that operating without the Family Resource Center was a challenge, but now that it's available, "we're going to feel spoiled."

The Little Orchard Street location is the largest of the Emergency Housing Consortium's 17 shelters, transitional and low-income housing sites in Santa Clara County. The James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center also offers 30-day shelter to 200 homeless single adults and has 10 family bedrooms with shared bathroom and dining facilities.

Hodgson said the hope is that family-focused programs will break the cycle of intergenerational homelessness. She added that the transitional studio apartments have a 92 percent success rate at preventing continual homelessness, while the family bedrooms that were built in 1997 are not as successful because families don't share a complete apartment.

"It's exciting to have a new place when times are tougher," Hodgson said.

And Del Buono said that Willow Glen residents need to know about the program, because the nonprofit is always looking for families and schoolchildren to volunteer to help homeless families.

"It's a precious jewel in our community," Del Buono said.

For more information about the Emergency Housing Consortium, call 408.539.2100 or visit www.homelessness.org.