In 1973, a small group of concerned citizens
from nine churches, located in downtown San Jose, became alarmed by the growing
numbers of homeless and at-risk individuals without homes. They decided to
do something about it, and The San Jose Urban Ministry was born.
At first the ministry provided only basic needs: blankets, food, love and
support. Gradually, support expanded from the founding churches to include
schools, civic groups, foundations, and some of the most successful companies
in Silicon Valley. Today the agency operates a continuum of care that includes
emergency shelters, transitional/supportive housing, and multi-service centers
featuring life-skills training, counseling, healthcare, child development
programs, vocational training and employment services.
In 1984, the Family Place began, as a support center in San Jose for 35 low-income
mothers and their pre-school children at-risk of homelessness. During the
80's other programs operated temporarily, including Hands on Services, a small
janitorial business hiring disabled adults, and Shared Harvest, a mass food
distribution to low-income individuals and families.
In the late 1980's, InnVision recognized the need to provide a safe shelter
with trained staff for the many mentally- ill adults no longer receiving state
support. The Julian Street Inn (70 beds) opened at a temporary facility in
1987, and moved to a newly constructed building by the San Jose arena in 1989.
Emergency shelter for men was first provided in 1987 at a renovated
warehouse - the Commercial Street Inn, (55 beds). Here men could begin working,
and taking the steps necessary to become independent. In 1989, the Montgomery
Street Inn, an emergency shelter for men (65 beds) in San Jose was started
at the temporary facility vacated by the Julian Street Inn, while plans were
made to build a permanent facility. A multi-service center was opened at the
same site -called the Cecil White Center. In July 1996, these operations moved
to the newly constructed facility next door (85 shelter beds/transitional
units plus day center serving 300 people daily). Now for the first time, men
could find emergency shelter, job training, a multi-service center, and transitional
housing all under one roof.
In 1992 the agency's name was changed to InnVision to incorporate a more dignified
shelter experience and a vision for personal client growth. During
the 80's and 90 rising real estate prices and high rents increased the numbers
of homeless citizens of Santa Clara Valley, and changed the face of homelessness.
Now many families needed help, and in particular women with small children.
The Georgia Travis Center, a weekday support center in San Jose serving
75 homeless women and children a day opened in 1992, through the cooperative
efforts of the AAUW and Junior League of San Jose, Inc. who assisted with
renovations, furnishings and volunteers. InnVision's Family Place relocated
to the new building within the Georgia Travis Center and expanded its adult
education component - including ESL classes.
Also in 1992 InnVision's Commercial Street Inn was converted to a shelter
for women and children. In that same year, InnVision partnered with the Santa
Clara County Council of Churches to initiate Community Inns, a rotating shelter
program for 15 single men. The need for employment training was addressed
in 1993 when InnVision started Project Restore, a small business enterprise
employing homeless adults who gained training in the recycling of inkjet and
laser toner cartridges, and skills for jobs in manufacturing, inventory, sales,
and business operations. This project was put on hold in 1998 due to a need
to focus on the development of transitional housing.
In 1994 and 1995, three Transitional Homes (formerly operated by Womens Housing
Connection), were renovated and enhanced to create longer-term assistance
in a community setting for 40 women and children leaving the shelter.
In May 1996, a devastating fire destroyed InnVision's Commercial Street Inn.
This tragic accident mobilized public support to build a new, and more hospitable,
emergency shelter for women and children. In October 1997, the NEW Commercial
Street Inn rose from the ashes with private rooms for families, an after-school
computer lab, and state of the art kitchen.
In 1997, InnVision's Administrative Headquarters relocated to a larger facility
in Willow Glen that was purchased in 1998.
In 1998, InnVision addressed the need for longer-term housing for employed
women through the acquisition and major renovation of a large, former fraternity
facility. In 1999, InnVision Villa opened, providing transitional housing
for 55 women and children in a beautifully decorated co-housing model.
In 2000, InnVision joined in partnership with other agencies to build and
operate HomeSafe, transitional housing facilities, including community buildings
and child care centers specifically designed to meet the needs of women and
children who have survived domestic violence. The first complex opened in
Santa Clara in 2001 with 76 beds and a second is in development in east San
Jose and is scheduled to open in 2003.
In 2001 another transitional facility, Stevens House, was renovated and opened
to meet the special needs of 8 mentally-ill adults in San Jose. Under development
is the Mid-Peninsula Opportunity Center, a Multi-Service Center with 89 transitional/permanent
housing units in Palo Alto to open in early 2005.
In 2002 InnVision merged with Urban Ministry of Palo Alto, bringing 6 more
programs under the InnVision umbrella - including a rotating shelter, a drop-in
center, food closet, clothes closet, meals program and money management program.
Also, in 2002 a 14-unit apartment building (Casa Camino) was purchased to
provide permanent supportive housing to individuals and families.
In 2003, InnVision purchased and rennovated building to house the Georgia
Travis Center programs. The larger facility allows InnVision to expand service
areas and to develop a housing wing for homeless and at-risk women and children.
An 8 bed transitional home in Mt.View (Graduate House) for adults exiting
rotating shelter programs also became an InnVision operation in the fall of
2003.
Under development is the Opportunity Center of the Mid Peninsula, an 89 unit
transitional/permanent housing facility and multi-service center in Palo Alto
- it is expected to open in early 2005.
After a tremendous expansion effort since the early 1990's, InnVision is now a leading provider of housing and services to homeless and at-risk individuals and families in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties - serving over 16,000 annually at 20 different sites throughout the valley.
