In 1973, the growing numbers of homeless, and individuals at risk of becoming homeless, alarmed a small group of concerned citizens from nine churches located in downtown San Jose. 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 Women’s 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 Award House in Hollister (transitional housing for 50 women and children in San Benito County) and Mid-Peninsula Opportunity Center, a Multi-Service Center with 95 permanent housing units in Palo Alto.

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.

In 2002 InnVision is in the process of planning the relocation of its Georgia Travis Center to incorporate expanded service areas and a housing wing for homeless and at-risk women and children.

After a tremendous expansion effort since the early 1990’s, InnVision is now a major provider of housing and services to homeless and at–risk individuals and families in the South Bay – serving over 13,000 annually at 17 different sites throughout the valley.