Our Mission
The Community Outreach Training Center Housing & Homeless Services is a 501c3 grassroots community organization dedicated to improving the lives of those we serve by promoting, creating, and facilitating sustainable housing, homeownership, and entrepreneurship in Thomasville/Thomas County and surrounding counties.
Sharon D Edwards
Founder/CEO
OVERALL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
1. To connect the homeless population with resources and provide safe and stable housing for low-to moderate income families through emergency assistance, clothing, hygiene packets, transportation assistance, and referrals.
2. To improve well-being and that client is functioning better in areas of living arrangements and have access health, social and other resources, as needed.
3. To provide monthly homebuyer educational classes to very low-to-moderate income families; which will aid them in transitioning from homelessness to homeownership. (Our Bridge –Model is to move clients from Emergency to Temporary to Permanent homeownership).
4. Provide budgeting and financial literacy workshops to educate families how best to manage their money and support their families as well as to help them understand the financial jargon that often makes up rent paperwork. This will allow for self-sufficiency in order for them to effectively maintain self-sufficiency.
5. To provide foreclosure prevention services to an average of 20 families annually.
6. To provide entrepreneurship training and opportunities for the under-estimated population that provides economic viability within our community.
7. To provide Rental Counseling to include Tenancy and Eviction Prevention Services to clients who are in need.
LONG-TERM SOURCES
Community Outreach Training Center has generated thousands of dollars of in-kind donations for its program, and has sustained program services over its 10 year history. The organization also solicit donations from private funders and Individual donors, federal and state grants, and in-kind donations which supports 30% of the organization's operating costs, and 70% of the organization’s program services.
In conjunction with the City of Thomasville Comprehensive Plan under, COTC addresses the following needs: “
Community Facilities Goal 6
Encourage and support the development and enhancement of community outreach programs for special needs populations.
Policy 6.1
Encourage and support victim programs (e.g. child abuse, battered women, etc.) that adequately service the needs of the community.
Policy 6.2
Review poverty statistics responsible agencies to determine if enhancement to existing outreach programs is needed.” COTC addresses the needs of adequately providing service to the needs of the poverty-stricken areas in our community.
The Housing Plan encourages innovative housing development techniques; Encourage the maintenance, rehabilitation, and enhancement of existing housing;
Encourage the provision of inclusionary housing for all special needs populations. The workshops offered by Community Outreach Training Center addresses the needs of affordable housing special needs populations.