In the Spotlight: La Posada

In the Spotlight: La Posada

By Bree Bouchet, Program Manager

At our 82-unit non-congregate emergency shelter, La Posada is proud to provide a safe and supportive space for up to 90 clients at a time. With 8 units reserved for couples, we are able to accommodate a diverse population with varied needs, goals, and challenges. Our mission is to meet people where they are, provide them with wraparound support, and help them move forward toward permanent housing stability and a higher quality of life.

The La Posada program collaborates with three primary referral agencies that represent the broad spectrum of individuals we serve. Cottage Health provides two Recuperative Care Program Graduate (RCP) beds for clients recovering from hospital stays. BeWell supports 40 of our beds with a focus on individuals navigating mental health and substance use challenges. Finally, our partnership with CERF outreach teams allows us to reserve another 40 beds for those transitioning from encampments in the surrounding area.

To meet the unique needs of our residents, La Posada has a multidisciplinary team of dedicated professionals. Our five case managers work closely with clients through Enhanced Care Management (ECM), helping them obtain necessary documents, connect to services, and reduce barriers to housing. One case manager specializes in mental health support, and another focuses on substance use disorder (SUD) coordination, ensuring individualized care for each client.

In addition to La Posada’s case management team, we are fortunate to have two sober coaches on staff. These coaches play a vital role in engaging clients who are interested in recovery, connecting them to the Sobering Center (a part of our larger GSS team), and supporting entry into treatment programs that align with their needs and readiness. Their lived experience and compassionate guidance are often the bridge between crisis and stability.

Our day-to-day programming is driven by our Day Hab Coordinator, who facilitates groups five days a week. These sessions are designed to build life-enhancing skills and community, including offerings such as job readiness, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, yoga, art therapy, and much more. We also provide access to a computer lab, giving clients the tools to search for employment, housing, and benefits.

Transportation is another key piece of our support network. With two dedicated transporters, we ensure clients can attend medical appointments, court dates, and other critical engagements without the added stress of arranging logistics. This simple, consistent support often makes a profound difference in a person’s ability to follow through on their goals.

We’re also proud to have a dedicated Housing Navigator who supports clients who are ready to move on to housing. This role is critical in connecting individuals to appropriate housing opportunities that match their needs, goals, and readiness. In close coordination with our housing departments, clients are supported through every step of the transition, from security deposits to long-term housing retention support. This ensures that housing success isn’t just a one-time outcome, but a sustainable path forward.

And, of course, none of this would be possible without our incredible La Posada shelter staff, the frontline workers who keep the facility running 24/7, 365 days a year. They are the first point of contact for clients, offering safety, consistency, and care every hour of the day and night.

One of the things we are most proud of is our commitment to collaboration. By working closely with community partners, we’re able to deliver truly individualized, holistic care. One powerful example of this is a client who initially came to our shelter and entered a 30-day out-of-county treatment program through Public Health AOD. After returning, the client relapsed, but because of the strong network between our case managers, sober coaches, CERF 2, Public Health AOD, and the Sobering Center, we were able to surround this client with support. He re-entered treatment, this time for 60 days, and returned to us renewed and focused. He has now been sober for several months, recently started a new job, and continues to express gratitude for his sobriety.

This is what a day at our shelter looks like: meeting clients where they are, practicing radical acceptance, and working together to ensure that every person has the opportunity to be better than they were the day before.