Community Outreach Training Center, Inc.

Giving Tuesday is December 1st

A Few of our Accomplishments Include:

• Successfully providing Emergency Housing, Hotel-Motel Vouchers, Utility Assistance. 
• Homeownership, Rental Counseling, Credit Counseling, and Financial Fitness.
• More than 500 families have been assisted with housing and other human services within the Thomasville Thomas County and surrounding areas.
• Successfully aided more than 2,000 families over the last 24 months 
• Successfully facilitated county-wide Helping Hands Outreach to more than 750 families during National Homeless and Hunger Month for four (4) consecutive years.
• Implementation and reorganization of Thomasville-Thomas County Homeless Coalition
• In partnership with local businesses and organizations to start and implement Spark Thomasville. An Entrepreneurial program design to provide economic viability to the Under-Estimated population and help them start and manage pre-existing businesses and new businesses.
• Distribution of Hygiene Supplies to more than 500 families and individuals. 
• Co-hosted the Toys For Tots for the Thomas County. Surrounding counties, and those affected by Hurricane Michael in Panama City. 

COMMUNITY OUTREACH TRAINING CENTER, INC.

AGENCY INFORMATION

 MISSION: The Community Outreach Training Center Housing Services is a 501c3 grassroots community organization dedicated to improving housing and well-being of the economically disadvantaged, homeless, and moderate-income population by connecting them with resources, which leads to homeownership, self-sufficiency and sustainability.

 Our office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8am – 6pm and Friday of every month 9am – 2pn by appointments only.

 We have 3 fulltime and 1 part-time staff members and a number of volunteers who donate their time and talents for specialized events throughout the community. We also partner with various civic organizations that provide additional assistance for community helping hands day and other scheduled events.

OVERALL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

1.  To connect the homeless population with resources and provide safe and stable housing for low-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 education 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).
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 10 families annually.

HISTORY:

The Community Outreach Training Center Housing Services was formed by Sharon D. Edwards in 2010 as an Outreach program primarily to serve the Southwest Georgia community with professional development, job assistance, GED preparation and clothing as supportive services for the homeless population and very-low to moderate income families. The services provided produced an 87% success rate in helping educate and obtain employment for those we served.

 COTC, Inc. assists with information resources, training, publications, and other support and in other ways, including fundraising, much as possible. Along with our goal is to help renovate and repair simple, decent and affordable houses with people who are living in conditions that are inadequate and who are unable to secure decent housing by conventional means through funding from USDA and other resources.

 COTC, Inc. also provides training for families who are eligible for housing assistance. Many parents in low-income families do not have a high school education and very few have any higher education; they also tend to have little skilled job training. Without such training, it is nearly impossible to acquire a well-paying job. If parents are trained in a particular profession or skill they are far more likely to be able to effectively support their families financially. Our concerted efforts are garnered to encompass the entire community, and "picked up the slack" from other organizations.

CHOOSE TO GIVE

 Please support the vital services Community Outreach Training Center and what we do by donating online on December 1, 2020. 

 Fundraisers on Facebook

Sharon’s Giving Tuesday Fundraiser

www.Guidestar.org – Community Outreach Training Center, Inc.