Dorothy's Place

For more than 3 decades, Dorothy’s Place, operated by the Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra, has been dedicated to serving people who experience homelessness, poverty, and marginalization in Monterey County.

Why Are We Here?

Why does Dorothy’s Place exist?

We exist to serve our marginalized neighbors in Chinatown, to compassionately offer respect, safety, basic needs, and assistance toward a life of greater health and happiness through the acquisition of permanent and sustainable housing.

Why are the Dorothy’s Place programs needed?

The people we serve need a friend who understands that they have been traumatized. People suffering through homelessness need safety, dignity, and purpose. Providing for basic needs, such as healthy meals, restrooms, clothing and mail service offers temporary help, but often doesn't solve the problem of lack of permanent safety. Our social workers and community health workers assist homeless people into permanent housing, solving the problems of long-term health and security.

Why should the community care?

The way many in our neighborhood live effects everyone in the community ethically, morally and financially. We cannot be successful as a community until life for everyone is just and healthy.

Aside from the ethical and moral choice, our work to get homeless people housed is the right economical choice. Housing chronically homeless people ends total dependence on tax-supported emergency health services, law enforcement and criminal incarceration. 

We are Dorothy's Place - come join us!

If you had nowhere to live, where would you get water to drink? Where would you go to use the toilet?

If you had no job, and no income, how would you pay for food? How would you keep what you didn’t eat fresh for the next meal? Where would you cook it?

If you suffered from trauma, whether as a veteran experiencing PTSD or a victim of domestic violence, how would you even know what help to request, if you could bring yourself to request it?

These are some of the issues confronted by who are often referred to as the “chronically homeless,” or those who, even with assistance, find it difficult to cope with the demands of modern American life and stay sufficiently housed.

Dorothy’s Place embraces the model of trauma-informed care. This two-pronged approach helps to address both the underlying trauma that keeps the individual in a state of chronic homelessness, and the immediate needs of food, hygiene, and social services advocacy. Each program is tailored to the needs of the population served.

Dorothy’s Kitchen provides approximately 150 hot breakfasts and 200 hot lunches every day of the year for those who are hungry. Meal offerings include fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade organic salads and dressings, and healthy beverages, all supported by a generous agricultural community in the Salinas Valley, and prepared to optimize nutrition for very vulnerable people.

The Drop-In Center is a space in which our guests can take care of basic hygiene needs, access social and health services, receive news and current event information, and socialize in a safe and friendly environment. People are able to receive mail and have their laundry done, and they are treated with respect and dignity that is often denied to those in their position.

The House of Peace is a transitional residence for up to twelve adults, who support one another as they transition out of homelessness. A client-centered life plan is facilitated for each resident, assisting them with medical care, employment, financial literacy, and ultimately independent living or permanent supportive housing.

Streets To Homes' community health workers, social workers and housing navigators work tirelessly for our consumers, providing health and housing care management. Our encampment outreach portion of the team goes out into the tent encampments in Salinas to engage those unwilling or unable to leave their tent site.