Back in 2008-2009 I was homeless and needed help. I was approved to stay at this housing and was very excited. I would have a place for myself and kids. I had been in a domestic violence relationship for years And finally having everything taken from me I went into a deep depression and PTSD. I was never an addict to alcohol or drugs. All I needed was help to get me back on my feet. I abided by their rules; went to classes, curfew ECT. I had kidney stones and had to be seen at the ER. And was given medication to be filled once discharged. I was written up for that and subsequently asked to provide a urine sample. I was accused of having alcohol in my urine. I don't drink and why would I drink and jeopardize my housing. They would not provide me with the lab results and was told to leave. I was treated like a criminal when I have never been in trouble with the law; not an addict. I was a domestic violence survivor with PTSD that needed compassion, safety and assistance to move forward with my life. This place is not at all what it is portrayed to be and I truly believe they only care about the donations, grants and not truly helping those in need. It has been years since this experience and have on many occasions wanted to write a letter. This has given me the opportunity to express to all how I was treated and hope those that are in need of help will truly get the help and not just be another source of income for those that own this facility. I am a very successful woman in the medical field and have risen from all the PTSD, depression, anxiety, fear, low self esteem and confidence. It can happen with the right people in your life. This place is not there to help only to gain financially. Take care to all PEACE LOVE LIGHT read more

Well it's not the worst place. They no longer take your money. And you're allowed to leave. Curphew at 4 on week days and 8 on weekends.

Me and my teenage pregnant daughter were homeless in July 2017 . We went to Homestart & had sat outside in the little patio area for at least an hour . When finally a woman came and had given me an application to feel out . While I was filling out the papers another family of color had came to fill out an application . The woman finally had came back out and had asked me for my credentials . I gave them to her and once she had gotten down to my drivers license , she looked at it and said we cannot help you because you need a California license . And then she snatched the application right out of my hands . I didn't want to lower myself by acting in an unfriendly manner , so I told my daughter let's go and left . read more

Hi I'm writing an extension of a previous review because Home Start has not given me back my money that they were saving for me !!!! I left Home Start on the 10th of September,At the time of my departure I attempted to have a civil discussion with Ann the director of the Home Start program concerning the money they had of mine that had been invested in their Budget program. Upon leaving I was told by Devon that I would be sent a check in about a weeks time!!! It is now the 27th of September and I have not received a check !!! I have tried extensively to talk to Ann or Devon and have called and left numerous messages and have never received a call back!!! It is obvious that they are avoiding my calls . I have already began to discuss this issue with an attorney not only to reclaim my money but to get compensation for all the pain they have caused because they lied to me about the time frame of when they would give me a check for the money I entrusted to their care I was not able to be at my mothers side when she died of terminal gastric cancer !!!! When I left Home Start I was utterly penniless because Ann the director refused to listen to my circumstances and literally slammed the office door in my face !!!! The program is absolutely horrible and they are disgusting thieves!!!! As I mentioned previously I have tried calling and calling and have not received a call back!!! And I still have not received not one cent of my money!!!! read more

Home Start is the worst place I have ever stayed at in my life. Writing this review brings tears to my eyes because the staff have ridiculously like for not wearing shoes when I walked from my door to my neighbor. When I first came to Homestart I told them what medications I was on, I believe they told me that I would have to discontinue one of them (benzodiazepines) but they assured me that they were a sober living program that helps people with substance abuse get clean and turn their life around. On the first day they asked me to drug test. I had no clue what I was in for. I was drug free and only had legal update prescriptions in my system that I showed them proof of. Homestart let me come in because I was told that even if I had used hard drugs as long as I was willing to get off of them they would still take me in. So I didn't think I had anything to worry about. Oh I was so wrong, they put me on lockdown for testing positive for a prescription my doctor but me on for valid medical reason. I am disabled for psychiatric reasons and I must take my meds as prescribed in order to stay out of the psych ward. On lockdown I couldn't leave the premise to even go to court for a domestic violence hearing. I rescheduled one but because my doctor said to taper off of the benzodiazepines in order to prevent a seizure, it took at least a week or two to get it out of my system. I was denied my request to go to court a 2nd time and I spoke with the owner and asked her and she said of course I could go. I was denied my request to leave to go look for an apartment. When they moved me in right away and they had me give them all of my money, I understood that they would hold onto it, help me pay my bills, including rent to them but because I have more money than most people that stay there, and little debt, I should have had a refund. There are so many things that I could tell you about them that is just wrong. The ones that upset me the most is you cannot lock your door when you walk out. You are allowed to bring a bag per person of clothing and blankets and when they kicked me out, they kept my blankets! I was homeless with 2 little kids and Homestart took my blankets for us to sleep on. They put my baby's cold soy milk and left it outside along with my food out in the heat and did not call me to tell me to come get it. All of our food was spoiled and just left on the curb. I read a positive post on here but let me tell you that everyone I stayed there with was kicked out and because they had came in such terrible life situations, many of them were not able to rise. One woman went back to stay with her abuser. Some went with their children to stay on the streets. I promised myself when I got on my feet I would try and help and report them for the people that cannot because most of the people that Homestart kicks out, can't make their way up on their own. I barely made it because my children and I endured terrible traumatizing situations. There was a sober living home called A better life in Sacramento for women and children and I worked as House mother there and yes there needs to be rules, drug testing, consequences and chores and taking money in a huge part of it but Homestart does not do this in a way that allows most people to get on their feet. They take people in, take their money and then find any reason to kick them out. So now a family has given Homestart all their money, will not get it back and has no place to go. Most of these people are not going to get on yelp and write a review. Their demographic that they help have low education, are in domestic violence situations and are trying to get off of drugs, many of them have or had cps cases. The worst thing I saw happen there was when they called cps on a mother for a false positive who had gotten clean for her baby. The staff smiled as they walked CPS in, luckily CPS was reasonable and because she had done nothing wrong, she was able to keep her baby but within a week or two was kicked out and forced to go stay in a drug surrounded environment. I pray there is a God or karma and the staff there has to suffer for hurting families, Mother's and children when they are already down and out. read more

I have never written a review before but after readign the ones on here i thought i should because i was appauled to see the ones being written, as I know most of the stuff being said is either exaggerated or completely false. Homestart saved my life and the lives of my two kids. we were staying in a very run down shelter that i didnt feel safe in. My application with homestart took almost a week but was pretty standard stuff. I spoke with 2 different women, including Ann which everyone is complaining about. Both were very nice and made me feel comfortable. I lived there for a little over a year. I wont say they arent strict and the program wasnt hard as hell because it was. but it was all things that i needed to do and learn to better my life and my kids lives. people are saying they steal money. they dont. the reality is you turn in your money to them and they help you budget it so you dont waste your money on dumb stuff and you can actually save for the future. other things they do is offer tutoring to your kids, supplies for the home, management, therapy, help with anything and everything you need. also they let you keep your phone so wtf. people dont like this place because they make you do right. they make you pay off your bills, follow all laws, not drink or do drugs, feed your kids healthy meals, make you kids go to school, and keep your room clean. they also encourage adults to finish school if they havent and help them get there license. people dont just get kicked out like these peole are making it seem. in my time there i messed up a lot and so did the other people living there. but they work with you and try to help you. if you keep doing it over and over or are puting other people in danger then yes you will get kicked out. simple fact is peolpe dont like this program because they make you do better and be better and they dont want to do it. i am so thankful for homestart and will always speak highly of it. it isnt for sissies or people who dont want to do better. but if you do i suggest it. read more

My daughter, & several others were 1 month from "grad"... wow they found this, this, this, & that "wrong"... all 4 were kicked out. As I know it, they took $ from my daughter & yes paid off a bill she had... but in the last month???? She had this same bill for 11 months, (they never pain in increments)... they did the same to all the girls. & really... sure apply for Section 8, "we'll guarantee you a spot for a speedy housing choice voucher".... ROF... Call Channel 13, Call Curtis.... this place is a rotten rip off for people who REALLY NEED HELP, especially with kids. read more

Home start was great at taking me in right away, however it took 9 days for them to get all the paperwork together for me to read and sign. I paid $300 for my rent before all my contract paperwork was done and my cell phone had to be surrendered while I was there leaving me and anyone there with no way to call 911 in case of an emergency after the office closes at 5:00 pm. Not only is this dangerous not having a way to call out for an emergency but Home Start is located in a business area of mostly car lots so I would really have to do some running around to find help after hours in worse case scenario. Home start wants you to leave your baby with someone you have never met or seen that lives there that has not been screened and could be potential pedophile.The meetings I attended at Home Start were over at the same time you are to be starting chores which forces you to be in two places at the same time and there is no excuse for you if you're late. The women were condescending and rude treating me inferior to them with total disrespect. I realized this was not going to work out so on day 10 I informed them of this at 4:30 pm, being that the office closes at 5:00 they gave me 15 min to pack and kicked me out on the streets with my 1 year old baby and told me I could pick the rest of my things up near the dumpsters the next day whenever they get it out there no later than 5:00. This left me waiting for my belongings all day from when they opened at 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in 105 degree weather with my baby near a dumpster . Overall I paid $300 to stay for 10 days. read more