Horizon Shine Village
Closed May 2024
Transitional Housing Shelter & Navigation Center
Horizon Shine Village Closed May 2024
Our mission is to deliver affordable, dignified solutions to homelessness. This transitional housing village provided participants a safe place to live with one-on-one care to help them navigate their path to permanent housing.
A Tour of Horizon Shine Village
Dignified, Affordable, Supportive Housing for Sebastopol SAVS Horizon Shine Village delivered dignified, affordable supportive housing to those sheltering in RVs.
Read Below to Learn More About These Topics
- Village Management – A Co-management model
- Village Design – Security, Sanitation & Community
- Rules and Procedures – A community where everyone shares responsibility
Village Management SAVS Horizon Shine Village was a groundbreaking site that worked with villagers to co-managethe site.
Villagers were assigned a personal SAVS Case Worker to ensure that every individual had access to the wrap-around services needed to address the complex issues that led to their homelessness.
The village has a Village Council that was made up of villagers who were elected by other villagers, an early step in SAVS democratic process for the Village. The Council assisted in enforcing Village rules, and made and modifed rules as needed.
SAVS partnered with the City of Sebastopol's Committee on the Unhoused to ensure the City’s needs were met during the life of the village.
Village Design The village had space for up to 20 RVs and about 30 individuals. The village had bathrooms, sinks and showers, a dining tent / community hub, security cameras and a fence surrounding the property. SAVS and our army of volunteers provided a hot meal every day plus a pantry to supplement the food our villagers prepare on their own.
Key Components of the Village:
- The villagers chose to enter the village and to abide by the rules.
- The village created a sense of community and calm. As we’ve seen at other villages, the participants quickly felt ownership and pride in their home.
- We encouraged independence. The Village was a home. Where participants had a normal routine without the distractions of dormitory life. Villagers could leave the property and check in at the security gate. visitors are allowed on preset days and times.
Rules & Procedures Villagers signed a written agreement when entering the village that includes:
- Registered sex offenders are not allowed
- No weapons, drug dealing, violence or open fires
- Immediate expulsion for drug dealing, violence, weapons, and open fires.
- For other offenses, a progressive discipline system is in place.
- SAVS was accountable for enforcing Village rules.
