CityTeam Oakland offers several
different programs that reach out to those severely
in need. All of these programs incorporate a chance
for our staff and volunteers to consistently walk
along side someone and explain God's unconditional
love for them in order to formulate an everlasting
real change in their lives.
Well known as a place to get a hot meal, a safe night's
sleep and a clean change of clothes, the mission faithfully
serves the community in Oakland by providing temporary
emergency care while sharing the gospel with the homeless.
This includes a Men’s Emergency and Transitional Shelter,
providing housing for up to 60 men each night, showers, and clothing.
There is also a Chapel that provides our guests a place for spiritual
discipleship, worship, and opportunities for service. We also
provide a hot breakfast and dinner, and a “lunch to go”
daily in our Soup Kitchen.
Work List Program
Because our Homeless Ministries staff are trained in recovery, we have
instituted recovery principles and objectives (monitoring jobs and pay stubs)
in our homeless shelter policies. In the year 2000, 125 people were helped
to transition from homelessness to financial stability to permanent housing.
The drug addiction and abuse continue to this day,
with the primary drug of choice in our city being
crack cocaine and heroin and the increasingly popular methamphetamines.
The Men's Recovery Program has always made an effort to meet the
needs of disadvantaged urban people, so our emphasis in the last 20 years
has been to not only offer food and shelter, but also
comprehensive, long-term residential recovery programs.
Men attend house meetings, recovery courses, Bible
studies, share in household responsibilities and are
held accountable to themselves and one another. Our
highly successful program has helped scores of men
confront the bondage of chemical dependency and continues
to grow in scope and effectiveness.
Transition Meetings
Before our clients graduate from the Recovery Program,
an opportunity to reconcile with their families is
put into place. Clients are counseled to prepare for
this meeting with their family face-to-face to discuss
the issues they are going through.
The Medical Clinic is run by volunteer doctors and
nurses who treat over 250 patients a month. This staff
of volunteers treat a variety of common illnesses.
Nurses enjoy this ministry because we really get to
know our patients as they receive medical treatment.
Often in our conversations, we discover a real medical
need and can help our disadvantaged patients with
early detection, early treatment and prevention of
disease. A very important part of our ministry is
to pray with each individual after their medical exam.
The individuals look forward to these caring moments
when we pray together.
After providing clothing, furniture and grocery bags to families for
several years, CityTeam Oakland began to expand our scope of services
in 2004, beginning with a special Family Faire Day. Currently,
CityTeam is providing warm coats, celebrating Chinese New Year, providing
summer lunches for children, taking local kids to CityTeam’s
Camp MayMac, giving students new backpacks for the Fall, giving out turkeys
or chickens and bags of “fixings” so families can enjoy
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner in their own home, and sponsoring families
for Christmas presents. We are also delivering groceries to
the doors of families in specific neighborhoods through our Bags of Love
program.
Opening to the program residents in early 2006, CityTeam Oakland’s Learning Center will begin to meet the educational needs of our clients. As our goal is to help the whole person in recovery, we provide tools to fill the educational gaps that so many of our clients have. Each person receives diagnostic testing and is placed in the program based on their needs. Men and women can work towards receiving their GED, learn to read or sharpen their basic skills. As the resources become available, the Learning Center will be made available to not only our residents, but our shelter guests and members of the community.
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Rescue
Mission
