The ability to get online is necessary for securing basic needs such as housing, healthcare, employment, and education. However, for many individuals experiencing houselessness in Tracy, digital access is a significant barrier. That’s why our organization is committed to providing the necessary tools, support, and resources to help our clients access the online services necessary to participate in local programs and access the tools they need for help.
The Digital Challenges Faced by Our Community
Navigating online systems can be especially difficult for those with limited digital literacy, language barriers, or disabilities.Many of our clients struggle with:
Completing online applications for essential services like Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or housing assistance.
Accessing and managing benefits through digital portals.
Searching and applying for jobs online.
Participating in telehealth appointments and accessing online health information.
Losing and regaining phone access, leading to changing phone numbers, making it difficult for organizations like ours to reach out on a regular basis.
While most low-income people have access to free government-issued phones, there are challenges such as the inability to charge devices regularly due to lack of stable housing, frequent theft or loss of phones, and limited data plans restricting internet access.
TCCC’s Initiatives to Enhance Digital Access
To address some of these challenges, TCCC has implemented several initiatives:
On-Site Technology Access:Our office is equipped with phones, iPads, and computers available for client use.
Assisted Application Support:Case managers provide one-on-one assistance to help clients navigate online applications and digital platforms.
Mobile Intake Services:Staff utilize iPads in the field to conduct client intakes, ensuring immediate and accessible support.
Charging Stations:We offer free charging facilities at our office and during our shower and laundry service programs.
Collaborations and Referrals
Recognizing the importance of community partnerships, we guide clients to local resources offering digital access:
Tracy Public Library:Located just two blocks from our center, the library provides free computer and internet access.
WorkNet and El Concilio:These organizations offer additional support and resources for job seekers and those needing digital assistance.
Ensuring Privacy and Security
Handling sensitive client information requires strict adherence to privacy standards.TCCC is committed to maintaining confidentiality and complies with all HIPAA regulations to protect our clients’ data.
Looking Ahead
Digital platforms are integral to accessing essential services, and TCCC remains dedicated to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their housing status, have the tools and support needed to access services online.We aim to empower our clients, reduce barriers to essential services, and ultimately foster a more inclusive community. For more information or to support our initiatives, we welcome donations and volunteers. Or you can get in touch with Tracy Community Connections Center by calling (209) 407-9649.
Our mission to support individuals experiencing homelessness in Tracy is made possible through the unwavering generosity of our donors and partners.Their contributions – whether financial, in-kind, or collaborative – are the lifeblood of our programs, enabling us to provide essential services such as case management, emergency shelter, hygiene facilities, and comprehensive care coordination.
Each of these partners plays a vital role in our collective effort to create a more compassionate and supportive community. Their commitment not only sustains our current initiatives but also inspires future programs aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness.
To all our donors and supporters: thank you for standing with us. Your partnership is a beacon of hope for many, and together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve.
We are deeply grateful for the support of the following organizations:
Our 2024 Annual Report is now available. Flip through to see our impact on the Tracy community. Note the 156% increase in unsheltered individuals from 2022 to 2024 – making services like ours even more essential at this crucial time.
At Tracy Community Connections Center (TCCC), we continually seek ways to support our community members experiencing homelessness or financial hardship. We are excited to announce our new twice weekly free laundry service, designed to provide clean clothing and a sense of dignity to those in need.
Laundry Service Details:
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Redemption Road Church, 72 E Grant Line Road, Tracy, CA
Guidelines:
Load Limit: One load per person per day, with a maximum weight of 10 pounds
Last Load: Must be started by 11:00 AM
On-Site Requirement: Clients are required to remain on the premises while their laundry is being processed
New Clients: Completion of an intake packet is mandatory for first-time users
Supplies: Detergent is provided at no cost
This initiative is part of TCCC’s broader mission to offer essential services that restore dignity and hope. Our mobile laundry trailer is equipped with six washer-dryer units, water tanks, and heaters, ensuring efficient and effective service.
We invite community members to join us in this endeavor. Volunteers are needed to assist with operating the laundry trailer during service hours. Your participation can make a significant difference in the lives of our neighbors.
Listen to Tracy CCC’s Executive Director Carrie Grover explain our new laundry service on KKIQ’s Philanthropy Thursday radio spot:
Your contributions enable us to maintain and expand services like the laundry program. A donation of $250, for example, provides access to laundry facilities and supplies for 25 families.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to San Joaquin County for the grant that made this service possible and to all our supporters who share our vision of a compassionate community.
For more information or to get involved, please contact us at (209) 407-9649.
Together, we can make a difference – one clean load at a time.
At Tracy Community Connections Center (TCCC), we focus on long-term solutions, and one of the most effective tools we have is case management.
Case management is at the heart of how people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity get from surviving to rebuilding. Without it, even the best intentions fall flat. You can hand someone a meal or a blanket, but if they don’t know where they’re sleeping tomorrow, or how to get ID, or access medical care, they’re stuck in survival mode. Our case managers help people move forward.
More Than a Referral
A case manager isn’t just someone who gives out a list of phone numbers. At TCCC, our case managers get to know each client, including what they’ve been through, what they need, and what obstacles are in the way. Then we create a real plan with goals, support, and follow-through.
We don’t expect someone in crisis to navigate ten agencies, five forms of ID, and hours of red tape. That’s how we help. We help clients make it to appointments, fill out applications, advocate for them when systems are hard to navigate, and check in regularly. Progress is tracked. Barriers are addressed. No one has to do it alone.
Stability Beyond Handouts
Giving someone a tent or a hygiene kit feels good and helps in the short-term, but if you want to see lasting change, we need to address the root causes of housing insecurity: trauma, unemployment, eviction, illness, addiction. These don’t get solved with quick fixes. Case management provides someone in your corner that you can trust, with the time and experience to help.
Our case managers connect people to housing programs, job resources, health services, legal aid, or whatever it takes. And because TCCC has long-standing relationships with our clients, we can spot changes early and pivot when needed.
We sit down with every client and hear their story. Our case managers work with them to identify their barriers to housing – whether that be employment, mental health, or addiction. Then, the case managers will work side by side with the client to create a housing plan by addressing these barriers. They meet with the client regularly and identify what programs or funding we have that could address the barriers, and refer out to other agencies for needs we cannot meet. Our case managers work with our street outreach team to coordinate services in real time like transportation, getting prescriptions, or getting into the city shelter. TCCC also offers bilingual Spanish-speaking case management for those who need it.
Funding Case Management
We have seen the positive impact of case management for unhoused individuals and we know that it works. The way to make it even more effective is with funding, staff, and more community awareness. Case management is slow, gritty, behind-the-scenes work but it’s what moves people from the streets to stability.
If you want to make a real difference in Tracy, support organizations like ours offering long-term case management by donating or volunteering. And if you or someone you know is stuck, please reach out.
