New head of Sonoma homeless shelter

Kathy King, fund and organizational development consultant for Sonoma Overnight Support (SOS) for the past three years, has been named the organization’s executive director. She replaces Catherine Barber, who is retiring to Palm Springs.

SOS operates a 10-bed homeless shelter, called The Haven, and a community drop-in program. It also provides free meals to Sonoma’s hungry and homeless through its Brown Baggers volunteers.

“In addition to growing our current programs, “ King said, “I will be working with our Board of Directors to create supportive housing for women and children who are victims of domestic violence and other social and economic problems.”

King, a native San Franciscan who moved to Sonoma in 2012, holds a Master’s degree in Non-Profit Management from the University of San Francisco. She has served as executive director of the Seton Health Services Foundation and the Agape Foundation and as development director for Catholic Charities of San Francisco and Catholic Charities of the East Bay. She is currently a member of Soroptimist International of Sonoma Valley and Impact 100 of Sonoma.

“The recent homeless count shows that more than 3,000 people are homeless or living in temporary shelters in Sonoma County,” said King. “At SOS we are committed to providing as many as of these as possible with housing and social services. Our goal is to help them return to self-sufficiency,”

Since 2007, Sonoma Overnight Support has offered temporary housing to homeless men, women and families. Last year it opened a weekday community drop-in for other homeless clients, providing them at the with use of the Haven’s showers, laundry facilities and computer s along with food and case management services with 4,911 unique services provided.

In 2014, the Brown Baggers served over 22,000 burritos and hot meals to low-income adults, many of them senior citizens living on small fixed incomes.