From left, Gwen Hourihan, Volunteer Coordinator; Octavia Sisley, Director of Volunteer and Community Programs; Christine Sisley, volunteer; and Ken Garen, volunteer. Photo courtesy Union Station Homeless Services
Union Station Homeless Services is pleased to announce that it has been certified by CaliforniaVolunteers as a Service Enterprise. A Service Enterprise is defined as an organization that has shown a strong commitment to leveraging volunteers and their skills to successfully deliver on its social mission.
“We are so thrilled to receive this certification and incredibly grateful to our volunteers and community partners who bring so much compassion and help Union Station Homeless Services meet its bottom line,†says Octavia Sisley, Director of Volunteer and Community Programs.
With this certification, Union Station Homeless Services becomes one of the first organizations in California to be recognized as a Service Enterprise by CaliforniaVolunteers, the state service commission in California. Research conducted by the TCC Group, a national program and evaluation firm, found that organizations operating as Service Enterprises outperform peer organizations on all aspects of organizational effectiveness, and are more adaptable, sustainable and capable of scaling their work.
Union Station Homeless Services has completed an extensive assessment, training/consulting, and certification process that led to this recognition. By achieving this level of excellence and certification, Union Station Homeless Services is now better equipped to leverage the time and talent of volunteers in building our organizational capacity.
“This certification illustrates how our volunteers are an integral part of the Union Station Homeless Services family. Their selfless time and energy have always been critical factors to the overall success of our programs,†says Gwen Hourihan, Volunteer Coordinator.
For more information regarding volunteer opportunities with our organization, please
visit unionstationhs.org/help/volunteer. For more information regarding the CaliforniaVolunteers Service Enterprise Initiative, please visit www.CaliforniaVolunteers.org.
About Union Station Homeless Services
Union Station Homeless Services is the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. Its mission is to help men, women and children rebuild their lives and end homelessness. Union Station provides comprehensive services to help homeless individuals achieve self-sufficiency, emergency shelter, case management, housing navigation, medical and mental health referrals, women’s and family services, career counseling, and housing resources. Visit unionstationhs.org for more info.
