Wednesday Night Market partners with Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa on Palms Inn Project

The Santa Rosa Wednesday Night Market with the direction of the volunteer Board of Directors is donating $50,000 to Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa for the use in the Palms Inn Project set to open up in early 2016.

The mission of the Wednesday Night Market has always been to promote a feeling of community pride and enthusiasm for Santa Rosa and its surrounding environment by conducting community markets each summer. After careful consideration and debate over projects that will have a positive impact in downtown Santa Rosa the Board of Directors decided to partner with the Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa in their mission to end homeless in Sonoma County. The Board of Directors is very excited about the Palms Inn Project and the immediate and long-term impact it will have on the issue of individuals experiencing homelessness in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County.

The Palms Inn has partnered with local nonprofits and the County of Sonoma to provide a solution around the housing crisis in Sonoma County. The building will be converted into Single Room Occupancy (SRO) homes that would provide housing to 106 individuals who are experiencing homelessness in Santa Rosa with 60 units reserved for Veterans. Once housed the individuals will receive on-site case management, community networking, supportive workshops, access to education groups, health and wellness opportunities and workforce development provided by the County of Sonoma’s H.O.S.T. team and Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa. The Palms Inn Project provides much needed additional housing to Santa Rosa’s most at risk individuals experiencing homelessness.

Nicholas Hansen, Board President was quoted on behalf of the Board of Directors “we would like to acknowledge all the amazing community partners, corporate sponsors and volunteers over the past twenty-seven years. We would especially like to thank the City of Santa Rosa and their generous support every year that has made this one time donation possible. We believe this is a great first step to Page 2 being a more active community partner in downtown Santa Rosa and Sonoma County by supporting such a great cause.”

The Wednesday Night Market, which will celebrate its 28th year in downtown Santa Rosa starting May 4, 2016, runs the largest certified farmers market and street fair in Sonoma County on the streets of downtown Santa Rosa for 16 weeks of the summer.