Support Services
Each household is works with a support specialist who serves as a consultant, guiding residents through their transition from homelessness. Support specialists advocate for residents when needed and are a link to government agencies, doctors, schools, and other resources. Additional support services include:

• Employment Services
  Locating and retaining fulfilling employment with a living wage is a critical step on the path out of homelessness and poverty. Recognizing the importance of overcoming barriers to employment as central to residents’ efforts to become self-sufficient, APC created the onsite Career Path Employment Program. Career Path builds on a continuum of strategies that begin with referral and continue through employment, including: Assessment and Individualized Employment Plans, Vocational Training and Education, Job Readiness, Job Search, On-the-Job Training, Job Placement and Job Retention.
  
• Life Skills Development
  APC staff and partnering agencies provide training and workshops in financial education, budgeting, account set-up, housekeeping and locating permanent housing.
• Mental Health
  APC’s staff of counselors is dedicated to listening and providing a safe environment for residents to address mental health concerns and celebrate personal successes. In addition to one-on-one counseling, APC offers couples counseling, children and youth counseling, family counseling, assessments, education and referrals.
• Substance Abuse Counseling
  APC provides education and support to residents with chemical addictions to improve life skills and stability, maintain housing and improve quality of life.
• Children and Youth Services
  Like the adults in their families, APC resident children and youth are rebuilding their lives after a period of homelessness and trauma. Some have recently reunified with their families after a period of foster care or separation; all have been impacted by poverty, domestic violence, disabilities or mental illness in their families. APC Children and Youth Services provide focused activities that support physical and emotional safety, encourage positive life skills, promote creativity and learning, and nurture self-esteem of resident children and youth. While adults receive support services, their children participate in parallel activities in a nearby youth room.

Special Projects

• Growing Youth Project
  The Growing Youth Project emerged from a youth-led community food assessment at APC in 2005. GYP provides meaningful employment for residents, and works to implement the report's recommendations. Among other activities, GYPs operates a free weekly produce delivery for residents, established our Community Garden Co-op and provides food for APC community events.
• Community Garden Co-op
  The Community Garden was built by and for APC residents, students at a local charter high school, and neighbors. The garden provides healthy organic produce and a sense of one community among existing APC residents and their neighbors.

Enterprises

• Ploughshares Nursery Project
  The Ploughshares Nursery is a retail organic plant nursery located on the former Naval base in Alameda. Ploughshares has transformed neglected land into a thriving, ecologically sustainable nursery. Ploughshares revenue is dedicated to supporting APC's housing and service programs. Our goal is to provide job training and permanent employment for formerly homeless people.
• Bike Shop
  Cycles of Change is a community bike shop where you can donate or purchase bikes and parts. Located at 677 W. Ranger, across from the APC Community Center.