GRIP is an interfaith, multi-racial coalition with 41 member congregations from a variety of faith traditions - Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Sikh, Buddhist - working together to address critical issues of human dignity and social justice. GRIP celebrates the diversity of our multi-cultural community and draws upon a variety of traditions and cultures to “actively seek solutions” to “the issues of justice that affect the poor and the disenfranchised of our society…to empower all people“. GRIP “provides the opportunity for…diverse groups to work together in mutual respect, to carry out a deeply held commitment to heal the world around us.”(from mission statement)

"Unit[ing]... thoughts and actions to work together to address issues of economic disparity and social injustice", through both advocacy and education to tackle the root causes of problems as we provide services to meet critical needs, for over 40 years, GRIP has been providing services to the community, and, for over 20 years, services and shelter to the homeless population, primarily in West Contra Costa County, but, also, all over the SF Bay Area.  Today, GRIP's focus is on three core initiatives: providing food; providing shelter; and providing supportive services to help homeless families transition to self-sufficiency.

GRIP first created and developed programs to meet community needs in 1971, with its Richmond Emergency Food Pantry, followed in 1974 by the West County Rape Crisis Center (now STAND! Against Domestic Violence), then the Richmond Farmers Market, West County Adult Day Care and Alzheimer's Respite Center, Community Housing Development Corporation of N. Richmond, West Contra Costa Food Security Council, Community Land Trust, Contra Costa Asthma Coalition, Muli Congregational Breast Cancer Partnership, Learn ASAP, and many more.  Today, these and other programs GRIP initiated continue to operate with their own community boards. 

In 1985, GRIP first became a service provider, with the opening of the Souper Center.  GRIP’s revolving Emergency Winter Shelter Program for Homeless Families was initiated in 1993; the West County Resource Center has operated since 1995.

GRIP’s successful development of a $3.5 million integrated services facility – the new “Souper Center” Family Housing and Supportive Service Center - opened July 2006.  The 12,000 square ft. structure houses the Souper Center; Resource Center; and, the new Family Housing Program, providing 75- year-round beds for emergency shelter and transitional housing.   In March 2007, GRIP began operating a permanent housing program for eight dual diagnosed mentally ill and chronically homeless individuals at a rental unit adjacent to the “Souper Center”.

Since 1999, GRIP has served as fiscal sponsor for several programs operated by the Contra Costa County Health Services Department; the Brookside and Concord Shelters have been included since 2001.  GRIP budget currently exceeds $3,500,000; $2,400,000 represents fiscal sponsor projects.

In addition to our core programs, GRIP is involved in community education and advocacy for a variety of social  and economic justice programs, including immigration issues and around raids conducted by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the New Sanctuary Movement (see, our Social Justice Committee), health care reform, affordable housing, education and violence prevention. (For current events, issues and activities, please see our News tab and our Events sub section.)

GRIP is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors drawn primarily from our member congregations, and includes a representative from the homeless community. Programs are operated by a small paid staff, with tremendous support from a network of thousands of volunteers who perform tasks ranging from preparing and serving meals to coordinating activities with shelter guests.

If you think your congregation or organization may be interested in becoming a member, click here for more information.

GRIP's Core Programs:

Food: The Souper Center soup kitchen has served hot, nutritious noonday meals to homeless and hungry individuals and families for over twenty years. The Center operates 365 days per year with the assistance of 300 monthly volunteers from GRIP's member congregations, providing a daily average of 160 noonday meals.

Shelter: From 1993-2005, GRIP operated an Emergency Winter Shelter Program for Families; GRIP member congregations directly hosted 30-35 homeless adults and children each day during the winter months.With completion of our new Family Housing and Supportive Services Facility in late 2006, we now provide 75 beds of emergency and transitional housing for homeless families, year-round, in a services-enriched environment.

Supportive Services: The GRIP Resource Center provides case-management, support and referral services to over 2,000 individuals and families annually. The Center has served as primary entry point for West County's homeless in the Homeless Continuum of Care Plan for over nine years.  The Resource Center provides showers (904 in 2007), mail service (in 2007, 1.786  clients received mail through GRIP) laundry facilities (809 loads of laundry were washed and dried by our 2007 clients)  and many additional services as  well as counseling, training and education, transportation, and other programs.