DESIGN PREVIEW · leadership bios & resident stories still to come · not the live site
Tracy Citizens to Assist the Homeless
Serving Tracy since 2009

Two homes.
One mission:
no one left behind.

A bed◆A brotherhood◆A way back

The Coalition of Tracy Citizens to Assist the Homeless runs two homes for men with nowhere else to turn: one to help them get sober and rebuild, one to give them a permanent place to belong. Both built on faith, dignity, and the belief that every life can be restored.

501(c)(3) nonprofit 2 homes 29 beds 100% stays in Tracy
Sober-living recovery

Emerson House

For men ready to get sober & rebuild

A structured, faith-based program that walks a man from the street toward a job, savings, and a place of his own.

Explore Emerson →
18
beds
Permanent supportive home

Rochester House

For older & disabled men, for the long term

A safe, stable, lasting home with a real family feel: shared meals, game nights, even a house dog. Men here are never alone again.

Explore Rochester →
11
beds
Where do you fit in?

Three ways to step in

♥

I want to help

Your gift puts a roof over a man's head tonight, whether he's rebuilding at Emerson or growing old safely at Rochester. Every dollar stays in Tracy.

Give now →
⌂

I need help

Ready to apply for a bed, or just need help getting through today? Find food, shelter, recovery, and crisis resources right here.

Find help →
⬡

Partner with us

Funders, churches, and agencies: see who we are, how we operate, and how your investment multiplies in our community.

Learn more →
2009
Serving Tracy's homeless since
2
Homes: Emerson & Rochester
29
Beds across both homes
100%
Of gifts stay local in Tracy
Pastor DougSHOT: warm, approachable portrait of Doug
Why these homes exist

A man who walked this road himself.

Before he ever ran a recovery home, our founding pastor was a young man living fast and headed nowhere good. He'll tell you plainly: he was lost.

Then life put a question in front of him he couldn't outrun. It led him to a church door, to God, and to Connie.

He found a faith that held, a wife who's stood beside him ever since, and a calling he never expected. Every man who walks into one of our homes meets someone who has truly been where he is.

Lives changed

Real men.
Real second chances.

From the man who arrives in crisis and leaves with a future, to the elder who finally has a safe place to call home. These are the stories that will live here.

Two men in matching work-uniform shirts, ready for a day of training and work

Back to work

Men stepping into training and steady jobs. Their stories, in their own words, are coming soon.

An older resident holding a birthday cupcake, smiling

A birthday, celebrated

At our homes, no man marks a birthday alone. Full resident stories are coming soon.

Men serving themselves from a shared holiday meal in the kitchen

A seat at the table

Every meal here is shared. Men who ate alone on the street eat as a family now.

$50 keeps a man safe for a week.

Small for you. Everything for a man with nowhere else to turn. Become a monthly partner and support both homes, recovery and refuge alike.

Our Homes

Two homes,
two callings, one family.

Some men need a season of structure to get back on their feet. Others need a permanent place where they're safe for good. The Coalition was built to do both, and to do each one well.

Residents standing together in front of one of the Coalition's homes
Emerson House · Sober-living recovery

A structured path from surviving to thriving.

Emerson House isn't a flophouse and it isn't a hand-out. It's a disciplined, faith-based program for men who are truly ready to get sober and change their lives. A man arrives in crisis, and with time, structure, and support, he rebuilds.

It's a drug- and alcohol-free home with rules that are firmly upheld. Residents address substance use through outside resources, find work, pay down what they owe, and save, working toward the day they can launch into a place of their own. 18 beds. Owned by the Coalition.

The Emerson program

Four phases, one direction: forward

01

Welcome & intake

A man applies, is interviewed, and moves into a safe, clean, sober home with rules clearly explained and firmly upheld.

02

Stability & sobriety

With sobriety the non-negotiable foundation, each man addresses substance use through outside resources and rebuilds daily structure.

03

Work & responsibility

Residents work toward full-time employment, take on responsibilities in the house, and begin paying down debts and fines while saving.

04

Launch to independence

With savings, a deposit, and steady income, a man can leave Emerson ready to stand on his own.

Our goal for every man

What we help each man work toward

The program typically runs 12 to 18 months. We can't promise every man makes it, but this is what we walk every resident toward:

✓

A full-time job

Steady, lawful income he can build a life on.

✓

Debts & fines paid down

Lifting the weight that follows men out of crisis.

✓

Emergency savings

A cushion so one setback doesn't undo everything.

✓

A deposit for a home

The keys to his own place, and his own future.

Rochester House · Permanent supportive home

A place to belong, for as long as he needs it.

Not every man can or should be working toward moving out. For older men and men living with disabilities, the goal isn't a 12-month launch. It's safety, dignity, and a real home that doesn't have an expiration date.

Rochester has the feel of a real family. The men share their meals together, watch the game together, and celebrate the holidays together. They look out for one another, and there's even a little house dog who's part of the family. After years on the street, many men arrive here and finally exhale.

11 beds. A permanent, supportive home.

The Coalition family gathered together in the common room during the holidays
What Rochester offers

Dignity, every single day

Rochester isn't a program to complete. It's a home built around what these men actually need.

✓

A permanent place to live

No clock, no exit date. A stable home for the long term.

✓

A real family atmosphere

Shared meals, game nights, holidays together, and a house dog.

✓

Support with daily living

For men who care for themselves day to day but need a stable, supportive home around them.

✓

Faith & belonging

A spiritual home and a community that sees each man's worth.

Rochester is a supportive home, not a medical facility. We don't provide nursing care. Our residents care for themselves day to day; they simply do better with a stable, caring home and people around them.

Honest about cost

Nobody is turned away for lack of money.

Housing in both homes runs on a sliding scale from $0 to $850 a month, based entirely on a man's ability to pay. Modest fees help keep the lights on, but need, not income, decides who gets a place here.

One Coalition.
Two ways to change a life.

Whether a man needs a fresh start or a forever home, your support makes a place for him.

Our Story

A road to redemption, and a calling to share it.

It began with one act of compassion. It grew into two homes where broken lives are made new.

The pastor's road

He was lost. Until he wasn't.

Our founding pastor doesn't hide where he came from. As a young man, he lived fast and reckless, running the streets, certain the rules didn't apply to him. He was headed nowhere good, and somewhere deep down, he knew it.

Then life forced a question on him he couldn't outrun: what happens to a soul when everything else is gone?

That question led him through the door of a church for the first time. What he found there changed the direction of his entire life. He found God. He found purpose. And on that very first morning, he met Connie, and fell in love on the spot.

They've been together ever since, building this ministry side by side. Out of that transformation came a conviction that has never left him: the men sleeping under bridges and behind buildings in Tracy are not beyond saving, because he wasn't.

That's the heartbeat of the Coalition. When a man arrives at our door, whether he's fighting to get sober or simply needs a safe place to grow old, he's met by people who understand exactly where he's standing, and who can show him there's a way forward.

From one act of kindness

It started with a hot shower.

In 2009, one Tracy man decided the people living on our streets at least deserved to be clean and warm. That small act of dignity became a movement.

In 2012, Emerson House opened as a transitional home for men ready to leave homelessness behind. In 2015, Rochester House followed: a supportive home for formerly homeless men, including those living with disabilities, where they could stay for good.

Today these two homes stand as proof that one person who refuses to look away can change a whole community.

Men serving themselves from a shared holiday meal in the kitchen
Leadership

The people behind the mission

A small team carrying a big calling. Full bios and photos coming soon.

Danielle MeyersSHOT: friendly portrait, CEO

Danielle Meyers

Chief Executive Officer

Placeholder: Danielle's bio and how she came to lead the Coalition will go here.

Doug & ConnieSHOT: the two of them together, warm

Doug & Connie Diestler

Founders

Pastoring and serving Tracy side by side since 1997. Doug's road is told above, and you can meet Connie just below.

The board / teamSHOT: group shot of the leadership team

Our Board

Governance & oversight

A volunteer board guides the Coalition's mission, finances, and growth. See below.

Danielle Meyers · CEO
Doug Diestler · Board Chair
Connie Diestler · CFO
Orlando Castellon · Board Member
Vironica Scialabba · Board Member
Connie DiestlerSHOT: warm portrait of Connie
Connie Diestler · Business Manager

Every life has value.

Connie serves as the Business Manager for the Coalition of Tracy. Having lived in the Tracy area since grammar school, she has a deep love for the community and its people. Connie met her husband, Doug, in 1994, and together they built a life centered on faith, family, and serving others. They are blessed with three daughters, two sons-in-law, and four wonderful grandchildren.

Since 1997, Doug and Connie have faithfully pastored and served the City of Tracy, walking alongside individuals and families through life's joys and challenges. Their years of ministry have given them a deep understanding of the struggles many people face and a lasting commitment to bringing hope to those in need.

Every person has a story worth hearing. And no one is defined by their past.

Connie recognizes that many of the men served by the Coalition have experienced hardship, loss, and brokenness. Through compassion, encouragement, and practical support, she is committed to helping each man turn the page to a new chapter filled with hope, healing, and renewed purpose.

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."2 Corinthians 5:17

Help us write the next chapter

Every man we welcome adds a new story of redemption.

Our Impact

The proof is in the men who walk out, or finally stay.

Numbers tell part of the story. The men themselves tell the rest.

15+
Years serving Tracy's homeless
29
Beds across our two homes
2
Homes: recovery & permanent care
100%
Of gifts stay local in Tracy

Verified totals, men served over the years, graduation rate, and sobriety milestones, are being compiled and will be added here.

In their own words

Stories of restoration

As our men share their stories, they'll appear here: sometimes by first name only, always in their own voice.

"

Placeholder for a real testimony: a man describing where he was when he arrived, and the life he has now.

—
First name
Emerson House graduate
"

Placeholder for a Rochester resident on finally having a safe, permanent home and a family around him.

—
First name
Rochester House resident
"

Placeholder for a man who found faith and sobriety here, and now helps others walking the same road.

—
First name
Program graduate

Stories may be shared by first name only to protect each man's privacy.

Life at the Coalition

Life inside our homes

Shared meals, birthdays, a day's work, and the ordinary moments that make a house a home.

A joyful group of residents and staff gathered together in one of the homes
Family at the Coalition
A resident at home during the holidays
The holidays, together
A resident cooking a meal on the stove
A home-cooked meal
Two residents sharing a laugh in the kitchen
In the kitchen
Two men relaxing together in the backyard
An afternoon in the yard
Two men standing together, one wearing a faith-based hoodie
Faith & friendship
Two residents together in the kitchen
Never alone again

Real photos from Emerson & Rochester Houses.

Be the reason the next story exists.

Every transformation here is paid for by people who believed before they saw the proof. Be one of them.

Get Help

You don't have to figure this out alone.

Ready to apply for a bed, or just need help getting through today? Start here. There is no shame in asking.

Need help right now?

Call Tracy Community Connections Center

Tracy's front door for food, showers, housing navigation, and case management for anyone facing or at risk of homelessness.

(209) 940-0017
tracyccc.org →
Two homes, two doors

Which home is right?

Emerson House

Ready to get sober & rebuild

For men committed to a structured, faith-based recovery program and willing to work toward independence over 12 to 18 months.

Rochester House

Need a safe, permanent home

For older men and men with disabilities who care for themselves day to day but need lasting, supportive housing. Reach out and we'll talk it through.

For moms, wives & families

Searching for someone you love?

A lot of the people who find this page aren't the men who need a bed. They're the mothers, wives, brothers, and friends doing the searching for them. If that's you: you can make the first call yourself.

When you call, we'll talk through where he's at, whether one of our homes is the right fit, and what the next step looks like. If we're not the right place, we'll point you to someone who is. There's no obligation and no judgment, of him or of you.

Call us at (209) 814-0758. We'd be honored to help you help him.

Local resources

Help across San Joaquin County

Save these numbers. They're free, and the people answering them want to help.

Housing & basic needs

Tracy Community Connections Center

Intake for housing help, eviction prevention, food, showers, laundry, and case management, right here in Tracy.

(209) 940-0017intake@tracyccc.org · tracyccc.org
Find any service · 24/7

211 San Joaquin

A free, around-the-clock connection to housing, food, healthcare, and rental assistance across the county.

Dial 2-1-1 or (800) 436-9997Text your ZIP to 898211 · 211sj.org
Mental health & recovery · 24/7

SJC Behavioral Health Help Line

Around-the-clock support for mental health and substance use crises, including connections to detox and treatment.

(209) 468-9370Toll-free: 1-888-468-9370
Immediate crisis · 24/7

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

If you or someone you love is in emotional crisis or thinking about self-harm, reach a trained counselor any time, day or night.

Call or text 9-8-8Free & confidential

In a life-threatening emergency, always call 911 first.

Apply

Your fresh start begins with one honest step.

Whether you're applying to the Emerson recovery program or asking about a permanent place at Rochester, we'd be honored to talk with you.

The fastest way in

Pick up the phone.

One short, honest conversation is all it takes to get started. No paperwork needed to make the first call.

(209) 814-0758
Program Director · office hours
Prefer to start online?

Four simple steps

1

Read the house rules and release honestly. They matter, and they keep everyone safe.

2

Complete the online application fully and truthfully.

3

We'll contact you to talk through which home fits and what's next.

4

If it's the right fit, you move in and begin your journey.

Open the application →
Questions? Talk to a real person.

Not sure which home is right? Call us and we'll help you figure it out.

(209) 814-0758
Program Director · office hours
A Coalition team member sitting down with a man to talk through his application
What to expect

Both homes are drug- and alcohol-free with rules that are firmly enforced. Emerson is a 12 to 18 month recovery program working toward independence; Rochester is permanent supportive housing for older and disabled men who care for themselves day to day. When you reach out, we'll help match you to the right home, and a real person will walk you through every step.

Partner With Us

An investment you can see and measure.

For funders, foundations, churches, health systems, and county partners: here's who we are, how we operate, and why a dollar invested in the Coalition goes further than almost anywhere else.

Why we're a sound investment

Credibility you can verify

Legal status
Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, independent of any church
Track record
Continuously serving Tracy's homeless men since 2009
Two-home model
Recovery housing and permanent supportive housing under one roof
Assets
Owner of Emerson House; operator of Rochester House
Financial accountability
Independent financial audit underway to support grant readiness
Standards & certification
Pursuing membership & certification with the Sober Living Network

EIN, IRS determination letter, audited financials, and board roster available to qualified funders on request.

The case for funding

Two of the most cost-effective interventions there are.

Every man Emerson helps toward independence is one less cycling through ERs, jails, and shelters at public expense. Instead he is working, paying taxes, and contributing. Every man Rochester houses is an elder kept safely off the street and out of costly emergency care.

We do it with a lean team, donated labor, and a sliding-scale model that keeps men invested. Your grant doesn't disappear into overhead. It puts roofs over heads and turns lives around.

We're actively building toward CalCRG, DHCS, county, and health-system partnerships, and we welcome conversations with any funder who shares our mission.

A man on the job in a warehouse, back to steady work
With gratitude

Partners & supporters

We're grateful to the churches, organizations, and funders who have stood with us.

Community partners

Tracy Interfaith
Assist International
Mission City Church
Journey Christian Church
Providence Baptist Church
Tracy Community Church
Victory Christian Church
+ your church?

Grant & funding support

Lawrence Livermore Lab
(via Fidelity)
CDBG & HOME Grants
Sutter Health
Community Investments
Raymus Foundation

Let's build something together.

Foundation officer, corporate giver, church, or county partner: we'd welcome the conversation.

Start a conversation
Need a bed? Call Give