How We're Helping
HEART of Davis, formerly known as the Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter (IRWS), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Davis and Yolo County. The organization’s mission is to provide compassionate, community-based assistance that helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness meet their immediate needs while connecting them to resources that support long-term stability and housing. HEART of Davis works collaboratively with volunteers, faith communities, nonprofit partners, and the City of Davis to provide shelter, meals, and supportive services for people who lack safe and stable housing.
Strategic Plan
- Vision: Davis and Yolo County communities where everyone has access to safe shelter, stable housing, and compassionate support.
- Mission: Meet immediate needs and advance long-term housing stability through collaborative shelter, meals, supportive services, advocacy, and connections to community resources.
Photo Credits: Julie Johnson
Heart of davis started as IRWS
Early History
IRWS began in 2007 when Davis religious congregations hosted winter shelter guests. It remained an all-volunteer effort through 2020, with volunteers screening guests, transporting them to congregations, providing meals and overnight support, and offering breakfast or a bag lunch.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization reorganized as HEART (Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rehousing Team), broadening its mission to include shelter, housing, and supportive services. Beginning in August 2021, HEART operated Bridge transitional housing in a leased apartment building, prioritizing older adults and people with underlying health conditions or higher COVID-19 risk.
HEART continued providing meals and volunteer support for local shelters while advocating for year-round shelter, improved Respite Center conditions, and better policies for people experiencing homelessness.
Since July 2025, Safe Heart Safe Parking has offered safe, legal parking for people living in their vehicles, along with food, referrals, case management, showers, car repairs, gas cards, and community.
Chairs
Our records are not complete, but we can attest to:
- Mary Anne Kirsch
- Julie Harlow, ~2009-2016
- Eric Elton, 2016-2018
- 2018-2019 Patti Hobbs
- Patti Hobbs and Linda Scott, 2019-2020
- Geoff Rohde 2020-2022
- [HEART of Davis during 2022]
- Brent Hawkins 2022-2023
- Shoshana Zatz 2023-
Board Members 2026-2027
- Shoshana Zatz, Chair
- Hasina Mamtaz, Treasurer
- Radha Elam, Secretary
- Janet Foley
- Kary Shender
- Alice Aldous
- John Castelfranco
- Matt Duffy
Host Congregations
2007-2020
- Congregation Bet Haverim
- Davis Christian Assembly
- Davis Community Church
- Davis Lutheran Church
- Davis United Methodist Church
- First Baptist Church
- Lutheran Church of the Incarnation
- St. James Catholic Church
- University Covenant Church
- Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis
Supportive Congregations
These congregations provided drivers, screeners, organizers, and other support
- LDS
- Quaker Friends
- Islamic Center of Davis
- Davis Korean Church
- The Episcopal Church of St. Martin