COTS Mary Isaak Center - Petaluma, California

P K.

I'm disappointed that expired canned or boxed food is not accepted. The food is still good. I've eaten expired foods and they're still good. Trust me, a hungry person would be thankful for delicious canned food even if it was expired. I'm shocked by this limitation.

Susanna

This is quite disturbing! COTS is supposed to assist people who are struggling & for them to treat a talented, outgoing, intelligent individual is disgusting 🤢. But their loss. I will be contacting the California dept of labor as well as the Attorney General.

Susanna H.

I know an individual that applied 2 weeks ago, interviewed; & "got the job" 2 days later they informed him not to go in due to the fact that he does not have a California license but he does have z legit drivers license. He got hired to cook; & has won awards for cooking..
I believe this place is RASICT & taking $$ for unrendored services. I bet the district attorney would love to hear about this & State of CA as well as all donors. . .

Jodie S.

I heard this is one of the best around. I got a beautiful quilt with a matching pillowcase and lots of help. Free meals

Cameron W.

This place has it’s pros and it’s cons. Let me share:

I got kicked out over feeling targeted by gang activity in the petaluma community. I called the police and the following day cots decided not to protect me, but kick me out.

I am protected under the ADA and they discriminated against me on behalf of my disability.

When I moved in I was told that the place had MRSA, a dangerous staph infection. I just tested positive for it.

As for the food a lot of it is white and refined and does cause severe constipation for much of the community living at COTS, many chose to eat once a day to combat against it.

This place has a very low standard for cleanliness, multiple residents among me complained to the director about the cleanliness of the bathrooms.

It was dangerously bad. I feel 2 stars among all this is a nice review.

In my opinion, stay out of cots at all costs, because you may not believe it, but the MRSA here could in fact cost you your life. Luckily, I am only 29.

Julie N.

I didn't know what that place was, I was driving and I stopped to answer an emergency call and an aggressive man came out telling me that I couldn't park there, I tried to explain to him that I was just answering a call and he was very rude when he told me that he didn't care, that I should move right then and there, otherwise he would call the police and that he had the right to get me out of there... that man really scared me with the way he acted.

Scott S.

Cots Homeless Center is a huge contributer to the historic river town of Petaluma. Mary Issac worked tirelessly to finally have a safe, clean, accessible place for people who are trying to reestablish themselves in our community. Help with immediate shelter beds, free healthy meals, hot showers, warm beds, access to social services and a path to permanent housing are part of what this center offers.

Barry P.

The negative reviews are largely coming from people that do not understand what COTS is. COTS doesn’t own the streets and property surrounding it, so it is neither within the jurisdiction of COTS nor their responsibility to clean up the streets blocks away from its own property. These symptoms of the problem actually redound to the point of why the organization is necessary is the first place, and point to the problem it’s helping to alleviate. A lot of uniformed opinions in the few negative reviews here, disappointing.

It must also be acknowledged that a number of negative reviews are probably coming from individuals that have not been able to adhere to the policies of COTS and are disgruntled on that basis. This place is an essential service to the community and is demonstrating success as a model pilot program for the rest of the country!