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As Dorothy intoned in "The Wizard of Oz," there's no place like home. Yet while Dorothy's Kansas farm family had it tough, barring the odd tornado, at least they had a home. These days, more and more families can't make that claim.

Contra Costa County, thankfully, does not have a tornado problem — but it does have a homeless problem. A recent study found that on any given night, 4,000 county residents find themselves homeless, while more than 13,000 will be homeless at some time during the year. The area's skyrocketing real estate prices will only augment these numbers.

In light of the situation, Jewish, Protestant and Catholic congregations joined together to form Contra Costa Interfaith Transitional Housing back in 1996. The interfaith coalition's three-year search for a suitably large, well-located and affordable apartment complex finally came to an end earlier this year, when CCITH obtained a 28-unit apartment complex in Pleasant Hill.

The coalition looked at its accomplishments and its future plans Oct. 26 at a combined meeting, fund-raiser and celebration at Lafayette's Temple Isaiah. Coalition members include Isaiah, Congregation B'nai Tikvah of Walnut Creek and 11 Contra Costa churches, nine Protestant and two Catholic.

"There is a particularly dire lack of facilities in this area, particularly for families with children," Rabbi Roberto Graetz of Isaiah told some 80 audience members representing area congregations, businesses and community organizations.

"You know, every day when you open up the newspaper, and particularly at times such as this when it starts to rain and get colder, how desperate the need is."

Currently, only 17 units of transitional housing earmarked for families with children exist in Contra Costa County, a number the coalition will almost triple with its 28-unit complex.

CCITH was able to pick up the apartment's $1.9 million tab thanks to a loan from Cal Fed and a lightning fund-raising drive led by Graetz that helped amass more than $500,000 in 4-1/2 months, all from individual donors.

"We asked the members of the board to give us the names of their friends and their friends to give us the names of their friends. About a half-dozen of us went on doors, talking to people, showing them the project and telling them the dream," said Graetz. "If you have a good project and present it in the right way, the money always comes. In the almost 30 years I've been a rabbi, no project has been left undone because of money. If it's good, it gets paid for."

But a great deal of work still to be done before CCITH can open its apartment complex. While the group has the building, operating costs for the program still need to be met.

Graetz told the audience he was aiming to raise $3.2 million over the next year and a half. He plans to call upon individuals, corporations and charitable organizations, and hopes to receive $1.1 million from the state and federal governments. The group is also working in tandem with Mercy Housing and Episcopal Charities.

The complex's current residents have been given one year to move out, and CCITH has already begun working with local neighborhood groups to ensure a positive reception of the transitional housing program. Tom Conrad, CCITH's executive director, said the project, which has been named Shelter 2000, was facing no "groundswells of opposition." Moreover, the operation of a transitional housing center falls within existing Pleasant Hill zoning ordinances. Tenants' monthly rent will be 30 percent of what would normally be charged.

In addition to providing low-cost housing, CCITH also plans to implement a bevy of programs to help the residents find a place in mainstream society by the end of their six- to 18-month stays in the building.

"Most people on the street or in homeless shelters are there because of a reason, not by choice," said Conrad. "There are a whole panoply of other social problems people have to deal with: alcohol, drugs, mental health problems, employment problems, domestic violence. We're going to provide services to ameliorate all those issues, including child care."

Graetz said he hopes more congregations will join CCITH. One of his dreams is for each congregation to "adopt" an apartment in the complex, allowing the residents to take the furniture and silverware when they move out, and having the congregation refurbish it for the next tenant.

He also sees additional benefits of myriad congregations joining the cause.

"Most of the time, religious organizations work [on charitable projects] as loners. So I think it's very interesting when we can pool our resources and work together," said Graetz.

"Even when we disagree theologically, we can agree on what the social needs of the community are and work together. We can all accomplish so much more, there is strength in numbers. I don't see any disadvantages, I can't think of one thing that's a disadvantage."