Project SOAR Fresh Start Prey on the Homeless, or at-risk Homeless, promise them a place to stay at varying prices then fail to deliver on services. Long Beach, California

This "company" is falsely advertising the services they provide. Supposedly you call the number listed. You speak with a young lady who calls herself Ms. Jones, although on the flier it says to ask for a Ms. White. When you call, you get asked a bunch of questions about your current housing situation, whether or not you are employed, and it seems legit. Then they schedule you for an appointment at the listed address, which, when I googled it, its says Fresh Start, but the street view reflects that a smoke shop is there, not this Project SOAR or Fresh Start place.

Btw Project SOAR is the name this company now goes under, but I understand it was once called Fresh Start. When I decided to research more about this company, I discovered that they are listed on Better Business Bureau with an F grade, and that there are at least 12 complaints/reports of rip-offs with this company. The overall story seems to be individuals who are homeless or at risk for homelessness, who shell out money thinking they will have a place to live soon, but the company just takes your hard-earned money and runs with it. When you try to ask for a refund, they give you the constant run-around or outright refuse. I found it rather fishy that they wanted my money up front before I would even get to see the "place" I'd be getting. Thankfully, the appointment I scheduled for this coming Thursday (July 5, 2012) will not be happening because I decided to do my research first. But all the BBB reports are there. I feel quite sorry for the people who unfortunately shelled out money to these people. Some reportedly gave up as much as $2600 just on the promise of LISTINGS to places. Not even getting a chance to see the place before shelling out the money.

Anyway, if there is any way I can somehow prevent this from happening to someone else through this report, then that is what I hope to accomplish. I also encourage people to continue to report these people and maybe even pursue charges against these people. It's horrible that they have gotten away with doing this to so many unsuspecting individuals who put up their money in good faith that they'd have a place to stay by now.

With that said, I am glad I was able to notice the red flags and im also thankful Google and BBB exists. Saved me a lot of time and headache.

When something seems too good to be true, it probably is. It sucks because they actually had their fliers stacked up in the office of the Skid Row Housing Trust, which may cause some to think they are legitimate. But I will be informing the purple in this office bout to allow them to leave their fliers there, as they are a company who simply sets out to collect unsuspecting victims' money then run off with it, never to hear from them again.