We are the connector piece when it comes to resolving complex conflicts. From counseling to formal hearings, we provide what is needed in order to resolve a dispute.
NEW: Court Mediation Programs
If you are involved in a Small Claims, Civil Harassment/Elder Abuse and Unlawful Detainer case in Santa Clara Superior Court, our professional mediators can help you on your Day of Court. It's often helpful to have a neutral mediator present to help you discuss the case with the other party, exchange evidence and get your questions answered. If you'd like to be assisted by a mediator, please let the Court know when you check in so that they can connect you with a mediator.
We encourage everyone to attempt to resolve the issue prior to the court date. If the case is still unresolved, please bring any settlement proposals with you to speed up the mediation process. If you have additional questions about how to prepare for your day in Court, you can contact the Court's Self Help Center.
Small Claims mediation calendars:
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Mondays 8:30AM
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Tuesdays 8:30AM and 1PM
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Wednesdays 8:30AM and 1PM
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Thursdays 8:30AM
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Fridays 8:30AM and 1PM
Civil Harassment mediation calendars:
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Tuesdays 9AM
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Tuesdays 1:30PM (Civil Harassment and Elder Abuse calendar)
Unlawful Detainer mediation calendars:
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Thursdays 9AM
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Fridays 9AM
To become a Court Mediator, applicants must have taken a mediation certification training. If you are interested in the program but haven't taken a training yet, please indicate that in your application and we will contact you to discuss training opportunities.
For questions, please contact Tessa Husemann at thusemann@housing.org.
Tenant-Landlord
Counseling and Mediations
We offer free, confidential services to both tenants and landlords to help them understand their rights and responsibilities under state and local laws and ordinances that affect the rental relationship.
Our Programs - Find the right person to contact
We contract with cities and counties all over the San Francisco Bay Area. Click below to find out how we can help.
Tenant - Landlord Information
Hearing Administration
If you live in a city with local rent control or rent stabilization ordinances in place, we might be in charge of the petition process and assist you with dispute resolution. To provide Cities with dispute resolution, Project Sentinel maintains a panel of professional mediators and arbitrators.
Hearing Administration
Mountain View
Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act (CSFRA/Measure V)
Mountain View CSFRA Helpline: (650) 282-2514 | csfra@housing.org | File a petition
Project Sentinel serves as the first point of contact for Mountain View residents to counsel on their rights and responsibilities under the CSFRA and administers the hearing process since the Measure became effective. We are in charge of maintaining a panel of qualified facilitators and hearing officers and walk parties through the petition process until the dispute is resolved.
Hayward
Residential and Mobilehome Rent Review Program
Hayward Program Administrator: (510) 709-4561 | hayward@housing.org
Since 2014, Project Sentinel administers the Rent Review Program under the City of Hayward Residential Rent Stabilization Ordinance No 16-19 and the City of Hayward Mobilehome Space Rent Stabilization Ordinance No 89-057. We manage the dispute resolution process, taking the petitions from intake to closure by offering mediations, pre-hearing settlement conferences, meet and confers, and hearings. We offer regular trainings for prospective mediators and hearing officers and have accepted a number of new hearing officers due to an increasing number of petitions.
Los Gatos
Rent Review Program
Los Gatos Program Administrator: (408) 402-0307
Project Sentinel administers the Rental Dispute Resolution Program under the Los Gatos Ordinance 2202 and the Los Gatos Mobile Home Ordinance (sections 14.80 and 14.85 respectively in the Town’s civil codes) since 2000. We offer counseling to both tenants and landlords about the local and statewide regulations. When a petition is filed, we initiate a conciliation process which may be followed by mediation. If the mediation does not result in an agreement, we set the case for arbitration and administer the hearing process until a final, binding decision is issued.
Conflict Training and Workplace Mediation
We build on 40+ years of experience to assist you with managing conflict through mediations, facilitations, and tailored workshops.
Mediation Training
Project Sentinel partners with Mediate 2.0 to offer tailored mediation classes on a regular basis. It is our mission to promote mediation where we can and assist our community in developing conflict resolution skills to better navigate the disputes we face every day. Check our calendar for classes or reach out or contact us if you would like to discuss scheduling a private training for your organization.
Facilitation Training
Facilitating a meeting is a challenge. Whether you are facilitating your own meeting, or acting as a neutral third-party facilitator, you want to provide an opportunity for meaningful participation by those who attend a meeting. At the same time, you want to identify the purpose and goals for the meeting and ensure they are met. In our classes, you will learn how to plan for the meeting and then how to utilize your tools such as ground rules and communication skills during the meeting to ensure the desired outcomes. You want to have a successful meeting, even when there are strong feelings and opposing viewpoints among the participants.
Our classes help participants become successful facilitators, for their own meetings and for community meetings and other public events. Check our calendar for upcoming classes or contact us with your inquiry.
Workplace Mediation
Even the best workplaces experience internal conflict between colleagues and/or between employees and management. These conflicts can weigh heavily on organizations, reducing employee productivity and morale. While the conflict sticks around, the best employees leave. The longer it takes, the more a conflict can spread across teams, affecting the whole organization. It is often very difficult for organizations to resolve the issues without external assistance while keeping the business running as usual.
What we do
As a neutral professional, we come in to help steer the conflict toward a resolution. A skilled mediator from Project Sentinel conducts confidential conversations with everyone involved, proposes a course of action based on the information gathered in the interviews, and assists parties with the resolution of their dispute.
If you are interested, please contact us with your inquiry. All conversations will be confidential.
1490 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95050
We have Satellite Offices in Fremont (39155 Liberty St Suite D440), San Mateo County (1615 Hudson St, Ste. A, Redwood City), Stanislaus County (1231 8th St, Ste. 425, Modesto), South County (8339 Church St #104, Gilroy) and Sacramento (1010 Hurley Way, Ste. 500). You are welcome to come to our offices. However, please call the person you would like to meet first to make sure that they will be there.
