shelterworks News from the Willis Dady Emergency Shelter
Rebecca’s
Recollections
In the middle of the night, two times a year, volunteers and staff from a variety of social service organizations in Iowa conduct a count of unsheltered, homeless individuals. This count is known as the Point-In-Time (PIT). This past July I had the pleasure of participating in the PIT, and I was assigned to the parking lot crew. All participants in the PIT met up at Willis Dady at 11pm with two goals in mind: safety and finding unsheltered, homeless individuals to outreach to them. From 11pm-6am on a warm night in July, the group I was assigned to set off to various parking lots, truck stops, rest stops, and 24-hour laundromats. We were circling a parking lot when we spotted a man sleeping in his truck with a local license plate. Unfortunately, in order for any one person to count as homeless, they have to identify themselves as homeless when asked. In this case, that meant waking him up. We knocked on his window; he woke up and was happy to speak to us. He informed us that he was a homeless Veteran and had been homeless for about a decade and a half; he served in the Navy for over twenty years. Even though we had woken him up, he was delighted to answer our questions. We gave him our business cards and told him to contact Operation Home if he was interested in being housed; in return, he gave us his number.
Over the course of the next few months, I tried calling him several times, but was unable to get through to leave a message. He was listening on that warm night in July, however, and he ended up contacting the Operation Home Outreach Worker. He became enrolled in Operation Home, and I was his assigned case manager. One of the first questions I asked him was, “How can I get ahold of you?” He informed me that he only answers his phone for numbers programmed in his phone; he then allowed me to program my number in his phone. Over the course of
Winter
2015
the next ninety days, he went from being homeless to being housed in an efficiency apartment, gainfully employed at Goodwill of the Heartland, and giving back to his community by volunteering at the Veteran’s Memorial Colosseum—all while building friendships and repairing relationships.
This January we will once again be going out and conducting the PIT count. These counts provide information on what we can do as a community to fill in the service gaps. If you would like to volunteer for the PIT count, please contact the Willis Dady Shelter at 319-362-7555. Community Overflow Weather Shelter System (COWS) Since August, 17 Continuum of Care (CoC) homeless providers have met to work out an in-depth plan for how to get any household into an appropriate overnight shelter on the coldest of nights. The current plan will allow for anyone—men, women, and children—to access “overflow” shelter beds at various shelters and to open a temporary “overflow shelter” location when all other beds have been filled at the pre-existing locations. Overflow will be triggered when the weather conditions are not safe for outdoor sleeping. The temporary shelter will be staffed by a Willis Dady staff person, hired for this purpose. Shelter Services through Waypoint will conduct all intakes for beds. Green Square Meals and two local churches will provide evening meals and a “warming location.” NTS will provide transportation to the shelter beds and overflow shelter. The largest expense will be staffing, provided by Willis Dady; thus checks can be made out to Willis Dady. The remaining expenses are for transportation (NTS) and supplies (sleeping cots, flashlights, etc.). These expenses will be incurred by various providers and will be reimbursed by COWSS funds.
Willis Dady Emergency Shelter Board of Directors Sam Jones, President Jim Burke, Vice President Melissa Cullum, Secretary Stephanie Harris, Treasurer
Sam Burges Trisha Cornwell Connie Donovan Al Fisher
Jill Kasparie Jim Koch James Locke Kayla Lyftogt
Dave McInally John Oates Nicholas Scott Janet Slimak
Gisele Tallman Jason Vestweber
Phoebe Trepp, Executive Director
Thankful
At this time of year I find myself taking a step back to recognize what I am thankful for. I do not have to look very far. From mid-October through the publishing of this newsletter we have been busy preparing the shelter for the upcoming winter months, including hiring temporary staff to operate the winter overflow shelter. At each turn someone or some agency has stepped forward to offer assistance and to allow us to meet the basic needs of those who are experiencing Thank you to Diamond V for awarding Willis Dady the homelessness in our city. Faith organizations, hospitals, civic Diamond V Corporate Fund from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. This $9,000 grant groups, and individuals have been calling to ask “How can we provided the shelter with 8 sets of kids’ bunk beds and help?” to meet our most urgent needs. I am grateful that our 3 sets of twin-over-full bunk beds. These beds replaced donation room is well stocked as we enter the Thanksgiving older beds and mattresses in the family apartments, holiday. We have blankets, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and ensuring shelter clients receive restful nights of sleep as other basic daily items we can offer our clients. More than they work towards obtaining housing. ever you have been coming by to drop off fresh prepared food that we serve the men and families who are staying with us. In addition to our everyday needs we’ve gone to the community to solicit help preparing for the winter overflow shelter through funding, item donations, and most of all volunteer hours to assist our paid staff. Many of you have risen to the occasion and we are well on our way to being fully prepared for a winter of overflow shelter. I am also grateful for the passion and shared commitment shown by other service providers. Over 15 other agencies have committed to the overflow shelter system and have shared their resources, staff time, and energy On the evening of November 2, we held our first ever on creating a system that will meet the needs of the people Phone-A-Thon to thank and engage previous donors. experiencing homelessness this winter. On many occasions From 6:00 to 8:30pm, 8 volunteers called and wrote to over 300 previous donors. So far, nearly $7,000 has I receive calls or visits from other providers who are turning been donated as a direct result of the Phone-A-Thon! over every stone to help a person in need of finding emergency Thank you to all our generous donors and volunteers! shelter. Together we share ideas and contacts to try and meet each individual need and to avoid leaving anyone out in the cold. I am grateful to be working alongside countless people Help us save mailing costs by receiving our newsletter via in our community who take the time to show and act out email. Please contact Joseph at services@willisdady.org or their compassion for others. During this season of thanks I 319.362.7555 to go paperless. feel that together we can truly meet the collective needs of our WDES is proud to be a community, and I am thankful to each of you who have a part Community Partner of the United in making it possible. Way of East Central Iowa. - Phoebe Trepp
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How Can I Help? VOLUNTEER
Overnight. Staffing the shelter overnight costs about $120/night. To help us utilize as much funding as possible, consider volunteering overnight. Volunteers are able to sleep during their shift. Please contact Joseph at 319.362.7555 or services@willisdady.org for more information. Receptionists. With limited staff and numerous phone calls and visitors each day, a friendly welcome from a volunteer can maximize the shelter’s potential. For more information, please contact Denine at 319.362.7555 or wdesra1@willisdady.org. Other Needs. Photography, web design, graphic design, database management, policy revision, and much more! Please contact Denine at 319.362.7555 or wdesra1@willisdady.org for current needs. DONATE Financial 26% of our budget is funded by private donations. • Donate securely online via PayPal at willisdady.org/donate. • Mail checks (payable to Willis Dady) to 1247 4th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403. Goods • Visit willisdady.org/donate or contact Denine at 319.362.7555 for our current needs. • Donate furniture and large items to Stuff, Etc. (252 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids) on behalf of Willis Dady (account #13519), and the proceeds will be donated to the shelter.
Endowment To help the shelter and services continue into the future, donate to our Endowment at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. • Call 319.366.2862 • Visit gcrcf.org > Donors > Giving Opportunities > Search Giving Opportunities > Willis Dady > Action
Thank Special thanks to some of those who have recently given to Willis Dady: Marion Christian Church Prairie Middle School The PATHS Program
First Congregational United Church of Christ
First Presbyterian Church 2015 Sunday Meal Volunteers Grace Community Church Youth Group Coe College, Mount Mercy University, and Cornell College
A big thank you to John F. Kennedy High School for donating $900 to Willis Dady as part of their annual Homeless Sleep Out Night. 130 Kennedy students and staff participated in the event on October 15 and raised about $2,500 for area homeless shelters. Congratulations to them on their 13th year of the event! Thank you to the staff of Mercy Medical Center for their generous donation of over 300 items as part of Mission Week 2015. Because of this donation, we will be able to provide clients exiting the shelter with care packages to help make their new home a success!
1247 4th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 49 Cedar Rapids, IA
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Willis Dady Sleep Out 2015 This past November 7 and 8, Willis Dady participated in the 10th Annual Linn County Sleep Out for the Homeless, coordinated by the Linn County Continuum of Care. 169 participants from 24 teams slept out in cardboard boxes and tents on the Veterans Memorial Stadium baseball field to raise funds and awareness for service providers for the homeless in Linn County. Collectively, the participants raised over $6,600 dollars in donations! When coupled with sponsorships and a silent auction, over $26,000 was raised. Thank you to everyone who supported the 10th Annual Sleep Out for the Homeless!