shelter&stability News from Willis Dady Homeless Services
Martha’s
Summer
2016
volunteered to go help paint James’s apartment. When I arrived on Sunday morning to pick up the volunteers, there were more than two men willing to help: five guys were waiting for me in the parking lot!
Message
On May 16, 2016 we received a call from a former shelter resident. James had suffered a setback: His apartment had caught fire in the kitchen area, and though he had followed all the necessary steps to put out the fire, there was damage. The kitchen area had sustained most of the damage, but some smoke had traveled to the living room walls and ceiling. James agreed to repair the damage, and the apartment complex allowed him to stay. The next day I went to see him. We talked about the incident and began to clean up the kitchen and living room area, trying to work through the situation. As James described the incident, all I could think about was how we could help him. James entered shelter in November 2015 after his thirteen-year marriage had ended. He was a father of three children, and he spent his time with them when he was not looking for a job or working. While in shelter James was a thoughtful man. At six foot and about 200 pounds, he was gentle and soft spoken. He spent time with a few other men in the evening studying the Bible; you could see them sitting around the table in the men’s area reading and having a discussion. Those who sat with him participated freely. James carried himself in a way that promoted the spirit of kindness. Periodically he would talk about his children. It was obvious that he loved them and worked at being there for them.
James was very grateful to the men who volunteered their time to paint his apartment. “Thank you so much,” he said periodically to us throughout the day. “If there is anything you need, you just have to call me.” His children were there when we arrived that Sunday. They were able to see a small community of men from different backgrounds and experiences come together to help a former resident of our shelter. While we painted, there was laughter, storytelling and conversation about giving back to the community, paying it forward. It reminded me that working together as a community in helping someone in need often leads back to being helped in a time of need. These men were able to come together to help someone they did not know. In turn James offered to help when it is needed in the future.
James admitted to being discouraged after the fire. He felt somewhat lost. I reminded him that he was still working full-time in manufacturing and that this was a major accomplishment. He was also reminded that he could recover from the fire. I returned to shelter to recruit men who would be willing to help James. One of the men I asked replied, “You are helping us. I got your back.” By Friday there were a couple of men who
Willis Dady Homeless Services Board of Directors Sam Jones, President Jim Burke, Vice President Melissa Cullum, Secretary Stephanie Harris, Treasurer
Sam Bergus Trisha Cornwell Connie Donovan Al Fisher
Jill Hawk Carletta Knox-Seymour Jim Koch Kayla Lyftogt
Dave McInally John Oates Nicholas Scott Janet Slimak
Gisele Tallman Jason Vestweber
Phoebe Trepp, Executive Director
In the previous newsletter you had a chance to meet Emily, our new Homeless Prevention Outreach Advocate. Homeless Prevention and services like it are powerful tools to help us effectively address homelessness across our community. I’d like to take this edition to explain in more detail some of the other tools available in our community’s toolbox to address the range of needs across the continuum of homelessness. I use the word continuum intentionally because homelessness is not a “one size fits all” problem. Everyone experiencing homelessness has a unique story and situation, and their path to stability differs based on their barriers and their individual strengths. The first tool that often comes to mind when imagining what it might be like to experience homelessness is shelter. In our community we have several shelters that provide emergency short-term housing. Each shelter has its own nuanced services and framework (some provide shelter for 30 days, others fewer; some house single women, others single fathers with children; etc.) but all aim to provide a bed where someone can spend the night indoors.
Case Management: staff who work with households to identify and work towards goals, provide emotional support and accountability for progress, and assist with navigating resources. Prevention: working with households who are not yet literally homeless to stabilize their immediate housing.
Many of these tools can be used concurrently (such as shelter and case management) to effectively help a household move from homelessness to stability.
While Willis Dady provides the tools of emergency shelter, case management, prevention, and Veteran support, we know there are other tools necessary for an adequate toolbox to address the continuum of homelessness. We are working with many community providers to identify the other tools needed in Linn County. We remain committed to pursuing the most effective and efficient ways to help households move from homelessness to stability, and we know it will take an entire toolkit, and an entire community.
Beyond emergency shelter is a range of services to help people escape homelessness and create stability. While the following are not all-inclusive explanations, here are a few other tools we should consider for a comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness: Homeless Outreach: building relationships with people experiencing homelessness on the streets or in other unsafe conditions.
Rapid Re-Housing: short term rental assistance to quickly help a household stay or become housed in market-rate units. Transitional Housing: medium-term housing (up to two years), often in an agency-owned-and-operated setting, during which the household transitions to a market-rate unit. Permanent Supported Housing: non-time-limited, affordable housing units with optional case management and/or other types of ongoing support.
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How Can I Help? VOLUNTEER
Please contact Joseph at 319.362.7555 or services@willisdady.org for more information. Overnight. Staffing the shelter overnight would cost about $43,800 per year. Help us save $120/night and utilize as much funding as possible by volunteering overnight. Volunteers are able to sleep during their shift. Sunday Meals. We’re looking for families, groups, or individuals to provide a Sunday meal for 25-30 shelter clients at noon on their chosen Sunday.
Special thanks to some of those who have recently given to Willis Dady: Our Savior’s Lutheran Church St. Isidore Catholic Church St. Jude Church First Lutheran Church
McIntyre Foundation Neuhaus Foundation St. Pius X Parish Salem United Methodist Church
Skilled Positions. With limited staff, we’re looking for skilled volunteers to help us with specific projects such as facility maintenance, web design, policy revision, and others. 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. • Your employer might match your donation. Visit willisdady.org/donate/#matching for more information. Goods • Visit willisdady.org/donate/#goods 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, and the proceeds will be donated to the shelter. Endowment To donate to our Endowment at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, please call 319.366.2862.
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Willis Dady Run for Shelter Join us Saturday, August 27 at Cedar Lake Loop for our 5th Annual Run for Shelter 5k! Check-in starts at 7:15am, and the race begins at 8:00am. Participants can run or walk the route, which is roughly two laps around Cedar Lake. Run for Shelter is chip timed via Kauder Racing, and awards will be given immediately following the race; results will be posted online later that day. Registration is $25 in advance, $30 day of, and includes a t-shirt. Please register at willisdady. org/5k by August 18 to ensure you receive a t-shirt.