2020 Annual Report
FROM OUR CHAIR As we enter our 14th year we want to sincerely thank you for your incredible support of our mission and the many families we serve. We understand well that we can only be successful in our efforts to assist families in breaking the cycle of homelessness, one family at a time, by garnering broad-based community support for our mission. You have made the difference in what we are able to accomplish for every family in providing immediate stability with our shelter operations, a range of case management programs, including an employment program, financial literacy training, parenting assistance and support in securing new housing. The children who come to us receive support with their schooling, children’s case management, a range of age and culturally appropriate programming throughout the year and an in house summer program. In this past year our entire community has struggled mightily with the challenges of Covid 19, and the Shelter has been no different. Our staff met that challenge and we have remained open the entire time practicing good hygiene, masking and social distancing. We are prepared for whatever the ongoing crisis may bring, including a wave of homelessness from evictions should that time come.
What we most respect is the understanding of so many in our community that every family needs the Shelter Founders, Jackie and stability of a Dan Silverman home. To that end we have a comprehensive and robust support program to assist every family once they have moved from the shelter and into their own home. The motto of Dawn Bradley-Fletcher and her incredible staff is simple: “whatever it takes to help each family.” We are truly blessed to have the financial support of so many from our community, including family foundations, businesses, social groups, individuals, schools, medical institutions, universities, churches, synagogues and thousands of individuals. We feel that the only way we can adequately show our appreciation to each of you is by continuing to assist homeless families break the cycle of poverty and move forward. With you as a partner we can continue to accomplish just that. On behalf of our Board, our incredible staff, the over 3000 people we have helped so far and the hundreds we will assist in 2021, we thank you. Know that you are truly appreciated.
HIGHLIGHTS
205
people participated in our Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
0
of our residents contracted COVID-19 while in shelter.
271 people were served in 2020, 101 of whom were children
47
families (154 people) housed through Rapid Rehousing Case Management
4
new affordable housing partners: Prudential Realtors, Cypress Run Apartment Homes, Mayfield Apartment Homes, Concerned Citizens for a Better Algiers
103
1
children were assisted with virtual learning and after-school resources
Executive Director, Dawn BradleyFletcher honored as a New Orleans City Business Woman of the Year
THE JOURNEY TO STABILITY The journey to stability is not short, nor is it easy. While every family’s situation is different, there are a few common themes among our families: each lacks access to resources and a safety net to help them when tragedies, emergencies and major life events arise. Once a family experiencing housing insecurity comes to the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter, the journey to stability can begin: Tina* and two of her eight children came to the Shelter seeking permanent housing and structure following her child’s father’s incarceration. Adding to the strain of incarceration on her family structure, the COVID 19 pandemic created instability in every area of her family’s life.
SHELTER OPENED to respond to the massive loss of housing after Hurricane Katrina
2007
2014
Program evolved from providing only shelter to an individualized, CASE-MANAGED APPROACH
While in shelter, Tina gained employment and, along with our Rapid Rehousing Case Manager worked to find affordable, permanent housing for herself and her children. To ensure her success, Tina participated in our financial literacy programs, gaining better money management skills. She is proud of her success and is working hard to set an example for her children. Tina knows that she would be homeless without the Shelter’s help. And the help does not end when she moves out - like so many families before her, Tina and her children will have support through our Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to help her on her journey.
Added “children” to our name to reflect that 2/3 OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE ARE CHILDREN
*Name changed to protect client’s privacy
The Shelter is now the LARGEST SHELTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN and the ONLY SHELTER FOR INTACT FAMILIES in the Greater New Orleans area
2016
ADDED SERVICE FOR MEN to include intact families and single-father-led families
2018
2020
SHELTER REMAINS OPEN DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC, serving families who may never have been vulnerable before and boasting a 0% infection rate
MISSION & VISION MISSION
We are on a mission to enable women and their children to transition from a life of homelessness and poverty to one of stability and self-sufficiency.
VISION
To be the leading homeless shelter for families in South Louisiana, helping them to stay together and break the cycle of homelessness in their lives throug efficient, familyfriendly, outcomes-based and innovative programs and services.
OUR PROGRAM MODEL
OUR FRIENDS
None of our work would be possible without the contributions of foundations, organizations, individuals and faith-based groups giving their time, talent and resources to support our mission. Sarah Ahmad AT&T Louisiana Avexon LLC Baptist Community Ministries JB Charitable Fund Barrasso, Usdin, Kupperman, Freeman & Sarver Felicia Bashinski The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation The Robert Henry Boh and Katherine Sandoz Boh Foundation Kimee Boudreaux Celeste Boyd-Spear Brinson Family Charitable Fund Marcus Campbell Capital One Bank Jeanie and Peter Coleman William Daigle Kate deKay The Denault Family Fund DEPCOM G.I.V.E.S. Megan Edelstein Entergy The Envie Initiative Eugenie and Joseph Jones Family Foundation Executive Women International New Orleans Chapter Father Harold Vieages Charitable Fund Danah and Paul Fisher Dale R. Fleishmann Mr. and Mrs. Alan Franco
Allison Freeman Derrick Freeman PhD Kimberly George Gervis Fund Sharon Gilliam Jane Goldring Goldring Family Foundation Rahlyn Gossen GPOA Foundation
View at nowcs.org/donors Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church GNOF Disaster Response & Restoration Fund for COVID 19 Brick Green Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company Gustaf W. McIlhenny Family Foundation Janine Guzzo and Stephen Stryjewski Renee Hanson Daniel R.Heist Steve and The Honorable Karen Herman Institute of Mental Hygiene
The Honorable Paulette Irons and Mr. Alvin Irons James Henderson Properties The Joe W. & Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation Jennifer King Colleen and Allen Kirkley The Kirkley Family Charitable Fund La Societe Des Dames Hospitalieres Donor Advised Fund Mr. and Mrs. James M. Lapeyre Jr. Landay Gabriel and Charles Lee Rhiannon Lind LMW Fund Ashley Longshore Lovell Wealth Management of Raymond James Shauna Lovorn-Marriage Sheldon Lykes Mary E. Peters and Robert W. Polchow Foundation The McCance Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Alden J McDonald Jr. McDonough Marine Service McEnery Residential Merrill Lynch Metairie Bank Neal Morris The Nathan M. Ohrbach Foundation OnPath Federal Credit Union Holley Pavy/John M. Deblois Foundation
Jo Pease and Timothy English Jill and Lee Plotkin Family Fund Raines Family Fund Raymond James and Associates Redmellon, LLC Debbie & Rick Rees Robert E. Zetzmann Family Foundation RosaMary Foundation The Stephen and Sandy Rosenthal Fund for COVID Relief Nita-Joan Sams Mr. and Mrs. H. Britton Sanderford Jr. David and Lisa Schlakman Shell Dan and Jackie Silverman Jackie and Dan Silverman Family Fund Mrs. Natalie Silverstein St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church Mr. and Mrs. Greg Strategier The Strategier Foundation Fund Julia Streit Chelsea Sun Sunshine Lady Foundation TPM Services LLC Valley of the Sun United Way Vanguard Charitable Westbank Rotary Foundation Whitman Family Foundation Woldenberg Foundation Kathy & Robert Zetzmann Jr.
To see the rest of our donor list and view our virtual Room Sponsor wall, please visit www.nowcs.org/donors
2020 Jackie & Dan Silverman Homeless Champion Kimberly Rivers-Roberts Our Homeless Champion Honoree this year is award-winning documentary filmmaker Kimberly RiversRoberts. She has been a tireless advocate for
the Shelter, fundraising, donating, volunteering and serving as a motivational speaker for our moms since our earliest days in our first location on Franklin
Avenue. We are pleased to honor her this year for her longstanding commitment to homeless women and children in our community!
COVID19:
COMPASSION, CONCERN AND PERSEVERANCE Social Distancing Provided additional space for after-school program and virtual learning environments
COVID Response Donors The following donors made significant contributions to support the Shelter during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and fueled our ability to respond, resulting in a 0% COVID infection rate amongst our residents.
Staggered mealtimes Encouraged use of outdoor areas for leisure
Cleaning & Sanitizing Installed hand sanitizer stations at every doorway and at intervals throughout Shelter corridors Hired a professional commercial cleaning company Conducted hourly cleaning of high-touch surfaces
Support & Resources Worked with the city to provide free periodic testing for staff and residents Installed portable handwashing station for the front entrance of the Shelter Provided rental assistance, food and hardto-acquire cleaning supplies to families in our Tranisition Assistance Program Provided virtual learning supplies and support to students living in shelter
Baptist Community Ministries Barrasso, Usdin, Kupperman, Freeman & Sarver The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation Capital One Bank City of New Orleans Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) The Denault Family Fund DEPCOM G.I.V.E.S. Entergy Eugenie and Joseph Jones Family Foundation GNOF Disaster Response & Restoration Fund for COVID 19 Goldring Family Foundation GPOA Foundation Greater New Orleans Foundation Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co. Gustaf W. McIlhenny Family Foundation Daniel R. Heist Institute of Mental Hygiene The Honorable Paulette Irons and Mr. Alvin Irons Jefferson Parish Office of Community Development The Joe W. & Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation The Kirkley Family Charitable Fund La Societe Des Dames Hospitalieres LMW Fund Ashley Longshore Mary E. Peters and Robert W. Polchow Foundation The Nathan M. Ohrbach Foundation Robert E. Zetzmann Family Foundation RosaMary Foundation Nita-Joan Sams David and Lisa Schlakman Jackie and Dan Silverman The Stephen and Sandy Rosenthal Fund for COVID Relief The Strategier Foundation Fund Sunshine Lady Foundation Whitman Family Foundation Woldenberg Foundation
INVESTING IN CHILDREN: A Family Affair Daniel and Heidi Raines first became involved in the Shelter when Heidi’s mentor, Leslie Jacobs, was honored as our 2018 Jackie and Dan Silverman Homeless Champion. Since then, they kept abreast of Shelter happenings and reached out to learn about what they might do to help homeless families in need. After discussions with Shelter staff and aligned with their strong desire to do something to help children, they decided to support our combined Children’s Case Management and Children’s Program Director positions. The combined positions increased the interconnectedness of the two programs for greater impact. Their donation, combined with a grant from The Sunshine Lady Foundation, funded the position through 2021. In searching for a professional, shelter leadership chose NaShawn Butler, CSW, a professional who interned with the Shelter while obtaining her Master’s Degree and impressed leadership with her ability to build trust and maintain a great rapport with children at the Shelter. NaShawn used her knack for connecting with children and her education in social work to institute group sessions for all school-age children with discussions of feelings, shelter placement (not being in a home of their own or
the same as others), non-verbal communication, self-expression and conflict resolution - giving them skills and tools that will benefit them through adulthood. When the Raines’ daughters, Cecilia and Camille, expressed a desire to help children in our community, the Raines introduced them to Shelter staff and the girls decided to get involved.. With the blessing of their principal, Kathryn Fitzpatrick, Ed.D., Head of School at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Cecilia and Camille asked their entire school to help them, leading a campaign to contribute holiday gifts and supplies to the Shelter. Their impressive effort resulted in hundreds of toys, and dollars, to support children at the Shelter. We are deeply grateful to the Raines family for their support and to Heidi and Daniel Raines for helping to educate and inspire the next generation of philanthropic leaders.
To learn more about how you can get involved and the many ways to give, please call our Development Director, Melissa Tyler, at 504-522-9340 ext. 106 or email her at mtyler@nowcs.org.
GRATITUDE
Our residents and TAP participants have so many wonderful things to say about the Shelter staff, donors and volunteers who have helped them on their journey to stability. This wordsoup from their compiled testimonials says it all.
“My family will forever be indebted to the N.O. Women & Children shelter. We got into the program not knowing what our next step would be, feeling very depressed and hopeless. Being the man of my family and needing to have my wife and child in a safe [place], I wasn’t sure of that the first days being in the shelter, Ms. Camilla and Mrs. D recognized my stress and reassured me that things would be better. Well they did not let me down. They made sure my wife and child were very safe and taken care of while I worked. My family has a vegan diet and Mrs. D made sure we had food to fit our lifestyle. Ms. Dawn and the staff were always concerned about our well being and made sure we had clothing and anything else we needed. Three weeks after staying there, we were placed into the perfect home for our family and are still receiving random necessities from the staff. I have to give love to every single staff member there. They made EVERYTHING comfortable as possible for us. This shelter is a such a necessity for the city of New Orleans. My family will always be a phone call away from anything they need... All that is asked of residents is structure. Be clean, be respectful, be inside at curfew (exception made for work), and do your assigned chores (everyday cleanup). You get a safe, child friendly, welcoming and loving environment for you and your family to live in until you can be placed in a home of your own. These women and this entire program deserve all the praise and more. I LOVE EVERYONE INVOLVED AND I THANK YOU FOR MAKING A WAY FOR MY FAMILY.” -Kenjuan
RESOURCES FOR SUCCESS REVENUE Foundations Government Individuals & Organizations Individuals & Foundations Government Organizations
The Shelter is fortunate to have support from foundations, organizations, individuals and government entities to support our mission.
28%
32%
Not reflected in these numbers are budget relieving in-kind donations of essential shelter, school, home and holiday supplies and items totalling tens of thousands of dollars in value.
40%
PROGRAM EXPENSES
Our 2020 operating budget was $1.16 Million. We served 271 people in shelter and 205 people in their homes last year. Our cost per person to provide compassionate, outcomesbased services that keep families together and help them break the cycle of homelessness in their lives was approximately $2,445.
19%
Administration Case Management
17%
Case Management Community Affairs
8%
12% 44%
Administration Community Affairs Transition Assistance Program Sheltering Shelter Transition Assistance Program
LEADERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dan Silverman, Chair Ann Duplessis, Secretary Cindy Landry, Treasurer Sherolyn Brown Amy Dye Domangue Derrick Freeman PhD Gretchen Hirt Gendron Hon. Paulette Irons T. Allen Kirkley T. Cole Newton David Schlakman Jackie Silverman DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE David Schlakman, Chair Amy Dye Domangue Bonnie Dye Derrick Freeman PhD Betsie Gambel Gretchen Hirt Gendron T. Allen Kirkley Chelsea Nelson T. Cole Newton Kendra Reade Dan Silverman
MANAGEMENT TEAM Dawn Bradley-Fletcher, Executive Director Dee Braneon, Director of Shelter Operations Donna Perkins, Director of Residential Services L’Oreal Ranson, Director of Client Services Melissa Tyler, Development Director
VISION 2021 Our Shelter is poised to build on our successes and best practices we have developed over the last 14 years to expand the programs that help our families find stability and avoid a return to homelessness. I am so proud that less than 2% of our former residents return to shelter. This is not by mistake or happenstance; it is a direct result of our outcomes-based approach to serving people in need and allowing the common elements of their personal situations to drive innovation. The concerted efforts of our team to develop our Children’s Program and our post-residence Transition Assistance Program (TAP) have built on our commitment to providing safe, familyfriendly shelter that profoundly changes families’ lives. Over the next 3 years, we will continue to invest in and expand TAP to support even more families on the long road to stability. We also plan to embark on an ambitious endowment campaign to ensure the long-term financial stability of the shelter and guard against future events which might challenge our viability, a lesson learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. We could not have come this far without our staff (wonderful and talented people who work tirelessly to implement our programs with compassion and frankness), the donors who believe and invest in our mission; and our dedicated leadership volunteers, who have always put our families first and guided our growth. In 2021, we continue to serve our families in a meaningful and transformative way by allocating resources to programs that will have the greatest results. It is my pleasure to serve as Executive Director of the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter and a privilege to say thank you on behalf of the 3000+ people (some of whom were children not old enough to speak when they stayed with us) whose lives are better for having come through our doors. I invite you to join us in breaking the cycle of homelessness. We cannot do this without you.
The New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter is a 501(c)(3) organization, tax ID number 26-0859964. Our mailing address is 2020 South Liberty Street, New Orleans, LA 70113.
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