Bethany House Services, Inc

Who We Are: Bethany House is the tri-state’s largest emergency shelter for families, operating five shelters and sheltering more than 60% of the families and 66% of the children experiencing homelessness in the city. We are also the largest provider of housing programs for families exiting shelter. Founded in 1983, our mission is to empower homeless and at-risk families with the solutions to achieve housing stability and long-term self-sufficiency. Our vision is to a live in a community where all families have a place to call home and no one spends a night without shelter.

What We Do: Bethany House supports, educates and stabilizes families through comprehensive family-centered homelessness services, all of which are provided by staff trained in trauma-informed care and focused on empowering families to reach self-sufficiency. Our holistic services – including homelessness prevention, emergency services, re-housing, comprehensive case management and permanent affordable rental housing – address both a family’s current needs and seek to prevent repeat episodes of homelessness. Shelter diversion services prevent families with inadequate resources from becoming homeless, while postshelter support prevents a recurrence of homelessness. Special services for parenting and pregnant youth 18-24 moves high-risk young parents into housing as quickly as possible.

Why We’re Important: We serve the city’s highest risk families – most single mothers with children and most people of color. We break the cycle of family homelessness, providing parents with the skills and knowledge needed to remain stably housed and children with strong, goal-oriented programming. Our wrap-around services work – 96% of families leaving shelter moved to positive housing and 93% of families who exited shelter have remained housed. Family homelessness services are desperately needed, and the regional response system is at capacity. In 2020, over 2,100 families called the regional hotline for help, but only 450 – just 21% – received shelter or program services.

How We Serve the Community: The number of families in need of emergency shelter and the severity of the barriers to safe housing continue to increase – and that was before the pandemic. It is no longer enough to provide food and a safe, clean place to sleep – families need onsite mental and physical healthcare, education, parenting counseling, employment services and connections to community service providers. A new family shelter is a basic and vital public need in our community. Stabilizing homeless families is one of the most important ways our region can support the fight against poverty – and break the cycle of generational homelessness.

How You Can Help:

• Volunteer: Share your professional expertise by becoming a volunteer; help with special events, administrative tasks, yard work, mailings, and organizing donations. • Donate: Make a monetary donation to feed, clothe, shelter and re-house our families. • Meals: Bring dinner Monday-Thursday or breakfast on the weekends. • Fundraise: Host a fundraiser or serve on one of our fundraising committees. • Donation drives: Organize a donation drive for sheets, pillows, towels, pots & pans, and household items. • Planned giving: Contact your financial advisor and make a planned gift through a will or trust. • Advocate: Join our Speakers Bureau and help educate the community about family homelessness.

Bethany House Services, Inc. 1841 Fairmount Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45214 513.921.1131 bethanyhouseservices.org Facebook: facebook.com/BethanyHouseServices Instagram: @BethanyHouseServices Twitter: @BethanyHouseSvc LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/bethany-house-services

Executive Director: Susan S. Schiller Email: sschiller@bhsinc.org

Development Director : Deanna L. Powell Email: dpowell@bhsinc.org

Board Chair: Carolyn K. Washburn

Board Members: H. Kim Baird, Donald L. Brown, Tony Chambliss, Lucy A. Crane, Ross A. Crawford, Susan M. Dyer, Jeffrey A. Eberlein, Jackqueline D. Grant, Darin Hall, Steven D. Hengehold, Sr.,Lynn Heper, SC, Robert J. Inkrot, Catherine A. Kitchin, Susan L. Macy, Megan J. McCuen, M. Gail Myers, Gregory W. Olson, Albert C. Smitherman, Robie K. Suggs, Amanda R. Toole, David Tramontana, Ian A. Van Handel, Pamela A. Webb, Carole C. Williams, Nahamani D. Yisrael