68
Spirituality
May 2 - May 15, 2015
www.SanTanSun.com
I-HELP provides nightly shelter, meals to the homeless BY ALISON STANTON
Every night, up to 20 homeless men and women enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal, safe and comfortable lodging and a warm shower, all thanks to the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program, or I-HELP. Trinity Donovan, chief executive officer of Chandler Christian Community Center, said the I-HELP program started in Chandler in 2013. “It originated in California and in 2006 an I-HELP program launched in Tempe and in 2010 Mesa started one too,” Donovan said. For Our City—a group of representatives from Chandler worship houses and nonprofits—expressed concern about the local homeless population. Thanks to For Our City, Chandler Homeless Advocacy Team was formed and, subsequently, Tempe’s I-HELP was studied. “We said, ‘This is something that we can do here in Chandler,’” Donovan said. When Chandler’s I-HELP launched, local houses of worship provided overnight shelter three nights a week. Now, Donovan said, safe lodging is offered nightly. “Chandler Christian Community Center is the intake site, and there is an intake process for our guests and rules that they must follow,” Donovan said. Participants must be sober and not possess weapons. A shuttle bus then takes the group to the host site. Seventeen worship houses provide shelter, Donovan said, ranging from one night a week to once a month. A team of volunteers help with laundry,
transportation and cooking dinner for the group, as well as fixing sack lunches that the guests can take with them in the morning. “It’s a true collaborative effort and community effort,” Donovan said. Last year, I-HELP began to provide case management to the guests; the case managers meet with the guests and help connect them with housing and employment assistance and mental health services. “I-HELP is not just about offering shelter, but also about how to help people get out of the shelter and into employment,” Donovan said. “Within the last nine months, 32 people have gotten housing and 44 got employment. We definitely see this as a success.” In addition, Donovan noted, since last July, 178 different people have been I-HELP’s guest, and 377 have received case management services. Grants, donations and support from organizations like Dignity Health, the City of Chandler and Valley of the Sun United Way help fund I-HELP, Donovan said. For example, the Chandler Fire, Health & Medical Department donated a hazmat trailer. Donovan said it was retrofitted with showers and a washer and dryer, so guests can also take a shower and do laundry. Called the Chandler Clean Machine, Donovan said it travels each night to the host site. “Many times, the barrier to employment is personal hygiene, so a shower can really make a difference for
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Complimentary refreshments between services. RISEN SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL 23914 S. Alma School Road, Chandler, AZ 85248 SW Corner of Alma School & Chandler Heights Roads Phone: 480-895-6782 • Email: info@RSLCS.org • Website: www.RSLCS.org
I-HELP volunteers and guests gather in front of the shuttle bus that takes up to 20 homeless individuals to a safe shelter for the night. Submitted photo
people to gain and maintain employment,” she said. Kathy Nyetrae, a member of Chandler Presbyterian Church and ad hoc coordinator of the volunteers from the congregation who assist with I-HELP, said her worship house has enjoyed being a host site on the first and third Friday of each month. “Since we started volunteering for I-HELP in January we provide volunteers on Friday afternoon who come in to make 20 sack lunches; they provide the food and assemble it so the guests can take it the following day.” The volunteers then set up a room for dinner, and church members take turns signing up to make meals and cook. “We sit down and eat dinner with them and it’s just so awesome. We ask everyone how their days were, how work was, and if
they would like us to pray for them, they may fill out a prayer request sheet that is on the tables.” After dinner, Nyetrae said the guests can watch movies, or just relax, read and rest. “They are so respectful of our facility and they always leave it cleaner than they find it,” Nyetrae said. “They are delightful people who just need some extra help right now. They are so grateful for everything and could not be any kinder and more respectful.” For more information or to volunteer or make a donation, call Bill Rotondo at (480) 963-1423, extension 112 or visit www. chandlerfoodbank.org. Alison Stanton is a freelance writer who lives in the East Valley. She can be reached at alison@santansun.com.