shelter&stability
Fall
2019
News from Willis Dady Homeless Services
From Shelter to Stability
Christina: It’s OK to ask for Help
Each issue of our newsletter features a recent client success story. Generous gifts from donors like you make it possible for these success stories to take place. Thank you so much. Homelessness is not selective it affects veterans, individuals from all walks of life, and families. Families like Christina and her three children. In 2016, Christina lived in her own apartment. Her children had somewhere to lay their heads and a place to call home. Not long after she had moved in, she found out there was a terrible pest infestation. For some time, Christina attempted to work with her landlord to eliminate the problem. However, her landlord was not willing to use professional pest control and the infestation persisted.
Eventually, Christina was forced to give up her residence in accordance with section 8 tenant rules. She did not have the option to move to another house or apartment and so, was forced to spend a couple of nights in her brother’s truck while her children stayed with their grandparents.
Christina knew she could not stay in her brother’s truck forever—she reached out for help and moved in with a friend. What she hoped would be short-term, “turned into a few nights and then months.” During her time at her friend’s house, Christina was miserable and struggled with missing her children. In the effort to reunite with her children, Christina found herself in a court custody battle with her children’s grandparents. When the judge ruled that Christina's children belonged in her custody, she saw another opportunity to seek help.
She sought out organizations for support and used their tools to the best of her abilities. In a final attempt to find stable housing, Christina contacted Willis Dady. When she sat down with the case manager, she told her story - explaining that all she wanted was her family under one roof where her children could have the freedom and safety they deserved. Christina walked in the front doors determined to receive the help she sought. She did the work herself. When asked to do a task like look through a landlord list or call around for housing, she did the task thoroughly. Christina struggled for 3 years but she never gave up. She asked family, she asked friends, and she asked us. We answered.
Christina, Allison, and Zachary hanging their key in our front lobby to celebrate getting into a new apartment.
Asking for help can be difficult for all of us, including our clients. Christina’s perseverance proves that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. Tammy Mims, Case Manager
Willis Dady’s vision is to empower clients to break the cycle of homelessness and become self-sufficient. 1
Director’s Notes
Preventing Homelessness
Officers John Oates, President Mike Schulte, Vice President Robert Bowers, Secretary Lucas Hicks, Treasurer Board of Directors John Boston Selinya Carew Nathan Fisher Vince Geis Stephanie Harris Jim Koch Don Leonhart Joy Newhouse Paula O’Loughlin Matt Patton Lisa Peloquin Gisele Tallman Jason Vestweber Tess Werner Staff Millie Achey, Resident Assistant Martha Carter, Shelter Case Manager Brianna Cless, Accounting Clerk Ben Davis, Resident Assistant Cecil Dennis, Resident Assistant Alicia Faust, Housing Programs Director Kasperian Kittridge, VISTA Cost of Homelessness Alizé McClure, VISTA Storyteller Tammy Mims, Rapid Re-Housing Case Manager Colette Ndigyenouba, Homeless Prevention and Street Outreach Advocate Marcy Oates, Operations Manager Katie Pontious, VISTA Volunteer Coordinator Evelyn Rossow, Development and Marketing Specialist Denine Rushing, Shelter Manager Carolyn Scherf, Employment Case Management Aaron Terrones, Homeless Prevention and Outreach Advocate Phoebe Trepp, Executive Director Nautica Walker, Resident Assistant Lisa Williams, Development Director Emily Zimmon, Support Services Director WillisDady.org Administrative Office: 319-362-7555 To Find Shelter: 319-366-7999
The past two years have been full of change and growth here at Willis Dady. Our shelter expanded from 32 beds to over 60 beds, we launched a direct employment initiative and a permanent supportive housing program, opened a transitional shelter program for homeless veterans, greatly expanded street outreach services and created an ambitious strategic plan. This work has strengthened our ability to achieve our mission to prevent and end the cycle of homelessness for everyone we serve. Amidst these new services our core programs continue to meet the essential needs of our clients. Shelter remains the most public facing evidence of our work, as over sixty individuals claim a bed each night at 1247 4th Ave., instead of sleeping in their vehicles, under bridges or in unheated storage units. Prevention services, on the other hand, continue to be quietly provided throughout the community, impacting families and individuals in ways that are more difficult to measure but are ultimately very effective. In our seventh year of providing prevention services we have two full time staff working with upwards of 120 households each month. Our program is designed to 1) find people who are within two weeks of becoming homeless, and 2) work together to explore every option that can help them either stay in their home or relocate to other housing. The ultimate goal for each household is to find or create a housing option other than moving to an emergency shelter or the streets. In 2018 our staff worked with nearly 900 individuals including 455 children to prevent them from becoming homeless. When we succeed in this work, people maintain their jobs, childcare, neighborhood involvement and move forward without needing further assistance. Continued...
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Director’s Notes Continued... When we fail in this work, people experience the devastation of homelessness, including the loss of belongings, work (due to gaps in transportation), childcare, and support networks. They face a new obstacle of coming up with the money to pay for a rental deposit plus one or two months’ rent; an amount well over $1,500 in many cases. For people already living paycheck to paycheck, this setback is not easily overcome and the impact can last for years. Thanks to the generosity of donors in this community including the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, the Housing Fund for Linn County, TransAmerica/Aegon, Frontier Co-op, International Paper, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, and many individual donors, we have the ability to intervene. Less than 2% of those served in our prevention program have become homeless. Though our work is effective and impactful we are inundated with requests for help that exceed our capacity. We have our sights set on growing this important program in the years to come, and we thank you for your ongoing support to Willis Dady and these essential services. Phoebe
New Shelter: A Key to Success!
We are still in awe of our new shelter space. In a few short months, the impact of our renovated space is noticeable— since August, we have sheltered over 130 clients and many have successfully exited to stable housing. To celebrate when our clients become permanently housed, we honor their success with a ‘key’ on our new lobby wall next to a portrait encouraging, “When one door closes, another door opens”. Each client who comes through our doors has a unique story and journey and we know its not easy. This wall of ‘success keys’ is intended to inspire those who are still working towards stability. Special thanks to Stacey, Daniel, Doug, Angela, JoAnn, and Christina and her daughter for allowing us to share these moments.
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Thank You to Our Generous and Caring Donors We are proud to display the names of those who supported us July 1 to Sept. 30, 2019:
In Memory Of: Dwight Bode Marjorie Bode Jean Castranova Bruce and Lorrie Erusha Helen Heiman Michael Lundby and Penny Moubry Kay Shive-Henry Polly Pagliai Phil Shive Deborah Levin Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. Eric and Dawn Conklin Lena Gilbert Jill Jamieson Betty Kutsch Mitchell Levin Tim and Mary Kay Pancratz Joel Rosenstein David Schoenbaum Alan Smason Richard and Joyce Veach Larry Moeller Joanne Moeller JP Ranck Becky Ranck Kevin Slater Daniel and Bibi Chadwick Kent and Nancy Cole Bradley and Melissa Dennis Bruce and Lorrie Erusha Fairfax State Savings Bank Jeffrey and Kathleen Kaiden John and Patricia Lopata Jenny McNamara Paul and Kimberly Neuhaus Robert Risdale Sankots Garage, Inc
Steven Selzer and Marietta Hogan Thomas and Brenda Valenta Steve and Teresa Waln Steve Zeiser Mary Price
In Honor Of: Tony Bedard Tony Maull Cynthia Chrystal Carolyn McElmeel Michele Heiken Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust Mike Schulte Nancy Schulte Emily Zimmon Anonymous Please note: Memorials and Honorees listed here were received July 1 to Sept. 30. To correct any errors, please contact Evelyn Rossow, evelyn@willisdady.org or 319-362-7555.
Individuals & Families Financial Edward Agran and Charlotte Fairlie, Cheryl Anderson, Anonymous, Scott and Deana Arebaugh, Paul Baack, Geoffrey and Patricia Barrance, Earlyce Barreto, Larry Bartlett, Ryan Beardsworth, Sue Benjamin, Nagarjuna Bezawada, William Brennan, Monica Brooks, Katherine Burford, Alicia Burnett, William and Elizabeth Caldwell, Ronnie and Carol Carlson, Betty Clinton, Richard and Kathleen Conrad, Chad Cooper, Lee and Elaine Coppock, Richard and Leigh Dahlem, Christene Davis, Mechelle Dhondt, James Dvorsky, Phillip and Casie
Eichenberger, Gerard Estella, Lorna Fischer, Rick and Donna Flynn, Patrick Ford, Ann Gorsch, William and Janet Gross, Sherry Hale, Eric and Ann Hearn, Dave and Dorothy Higdon, Skyler Hiscock, Thomas and Marilyn Holmes, Vicki Hughes, Verlyn and Mary Ann Jackson, Peter and Rae Jacobs, Bob Jones and Kathy Van De Walle, Mary Junge, John and Patricia Kerr, Jim and Karen Koch, John and Susan Leland, Rogelio Lindo, Dale McPherson, James and Sarah Miller, Tyson Morio, Diane Nichols, Betty Northland, Sherrie Northway, Mark Ogden and Iris Muchmore, Scott and Penny Olson, Rich and Jackie Peterson, Tom and Cathy Peterson, Jon and Joan Rasmussen, Bill and Jean Schneider, Arlene Sobel, Gary and Elaine Sondag, Kent and Kristi Sorensen, Michael Stallman, John and Joyce Stepanek, Jodie Stoessel, David Stortz, Cindy Strong, Andrew and Terrie Sullivan, Gerald and Denise Vander Sanden, James Vanzuuk, John Welty, Myron and Esther Wilson, Tom Zahn, Denise Zakostelecky
Goods Anthony Arrington, Vern and Ann Bagley, Mary Barry, Jackson Bassett, Daniel and Deanna Baty, Ray Bequeaith, Steve Bosking, Danielle Boston, Wayne Breckon, Carolee Bruner, Ronnie and Carol Carlson, Steve Carroll, Toni Cassell, Joe Creen, Christy Culverm, Bill and Karen Curry, Mary Ann Dawson, Darcy Dugan, Mike and Jody Esker, Sue Gardner, Barb Hand, Barb Hanson, Larry Harder, John Harthey, Mary Heartwig, Dennis and Ann Holdgrafer, Jaynann Inglethron,
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Melissa Johnson, Jesse Jones, Mark Keller, Sue Kies, Desiree Kimble, Tiffany Kinzenbaw, Dottie Klees, Deb Kriegermeier, Carol Lakin-Vecellio, Sheila Lehman, Steven Luense, Rose Martensen, RSM, Mark Maske, Luann Mausser, Louise McMaster, Linda Miner, Lynn Mitchell, Caleb Moody, Hannah Moody, Ken and Robyn Moon, Vivian Moore, Mary Myers, Patricia Nguyen, Betty Northland, K O'Brien, Richard Penningroth, Rita Pierson, Barbara Ptacek, Margaret Schaaf, Larry and Claire Sharp, Michael and Stephanie Simpson, Jaelynn Smith, Toshia Stark, Jodie Stoessel, Terry Strait, Saige Turner, Christine Wagner-Hecht, Stephen Ward, Esther Wilson, Annie Young
Organizations Financial Alliant Energy Foundation, Inc., Altorfer Inc., AmazonSmile, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, DuPont, Facebook, Fairfax State Savings Bank, First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church, Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & Building Association, Immaculate Conception Church, Marion Chamber of Commerce, Mercy Hospital, Nordstrom, PayPal Giving Fund, Prairie Chapel United Methodist Church, Rings & Things from Iowa, Robert Schafbuch, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, RSH Legal, Sankots Garage, Inc, St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Jude Church, St. Pius X Parish, United Way of East Central Iowa, United Way of Metro Chicago, Unity Center of Cedar Rapids, UnityPoint Health: St. Luke's Hospital, Variety the Children's Charity Of Iowa
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Employment Program: H.O.S.E Project with Mount Mercy Community partnerships are key to connecting our clients with services—including employment. Last Spring, the Mount Mercy University Enactus team reached out to partner on a project called H.O.S.E. (Holding Out Shooters Effectively). This program is designed to recycle old fire hose and make effective and affordable emergency door locks for educational settings. These fire hose sleeves are not intended as a full door lock but can buy time in an emergency situation. Fire hose is extremely strong, withstanding immense amounts of pressure, and it takes 100 years to deteriorate in the landfill. Using this fire hose for a re-cycled purpose benefits schools by providing affordable intruder security and creates income for our clients. Two of our clients participated in making these H.O.S.E. safety devices this Summer/Fall. To prepare the hose, our clients measured and cut the fire hose into ten-inch lengths with specialized tools, then sealed the ends. The pieces are finally stamped with the “H.O.S.E.” logo. Contracted work like this is a good fit for some of our clients who are not looking for full-time work or not able to spend long periods of time on their feet. Thanks to Mount Mercy and the Enactus team for thinking of Willis Dady for this project! We are looking for additional employment opportunities for our clients just like this—if you are interested please contact Emily Zimmon, Emily@willisdady.org or call 319-362-7555.
Photo credit Emily Zimmon
We are so grateful to Variety – the Children’s Charity who has generously given grant funding to provide children’s toys, art supplies, and furniture to children staying in the emergency shelter. In 2018 Willis Dady sheltered 42 families including 115 children – these families are all in crisis due to experiencing homelessness. Many of the children coming to Willis Dady are challenged with mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression as well as other conditions such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum, and behavior disorders. The addition of these toys, art supplies, and child-specific furniture will give children consistent play and learning opportunities, as well as a feeling of safety. 5
Donors Continued... Organizations Goods Ascension Lutheran Church, Bethany Lutheran Church, Cedar Memorial Funeral Home, Central Furniture Rescue, Circle Computer Resources, Corridor Running, Donutland, Eastern Iowa Health Center, First Church of the Nazarene, First Federal Credit Union, Foundation 2 Youth Shelter, GreatAmerica Financial Services, Greater Works Church, Iowa Running Company, Kirkwood Keynotes, Mercy Care Health Partners, M2X Company, Office Depot, Prairie Edge School, Rotary Club of Marion-East Cedar Rapids, St. John XXIII Catholic Church, St. John Catholic Church Lisbon-Mt Vernon, St. John Lutheran Church, St. Pius X Parish, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, TechniCom, Inc., The Ghosh Center, The Hall-Perrine Foundation, Theatre Cedar Rapids, United Fire Group Underwriting, Zion Lutheran Church
Volunteer Spotlight! Our Volunteers provide essential services for us here at Willis Dady. Year-round these volunteers manage our front desk, work as overnight assistants responding to urgent matters in shelter, organize donations, clean copious amounts of laundry, help coordinate events, and assist in running our Winter Overflow Shelter. Last year, we were incredibly lucky to have over 800 volunteers provide 12,300 hours of service—that is phenomenal! In this edition of our newsletter, we want to introduce and thank two of these incredible volunteers!
Nancy Shey A devoted supporter and advocate of Willis Dady, Nancy Shey has been volunteering with us since 2015! Nancy also volunteers regularly with the Catherine McCauley Center and has volunteered as a domestic violence advocate at Waypoint. We are so grateful for Nancy’s volunteer services— she regularly works as one of our front desk reception volunteers. Nancy also graciously helps us organize donations, dinners, and drives - thank you for all you do for Willis Dady! “Janice and Nancy are incredibly dedicated to our organization. They go above and beyond the duties of a volunteer. If I ever need help, with a cancelation or training new volunteers, I know I can come to either of them.” - Katie Pontious, Volunteer Coordinator
Janice Widmer Janice Widmer has been volunteering her time with Willis Dady since 2016 totaling over 2,000 hours of service - wow! She also volunteers part of her time at the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center. You can see Janice twice a week working our reception desk. After her husband retired from the service, Janice wanted to give back to the community so she began volunteering. Year -to-date, Janice has volunteered over 500 hours with us at Willis Dady we are so grateful for her work with us! 6
Volunteer with Us Are you looking for a way to give back with your time? Volunteers with Willis Dady provide essential duties and much-needed program support every day. There are a number of ways to volunteer whether as an individual or a group! Visit our website at willisdady.org/volunteer or contact Katie Pontious at volunteer@willisdady.org for more information.
Donating Items We welcome goods donations! Whether they are purchased or gently used, these donations are needed daily. For a complete list of items visit willisdady.org/donate#goods, search Amazon for our Wish List, or follow us on Facebook for the most updated needs!
Leave a Legacy When you leave a legacy gift through Welborn Society, you provide housing stability for future generations. Please contact Lisa Williams 319-362-7555 or development@willisdady.org for more information
Make a Financial Gift We couldn’t keep our doors open without you! Thank you! More than a quarter of our annual operating budget is funded by YOU, our generous Willis Dady family. Give securely at williwdady.org/donate or Mail a check payable to Willis Dady to 1247 4th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 7
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
1247 4th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Permit No. 49
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
You’re Invited! You are invited to a special Open House on Tuesday, December 17th from 1:30pm—3:30pm to see our newly renovated shelter. We could not have imagined such a wonderful space without your support. This is your chance to experience in-person how our programs are positively impacted by your generous gifts. Please RSVP to 319-362-7555 or development@willisdady.org.
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