shelter&stability
Summer
2017
News from Willis Dady Homeless Services
From Shelter to Stability Meet Terry
“I don’t see why you would want to use my experience as a success story...I guess no one in my life has told me I am successful, so I’m not sure what to think”. Terry, SSVF Participant In April 2017, we received a call regarding a Veteran who had been homeless for nearly 10 years, since the Cedar Rapids flood in 2008 when he lost his job and his home. After completing the paperwork to get Terry approved for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, we got him into a Veteran overflow cot at Willis Dady and began to search for housing. The first day I met with Terry he was hesitant to receive services, saying he “didn’t feel deserving of this program when there are so many people and children who need it more”. Terry moved into his apartment 3 days after that meeting, where he has been housed for the last 4 months with SSVF assistance. Terry’s now working with Compensated Work Therapy through the Iowa City VA Vocational Rehab program and we’re working together to apply for various kinds of disability, stemming from an injury received during his service in the US Army.
Terry also struggles with PTSD alongside his physical limitations, and was recently approved for the Pets for Vets Program with the Cedar Valley Humane Society. He struggled with getting transportation to the Humane Society to find his new best friend, so one [extremely hot] June day; he and I went to find her, his little girl, Bailey. Since bringing Bailey into his home there was an instant increase in his mood and his spirits were lifted. I saw him the following day on his lunch break, and he showed me pictures of the two of them on his phone for our entire meeting, just like a brand new proud dad. After 10 years of living on the streets and not being ready to address his PTSD in order to maintain housing and employment, Terry has told me he still fears he will lose his housing. He called me at 9pm one night to tell me that he received his HUDVASH voucher; I was the first person he wanted to tell, his “VA Angel”. In the upcoming months Terry and I will continue working together so he is more confident in his abilities to maintain housing, and I will keep advocating for him until he is ready to advocate for himself. Operation Home may be a housing assistance program for homeless Veterans, but we are much more than that. We are advocates for those that have specific needs-that from the outside may not seem like a need; we are advocates for those who have lost their voice; we are serving those who have served.
Willis Dady Homeless Services Board of Directors Sam Jones, President
Rob Bowers
Kayla Lyftogt
Janet Slimak
Sam Bergus, Vice President
Al Fisher
Dave McInally
Gisele Tallman
John Oates, Secretary
Nathan Fisher
Joy Newhouse
Jason Vestweber
Stephanie Harris, Treasurer
Jim Koch
Mike Schulte
Ben Weber
Phoebe Trepp Executive Director
Director’s
Notes
Already early in the summer the Willis Dady staff and shelter has had a hot and busy couple of months. In June we launched a new summer program for our families with children, led by our summer AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, Viktorja. From her efforts, families are given opportunities throughout the week for their children to play, do arts and crafts, and visit local summer spots such as the pool and movie theater. Parents staying at our shelter enjoy having activities that are interesting and engaging for their kids while they are temporarily living in shelter. We are working on cultivating ongoing volunteers who can lead these activities after Viktorja’s term ends in August. In terms of the heat we have been working through some failing facility equipment, including two refrigerators, our office air conditioner, and a building water pipe break. Thanks to the generous donations of several skilled volunteers and local partners we have replaced and repaired these items – the men staying in our shelter are grateful to once again have a working fridge! These issues, among others, keep the capital facility project front and center in our minds as we’ve reached a tipping point in the usefulness of the building as it currently stands. I would be remiss not to mention the budget cuts that we are experiencing on several fronts, including funds from the United Way, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), and upcoming anticipated cuts in our veteran services contract. Running a homeless shelter is always done on a tight budget, and the changes in our funding streams will challenge us to find new opportunities and new sources of support. Unfortunately the need for our services is still great, but we are fortunate to have extremely skilled staff, a diligent board, and the support of hundreds of community members like you. Together we’ll continue to provide for those in our community who have no place to call home. -Phoebe Trepp
Recent Willis Dady Family Event!
Building from Shelter to Stability
$2,215,749 raised! Thank you to all our donors who have supported this critical project. We are excited to be more than 73% of the way toward our $3 million goal! We urgently hope to break ground this fall. The sooner construction begins, the sooner we can get more people off the streets and on the road to stable housing. More families experience homelessness in the summer months. What should be a time of carefree enjoyment of warm weather is instead a traumatic, stressful time for some children. With your support, we can tighten the safety net for people experiencing homelessness.
•Visit: willisdady.org/campaign •Make: a one-time or recurring gift by PayPal •Pledge: your support over 2 to 3 years •Contact: Lisa Williams at development@willisdady.org
Give to Willis Dady How Can I Help? VOLUNTEER Overnight. Staffing the shelter overnight costs about $43,800 per year. Help us save $120/night 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. Skilled Positions. With limited staff, we’re looking for skilled volunteers to help us with specific projects such as facility maintenance, receptionist, web design, and other specialized roles.
Thank You
Special thanks to some of those who have recently given to Willis Dady: The Gazette (computers) Fleck Sales Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC The Linge Foundation
St. Pius X Parish Zion Lutheran Church St. Jude Church McIntyre Foundation Kiwanis—Marion Sunrisers
T HANK Y OU TO OUR D AY OF C ARING V OLUNTEERS !
Please contact Jade at (319) 362-7555 or volunteer@willisdady.org for more information about any of these positions. DONATE Financial 26% of our budget is funded by private donations. Donate 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) 3622862.
DAY OF CARING 2017 Help us save mailing costs by receiving our newsletter via email. Please contact Ashley at services@willisdady.org
WDHS is proud to be a Community Partner of the United Way of East Central Iowa.
1247 4th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 49 Cedar Rapids, IA
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Save the Date: Run & Ride Festival 2017 Come join us for the 6th annual Run & Ride Festival (formerly known as the Run for Shelter 5K). A $25 pre-registration will get you either a 5K walk/run or a 10K run, and a bike pub crawl. Awards will be given out for all age groups and categories. All proceeds go to supporting Willis Dady Homeless Services and fighting the causes of homelessness. For more information or to register, visit: www.getmeregistered.com/ willisdadyrunandridefest
Saturday, September 16 Starting at 8:00 AM Sag Wagon Deli & Brew Run. Ride. End Homelessness.