Comprehensive Support Programs

Shelter

To help residents save their money for permanent housing, free housing is provided to homeless families and individuals in the Shelter Network programs. The facilities at Shelter Network's programs are typically studio, one-, or two-bedroom apartments in residential apartment buildings. All family locations have computer rooms and children's playrooms, and two facilities have free, licensed childcare centers on-site. All programs also have small meeting rooms for workshops. The safe and stable transitional housing supplied to families and individuals for two, four or six months is markedly different in nature than the bed with a hot meal or - "cot and a hot" - model of many homeless shelters.

Food

To help residents save their money for permanent housing, free food is provided to homeless families and individuals in the Shelter Network programs. Food donations, hot meal preparation and delivery come from Shelter Network's collaboration with Second Harvest Food Bank, Samaritan House, St. Anthony's Kitchen and many generous local donors including grocery stores and individuals. Donations of gift certificates to local grocery stores are extremely helpful.

Comprehensive Services

Shelter Network offers on-site support services geared towards re-connecting homeless families and individuals with stable jobs and permanent housing. Every family is assigned a personal Case Manager who conducts an assessment of their current situation and follows up at least weekly with each adult resident. For families with children, a Children's Coordinator ensures children's needs are met.

Case Managers provide residents with information, referrals, and assistance in accessing community resources and services. Through this cooperation to re-establish stable incomes, search for affordable permanent housing, and address other pressing needs, families are given help in job development, housing searches, child care, advocacy, as well as finance and budgeting. Our Case Managers are familiar and work closely with a wide variety of public and private agencies that provide varying services and resources for families and children. Financial and in-kind assistance, physical and mental health services, health insurance, child care, credit counseling, and career training, just to name a few. Shelter Network also assists families in accessing mainstream services whenever appropriate.

Weekly life skills workshops and house meetings allow residents and staff opportunities to exchange solutions and present any concerns. Workshop speakers come from the community, offering invaluable information on topics pertaining to budgeting, housing and legal rights, parenting, nutrition, and job search and interviewing skills. House meetings allow residents to support each other by exchanging job and housing leads, and community resource information, thereby sharing their challenges and most importantly, their accomplishments.

Practical assistance comes in the form of clothing, food, telephone, laundry, furniture, bus tickets, phone messages, infant supplies, and household goods. For residents who have steady incomes and demonstrated need, we offer financial assistance toward first month's rent and/or security deposit. Some of our residents may also receive additional in-kind or financial support for items including books for school, tools for a specific trade, tuition for college, children's school uniforms, and donated cars.

All parents and single adults participate in a mandatory 50% income-savings program to enhance their financial self-reliance. We hold this money on their behalf, and return all of it to them upon their graduation from Shelter Network. By encouraging parents to adopt a regular habit of saving, we help families build long-term self-sufficiency and ensure that sufficient funds are available for first month's rent and security deposit for their next apartment.

A comprehensive Children's Program provides an emotional and social outlet designed to help children increase self-esteem, develop coping skills, and enhance problem-solving and academic skills. Under the supervision of the Children's Coordinator, local volunteers and community groups provide a wide variety of activities to meet the needs of homeless children. Through on-site tutoring, computer workshops, art therapy sessions, on-site mobile vaccinations and health services, field trips, cultural events, and recreational activities, the Children's Program offers individualized attention to help children overcome the stress and disruption of homelessness for long-term success.