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Rapid RespondersMolly Henderson, a resource counselor for these newly homeless families, devotes much of her energy to helping her clients find housing they can afford and providing them with skills to build their confidence. “I am constantly looking for resources covering a variety of topics, ranging from small business and home ownership classes, to parenting and money management classes,” she explains.
The speed of service – and the speed of recovery for families – is limited only by the staff time and the funds available to help families overcome financial barriers. Private funding is flexible – and flexibility enables the program to be agile and responsive to a wide array of needs. “With flexible funds we can target households that benefit from a smaller amount of funds and increase the number of households we serve,” says Susanne. “Our model is to work with families who have a viable plan of action without future subsidies.”
That’s how we describe our Homelessness Prevention team.
“Our goal is to make a quick response to an urgent situation,” explains program manager, Susanne Fendler. “We attempt to do this without sacrificing quality and individualized services.”
The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) team works with families and individuals through a streamlined intake process – sometimes learning of a family’s need and providing immediate assistance in the same day.
In a typical case, for example, a couple with three children faced eviction in 72 hours as a result of a debt for back rent of $473. The father had a new job that necessitated purchasing specific tools. At the same time, the family car needed repairs. The tools and the car are the foundation of the family’s financial future. They had
paid for those and couldn’t pay their rent.
Their call to ShelterCare’s HPP was answered by a screener who asked a few “routing” questions to determine the nature of their need. In this case, the need was simple – rental assistance. HPP staff conducted a series of questions to determine their eligibility for help based on the family’s rental history and status, and income information. With that basic data in hand, staff arranged to meet the parents in person to complete paperwork and offer funding for the owed rent so they could stay in their home.
The speed of response is critical: Once a family loses their housing, the personal and financial costs climb, building a much steeper challenge for recovery. Even in those cases, a rapid response to finding new housing can avoid deeper trauma.
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Providing a stable living environment is critical for healthy development in children.
I ShelterCare About Homelessness
Our New/Old Building
It will not be drab for long! In the coming year, you can expect to see a bright transformation in that historic building – not just in the structure itself, but in the capacity of ShelterCare’s programs to serve our community.
ShelterCare is rapidly raising funds from major donors, foundations, and the state of Oregon to refurbish this former auto supply warehouse into a centralized hub of services for our consumers. With construction scheduled to begin
in October, the building will house homelessness prevention, housing, supported employment and clinical services for ShelterCare’s clients within a year.
Opportunities to support this transformation are available, and more information about the progress of the $3.2 million enhancement to our services and to the Whiteaker community will be shared in the coming months. For information, or to request a personal tour of the work in progress, please contact executive director, Susan Ban.
If you have visited ShelterCare’s central office to deliver a donation, pick up information, or meet with staff, you are already aware that our executive, finance and operations teams are currently working out of a drab green warehouse on the corner of 4th and Washington in Eugene.
It’s back! Last year we challenged the community to help us raise $50,000 to support our work with homeless families. As October approaches we are gearing up for a new challenge and increased goal.
This October we aim to raise $75,000 to help homeless families. This campaign is an opportunity to build a community where all families have a safe place to live.
Colt Gill, Superintendent of Bethel School District will officially launch the campaign on October 1st at 10:00 am at 499 West 4th Avenue in Eugene. Joined by Mayor Piercy and Mayor Lundberg, Superintendent Gill will invite the community to participate in ShelterCare’s month- long fundraising campaign.
To learn more about how to get involved please visit our website:
www.sheltercare.org/i-sheltercare
Or contact: Development(541) [email protected]
Volunteer SpotlightKristen Bryson is a Planning, Public Policy and Management major at the University of Oregon. She volunteered for ShelterCare this spring to help with our annual event, Expressions: An Exhibit of Fine Photography. “Through my work I learned about all that ShelterCare does for the community. The experience expanded my interest in the fields of fundraising and development.”
Exploring Alternative Therapies for Dealing with Trauma
While the path to homelessness is varied, many ShelterCare consumers share a common denominator: a past rooted in trauma.
To help individuals better cope with this pain, ShelterCare’s Consumer Council — a representative group of ShelterCare program participants — has dedicated time to examining alternative modalities of recovery. During 2013, guest speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds and expertise have shared their insights with council attendees on different ways to tackle these issues.
This summer, experts discussed several topics, including the power of drumming as a means for self-care, as well as art therapy. The sessions have been well attended, and have given consumers a sense of what is possible.
“I thought it was awesome,” said Cynthia Price, ShelterCare consumer. “(Drums) are a great way to get out... whatever you are feeling.”
Studies have pointed to the positive benefits of music therapy, including improved heart rate, blood pressure, and vital signs.
Art therapy is another alternative modality the group explored in August. Cathy Malchiodi, author of “The Art Therapy Sourcebook,” said art therapy is “a modality for self-understanding, emotional change and personal growth.”
While recovery and progress are foundations of the alternative modalities curriculum, so is relaxation.
“It’s a great opportunity to get together,” said Jason Lamb, a ShelterCare Counselor. Lamb helped to organize the drumming event, along with Drum Service Facilitator Candy Davis. “(You can) turn off your mind for a little bit.”
Additional alternative modality topics this year are slated to include presentations on Ai Chi (water Tai Chi), massage therapy, and spirituality.
For more information on art and music therapy, visit The American Art Therapy Association at http://www.arttherapy.org/aata-education.html and The American Music Therapy Association at http://www.musictherapy.org/
Laura Tamkin, MA, is a certified art therapist and a ShelterCare counselor who led an art therapy workshop at the Consumer Council in August.
Sign up for a tour: Tour Dates:
Preview
ShelterCare
499 W 4th AveEugene, OR 97401
Phone: (541) 686-1262Fax: (541) 686-0359Web: www.sheltercare.org
Consumer Council Corner
The best way to learn about ShelterCare is to sign up for a tour.Please contact us today, visit our programs, and learn more about the difference we make. All tours depart from ShelterCare’s Administration Building (499 W 4th Ave) at the appointed or scheduled time. Call (541) 686-1262 or [email protected] and schedule a tour today!
Wednesday, Sept. 18 Wednesday, Oct. 1612:00 pm 12:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 18 Wednesday, Oct. 165:15 pm 5:15 pm
October 1 - November 3My Community Cares
ShelterCare has been selected as a finalist in an exciting social giving campaign sponsored by Home Federal Bank. They will award grants (up to $10,000) to the four nonprofit organizations that receive the most votes at http://mycommunity.myhomefed.com during the voting period which starts October 1. Encourage your friends and families to participate as well – each vote counts! Please note: in order to vote, you’ll need to be logged into your personal Facebook account. Thanks for your support!
