Anna Ogden Hall was established in 1971 by the Union Gospel Mission to introduce women and children to the love of Christ in a secure environment that promotes dignity and God-centered personal growth. The Presbyterian Church is one of its supporters.

Anna Ogden Hall is an emergency shelter for women and young children who find themselves in crisis. Residents receive three nutritious meals a day and a comfortable room. This program provides free clothing to residents and needy individuals from the local community. Anna Ogden Hall owns 33 rooms for up to 85 persons. The average stay is 3 weeks.

Women and children who come to Anna Ogden Hall are:

Anna Ogden Hall offers:

The low minimum wage was pointed out as a major factor in causing homelessness among women.

Bethany House is a Catholic Worker house of hospitality serving the needs of homeless women (21 years of age or older) and their children (less than 21 years of age) in Rochester, NY. Bethany House follows the Dorothy Day model; it is Christian faith-based ministry: Welcoming homeless people as though we were welcoming Christ; recognizing the mutuality of those who serve and those being served.

There are no paid staff at Bethany House; all are volunteers. Worship services are offered at Bethany House.

The House "shelters, feeds and clothes women who come from experience of eviction, rape, abuse, imprisonment, abandonment, illness of both mind and body--experiences which radically deny love." Bethany House also makes referrals for deeper and appropriate counseling.

Women are referred to Bethany House through a variety of sources and agencies. Women accepted at Bethany are encouraged to participate in counseling, day treatment, educational, and job training in the community if those services are needed or recommended.

Women live at Bethany House for a period of approximately 45 days, during which time they search for a more permanent residence. Bethany House acts as an advocate on their behalf. Bethany House is able to provide emergency housing for 6 women and their children; two formerly homeless women live there permanently.

Bethany House receives no government funding, nor is it tied with the Department of Social Services (DSS). This ministry is supported solely through the goodness of individuals, churches, and charitable groups. Those who are sanctioned by DSS for some reason are not accepted by other agencies, but women who are sanctioned by DSS can come to Bethany House.

The Bible Way Shelter is a 24-hour shelter program for women and children run by a Christian woman, Sister Grace, who is not a nun. John Hobbs calls it "a worse place;" it is so poor that it does not meet building codes and the city of Chicago refuses to fund it.

When I visited, the shelter was handling up to 20 women in an extremely impoverished area of Chicago. Several local churches are being contacted to help this program. Its rented space has a great potential to do better if its pastor can get some help.

Many church people who own good spaces don't want to do much for homeless people, but with very few resources this woman was offering homeless women and children a shelter and space to worship God. My heart went out to her. While other shelters send people out at 7:30 a.m. and don’t allow them to come back in until 5:30 p.m., this woman, who owns very little, offers a 24-hour service.

Can affluent churches partner with her? A partnership can work very effectively with a program like this.

Brewster Center is a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Its mission is to provide shelter, programs, and services (counseling, education, prevention and advocacy) to victims/survivors of domestic violence, and to take an active role in eliminating violence.

This program has 40 beds in 2 different shelters. One shelter is monolingual/bilingual. Women can stay up to 90 days, although there is flexibility with their length of stay. It also offers a day care service for children who stay at the shelter.

In 1998, the program served 8,405 women and children of many different ethnic backgrounds.

While in the shelter, women and children receive food, clothing, advocacy, and counseling in an environment that ensures their safety.

Brewster Center also offers a transitional housing program, which provides low-cost housing options to women and children who are rebuilding their lives after living with domestic violence.

There was something unique about this shelter: its no-turn-away policy. The Brewster Center tries to place women somewhere (including motel rooms), and never turns anyone away for lack of space.

Buffalo City Mission, Buffalo, NY
100 East Tupper St. Buffalo, NY 14203

In 1917, evangelist Billy Sunday came to Buffalo to conduct eight weeks of revival meetings. A former baseball player and recovering alcoholic, Billy Sunday had been converted in a rescue mission, and saw the need for that type of ministry in Buffalo, NY.

During his evangelistic campaign, Billy Sunday collected $8,400 for the purpose of starting a rescue mission, and left the money in the hands of the Buffalo

Evangelistic Association. Shortly afterwards, a group of local Christian businessmen, headed by Mr. P. Kinne, called Reverand Edward Clark to begin a project they called the City Mission of Buffalo.

Since that time, City Mission has seen the City of Buffalo through hard times on every level imaginable. People have been able to find hope and comfort at City Mission for more than 75 years, during which time City Mission has never requested government funding. City Mission is funded by private donations, making it one of the greatest "grass-roots" efforts Buffalo has even known.

Men and women at City Mission come from all walks of life and may suffer from domestic violence, stressful and angry home environments (due to the cohabitation of multiple families), unhealthy living conditions, street or gang violence, job loss, physical or mental illness, drug or alcohol addiction, credit or other household debt, estrangement from family. To meet the spiritual and practical needs of the poor, City Mission developed the following two programs:

The Men’s Center Shelter
100 East Tupper Street, Buffalo, NY 14203

Contact: Tom McLaughlin, Executive Director

Each day, dozens of men come to Men’s Center Shelter for safe shelter, a hot meal, fresh clothes and a chance to rest. Chapel services and counseling help men learn about God’s grace and forgiveness. On-site free medical attention is also available. The Mission provides an average 15,000 meals each month, and shelters up to 140 men each night.

Up to 40 students participate in Buffalo City Mission’s recovery program—"Pressing On"--for men who want to grow in Christ. "Pressing On" is a four-phase one-year program that uses Bible study, work programs, life skills classes and counseling to help men recover from addictions and other life-dominating sins. This program emphasizes respect for God, family, society and self. Men attend a neighborhood church and network with other Christians in the community. The goal of "Pressing On" is to assist men in becoming mature, contributing members of the Christian community.

Contact: Dr. Lora Warkentin, RN, Director, Women’s Facility

The Cornerstone Manor, Buffalo City Mission’s shelter for women and children, offers emergency housing for up to 60 women and children each night with a minimum of 30 days. Equipped with a complete alarm system and security personnel, Cornerstone Manor is also a safe house for abused women and children.

While at Cornerstone Manor, families receive safe, comfortable shelter, three meals a day, clothing assistance and referrals to other social service agencies. Free medical attention is available on-site.

One of the Manor’s programs, Cornerstone Academy officially opened in September, 1990. Concerned about poor school attendance and the emotional effects of homelessness on young students, Cornerstone Manor sought help from the Buffalo

Public Schools to provide an on-site elementary classroom for homeless children. The Buffalo Board of Education provided a certified school teacher and declared Cornerstone Academy an independent learning site of the Buffalo Public Schools.

Very young children may attend a daily pre-school while older children attend Cornerstone Academy, the Mission’s public school satellite located at Cornerstone Manor. Over the years hundreds of children have attended classes at Cornerstone Academy. It has received recognition on a national and international level as an innovative program and is serving as a model for shelters across the country.

Cornerstone Manor’s staff and volunteers provide chapel services, counseling, Bible classes and the Serenity 12-Step Recovery Program. Staff and volunteers present the gospel and challenge women to change their lives for the better. Women in the program also benefit from training in parenting, household management, personal hygiene, job interviewing and more.

Charlotte Emergency Housing is a short-term shelter with case management service for homeless families and women. This is one of only shelters in the Charlotte region; it accommodates two-parent families with children, men with children, and families with male children over 11 years old. Over 60% of the residents are children.

There is high demand for shelters for families in Charlotte area. Shelter facilities for families are always full. Shelters turn away twice as many homeless people as they can accommodate.

This program has 3 social workers. Residents can stay for 80-100 days, although the program is a 60-day program. Often it is not possible finding housing within 60 days.

Charlotte Presbytery helps through "2-cents a meal" program.

One of the Emergency Housing program, Rainbow Room, is a nationally-accredited, fulltime AA licensed day care for up to 12 preschool children living at Plaza Place. Three fulltime employees provide quality developmental care and a nutritious breakfast and lunch. The day care subsidy is transferable to a child's new day care after leaving Plaza Place.

Charlotte Emergency Housing is a comprehensive program which recognizes individual dignity, encourages economic stability, builds self-esteem and works on the root causes of homelessness. Follow-up services after residents move out ensure a successful transition from shelter to community.

The program has a home-like atmosphere: 14 private rooms with full baths for families and single women, refrigerators and cabinet space, shared kitchen and laundry facilities. Bus passes, access to computers and the Internet, a food pantry for "shopping," and classes on parenting skills, budgeting and more are offered.

New residents also receive a "welcome basket" filled with housekeeping necessities: dishes, linens, pillows, towels, pots and pans, paper products and cleaning supplies.

It is a program of successful transitions! During its first 13 years, CEH has served over 2000 people. At completing CEH's program, 80-85% of residents secure housing and jobs. Many former residents become avid supporters.

Charleston, Illinois (where Coles County Homeless Shelter is located) is a small rural town of 13,000 people. The town is made up of farming, industry, a small university, and a community college. Most of its residents are farmers and factory workers.

The history of the Coles County Homeless Shelter is rooted in Christian churches. Several years ago, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church provided a shelter in its basement for men, women and families. Unfortunately, the shelter had to close due to electrical problems. After being closed for

1-2 years, St. Charles as well as First Presbyterian, Wesley United Methodist and Immanuel Lutheran churches joined together to open the Coles County Homeless Shelter (CCHS) on November l, 1998 with Father Bob Meyer as night manager.

Residents have become homeless because of loss of employment, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness, condemned housing, separation/divorce, etc. In Coles County there is a large low-income population and very little low-income housing. There is only one other shelter for domestic violence victims in the County, but it is an hour away.

It is reported that there are 200,000 homeless people in Los Angeles at any given time.

Dome Village, Justiceville is a very unique, exceptional and innovative transitional housing model where homeless people can stay for 3 months (a limit legislated by LA County). Dome Village is always full and has a waiting list.

Dome Village, a project of Justiceville/Homeless USA, is a non-profit organization which offers a structural alternative for homeless people unable or unwilling to live in transitional shelters. The domes are used as a stabilizing tool to provide affordable transitional housing, which is non-threatening to chronicically homeless people and to the neighborhood. This model has created a positive and innovative approach to housing homeless people and achieving the goals of alleviating homelessness and reducing urban blight and decay in the city.

Dome Village is located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Founded by homeless activist Ted Hayes in 1993, it has transformed an unsightly encampment site into a community of formerly homeless people who have become productive, industrious and responsible.

Dome Village is comprised of 20 Omni-Sphere domes which provide housing and supportive services for 18-24 individuals and family members. Eight domes are for community use, and include an office, kitchen, community room, separate women’s and men’s bath facilities, laundry and a computer education center. The remaining domes are residential, partitioned in half and providing private living space for two individuals each.

The Dome Village targets homeless individuals as clients for its programs. Often these are individuals who have shunned or been unsuccessful in traditional programs for homeless people offered elsewhere. Dome Village client population demographics: 72% male, 28% female, 65% African-American, 9% Latino, 20% White, 2% Native American and 14% families. Most have experienced problems with drugs, alcohol, and/or mental difficulties.

Dome Village’s philosophy of self-governance, responsibility, productivity, volunteerism and respect for individuals and the community allows avenues for homeless people to seek empowerment and make a break from the chronic cycle and psyche of homelessness.

Each dome costs approximately $6,500 to erect ($12,000 for double insulation). This is a very economic model!

Dome Village develops and operates programs to achieve the following goals:

Engage the residents of Dome Village in productive, industrious and responsible projects right where they live, helping them to transition out of homelessness.

Create jobs and incentives for village residents, which can provide them with an opportunity to earn extra income, increase their self-esteem and work ethic, and better their immediate community.

Teach residents valuable skills and technologies they can utilize to help them return to mainstream society.

Develop micro-enterprises and generate to help support the community, as well as provide residents with an opportunity to develop marketing, sales and leadership skills and improve their ability to work cooperatively, while assuming individual responsibilities.

Clean and beautify the local neighborhood by regularly removing trash, debris, weeds and graffiti from the surrounding area.

Justiceville Occupational Business Services promote positive community service as well as providing ways for residents to earn extra income, improve skills and work ethics.

The Domestic Peace Force and Community Volunteers are integral parts of the Dome Village;

VISTA/AmerCorps volunteers, student interns, professionals, Boy Scouts and other skilled individuals have all contributed significantly to many Dome Village programs in program development, casework, literacy tutoring, outreach, the National Homeless Plan and other efforts.

USS CyberDome-Computer Education Center and Office Skills development have been an important part of the Dome Village’s programs.

The Garden Club and Urban Farming Project give homeless people the opportunity to grow flowers, herbs, trees and vegetables at an on-site garden. The Garden Club features professional training in landscape architecture, organic gardening and other greening techniques. In addition to the therapeutic value of working in the garden, the Garden Club aims to help create jobs and educational programs for the homeless. The homeless who participate in this program may be trained to be part of a professional crew available for hire.

Dome Village staff lead Bible study and peace vigil for world peace and homelessness in the U.S.

In addition homeless people, the project also benefits local "at risk" youth, and the Pico-Union business and residential community. The Dome Village has spawned inspirational fitness programs for kids, which help to curb gangs and provide healthy recreational outlets. In addition, the Dome Village is growing as a community center. It hosts a variety of holiday and cultural activities and health fairs, and maintains the neighborhood as a clean and safe environment.

The Game of Cricket and the Dome Village: In September 1995 an historical event took place: The Justiceville Krickets, a team of homeless men from the Dome Village, toured England for two weeks playing the game of cricket.

The homeless men of Dome Village have trained a new American-born cricket team comprised of youths from Compton who also traveled to England in 1997.

Skate Programs sponsored by the Dome Village are becoming well known in downtown Los Angeles for their inline skating activism in support of non-violence, inner city youth and the National campaign to end homelessness.

Art Programs are sponsored by Street Without A Name (SWAN) and aim to provide therapeutic experience as well as enhance the aesthetic environment. Projects have included collective mosaics, animation pieces, murals, banners, creative garden installations, holiday crafts and special events. SWAN aims to provide economic opportunity for individuals who can earn income through cottage industry arts and crafts programs.

Dome structures are funded by ARCO Foundation. The rest of its funding is provided by the State, private and religious organizations.

‘Ted Hayes’ National Homeless Plan, which prime objective is to break the cycle of homelessness wherever it can be found throughout the United States.

On October 13, 1998, the City Council of Los Angeles acting at the request of Council member Rita Walters passed a resolution to call for a National Action to End Homelessness. Further, on January 5, 1999, Supervisor Yvonne Braithwate-Burke and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors passed a similar motion as proposed by homeless activist Ted Hayes.

Ted Hayes claims that the architectural structure of Dome Village is powerfully visual, forcing the general public and government to confront the inhumanity of homelessness. At the same time, Dome Village provides an alternative, more humane strategy for alleviating homelessness and creates opportunities for people to help. This is a model for future housing for homeless people.

The City of Seattle conservatively estimates that there are 17,000 homeless individuals in Seattle during a year, and 4,000-4,500 on any given day. In times past, homeless people were typically older, alcoholic men who congregated in skid road areas of major urban centers. Today, homeless people come from diverse backgrounds and situations. People of color are disproportionately represented, and constitute a majority of DESC clients. The number of homeless women is significant, and growing.

Many homeless persons face severe and multiple disabilities and challenges, including mental illness, physical impairments, HIV/AIDDS and chemical dependency. 30-50% of homeless people are mentally ill, according to national studies and DESC’s experience.

The mere fact of homelessness, regardless of the original cause, becomes an aggravating factor that deteriorates self-esteem and mental well-being and exhausts the time and energy people need to regain independence and self-sufficiency.

The Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless people achieve their highest possible level of self-sufficiency.

The DESC program gives priority to the most vulnerable and severely disabled homeless people. Priority clients include people who are: disabled, female, over 50, mentally-ill, medically-compromised or chemically-dependent.

DESC is one of the largest homeless multi-service centers in Washington. DESC is highly regarded as the only agency in King County specializing in providing comprehensive services for homeless adults with the greatest disabilities and problems. Approximately 80% of DESC clients are trying to cope with one or more serious issues like mental illness, abusive relationships, physical disabilities, HIV/AIDS and chemical dependency problems.

DESC is implementing a strategic plan through the year 2000 that will provide the most challenged men and women the assistance they need to break the cycle of homelessness. Key elements of this plan include creating supportive housing projects, providing mental health engagement and treatment and facilitating access to chemical dependency, medical care and employment programs.

Long-Term Housing: The DESC Housing program seeks permanent alternatives to homeless by developing and operating housing with on-site supervision and access to supportive services. DESC now operates the Union Hotel (52 permanent units for disabled formerly-homeless adults), the Lyon Building (64 units for formerly-homeless adults living with HIV/AIDS, mental illness and /or chemical dependence) and Kerner–Scott House (25 transitional and 15 permanent units for formerly-homeless, mentally ill adults). The agency has 105 housing vouchers for placing clients in rental properties throughout the city.

Mental Health Outreach and Treatment: DESC has provided state-licensed mental-health services since 1980, and now provides mentally-ill homeless people with a continuum of care that includes street outreach and engagement, case management, short-term and long-term care.

This continuum helps enable people to stabilize their lives and move toward their highest-possible level of independence and self-sufficiency. DESC provided mental health services to over 450 people in 1997, and is participating in five-year nationwide demonstration project. In 1997 the mental-health program helped 62 people move into housing, and 51 to transfer into long-term care.

Emergency Shelter: The Emergency Shelter operates 24-hours a day, and is a vital survival resource for more than 8,000 people annually. During the course of a year, 3 out of every 4 homeless single adults in Seattle will come to the shelter. At night, it provides hot meals and a place to sleep for 220 people (270 in winter). In 1997 DESC provided 88,000 nights of shelter, and served 48,000 hot meals. During the day, the shelter becomes a drop-in-center where clients have access to hygiene facilities, medical care, information & referral services, medical respite, mental health and chemical-dependency treatment, and phone message and mail services.

Newly-employed homeless adults can receive up to 90 days of shelter and other agency services through the Work Support Program, which in 1997 provided more than 90 people with the time, counseling and support they needed to secure permanent housing and return to independent living.

DESC’s Information and Referral Program has become widely respected in the community; over 280 copies of their most recent handbook have been distributed to 140 other agencies.

DESC receives strong funding support from a combination of Federal, State, County and City governments. This funding is not sufficient for all the services DESC provides. DESC’s 1998 operating budget was approximately $4.2 million. DESC must rely on a partnership of foundations, businesses, religious groups, private individuals and the United Way to help DESC to help DESC meet its fundraising requirement of $250,000. Volunteers from the community also play an important role in helping to extend the scope and impact of DESC’s programs.

Downtown Rescue Mission is a witness to "changes and growth patterns of homelessness that have taken place throughout America. Most missions started as an outreach to alcoholic men. However, this population changed about 30 years ago when two things happened. First, mental institutions began to mainstream many of their clients, sending them back to their communities. Secondly, drug use in the United States ballooned. These two societal changes added many new clients to the traditional rescue mission. The new homeless tended to be younger, the average age dropping from 50 to 30 years. A third group of clients, women and children, has been added to the mission clientele during the past 20 years. They are the fastest growing population of homeless people in America today. While there were very few women in missions 25 years ago, today they make up 30-40% of the average mission workload. That would be true in Huntsville also, if we had a facility for such a need." (excerpts from Women & Children Shelter Campaign, Downtown Rescue Mission).

The work of the Downtown Rescue Mission started in 1975 in downtown, Huntsville. The needs of homeless people continued to grow, and the Mission moved to a new home in 1978. Its chapel was built in 1981. The needs soon outgrew this building too, and so the Walker Building was built in 1985. The Walker Building now houses single men and women. A new kitchen was added in 1997. A Thrift Store was added to the campus in 1986.

In 1996, the building that was housing approximately 26 women and children was condemned and the Mission was forced to shut the doors to mothers and children. Until the Mission builds a new building, many women and children are forced to live in inadequate and unsafe conditions. They have no place to go. Homeless advocates, city officials and staff members at agencies working with the homeless all agree on the dire shortage of both short and long term housing for mothers with children.

The Goals of the Downtown Rescue Mission are to meet the physical and spiritual needs of homeless people by providing food, shelter and education to break the homeless cycle in the name of Christ.

Currently the Rescue Mission provides free lodging, meals and clothing; an average of 300 meals daily, 100,000 meals per year.

Bags of food are given to needy families throughout the year.

The Mission has 107 permanent beds and 50 temporary beds.

The beds are slept in more than 30,000 times a year.

The Mission Thrift Store provides inexpensive items to the community, a work place for residents and volunteers, and income for the ministry.

The Downtown Rescue Mission launched a $1.7 million fundraising campaign to build a 20,000 square foot shelter to house homeless 80-100 women and children on both an emergency/crisis and long term basis.

The Downtown Rescue Mission has just started to do outreach to those who are living under the bridge but refuse to come to the Mission for help. Outreach team started going out there where they are in order to connect and gradually guide them to get help.

While I was on my speaking tour, many people asked me what they can do for those who refuse help ("choose to be homeless" as they understood those non-help-seeking homeless people). Outreach is one of several ways to reach them, but people do not respond right away to the outreach team until they can trust the team and feel comfortable with them. Outreach teams must carry their love, humility, and patience to meet them where they are.

On the back of the brochure of Elizabeth House it says: "A few days later Mary hurried to the highlands of Judea to the town where Zacharia lived, to visit Elizabeth--Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home." Luke 1:39-40, 56.

"Having learned that she was to bear the future Messiah, Mary surely felt anxious and in need of support. Her cousin Elizabeth graciously offered that support, taking Mary into her own home. It is our prayer that God will use Elizabeth House in this same way—as a place of compassion, preparation and hope for women in desperate need."

Since opening in July 1994, Elizabeth House has become a place of refuge. It provides shelter, caring support and Christ-centered encouragement for women in crisis pregnancy and their children; 5 women and 5 babies at a time. A mother can have one additional toddler up to age 5 plus the new born baby. In addition to meeting their basic needs for food, shelter and clothing, Elizabeth House offers these women a comprehensive program to help them regain stability and independence. It is the first and only ministry of its kind in the San Gabriel Valley, California.

A large family home in residential Pasadena, Elizabeth House opens its doors to women referred by local churches, licensed crisis pregnancy centers and other reputable agencies. The home accommodates six women and their children. Residents may stay for a brief period after their babies are born, as they make their transition to independent living.

Elizabeth House is grounded in a Christ-centered vision, and founded by a partnership of area churches, who articulated the following vision statement: "We envision a warm place of refuge and holistic restoration for pregnant women and their children. This is a place of reconciliation where people from all traditions and viewpoints can come together to act justly, affirming that the lives of both women and their unborn children are highly valued. We see a place where the active love of Christ is tangible, offering women and their children a chance at a new life. This place is called Elizabeth House."

Women facing crisis pregnancy have special physical, emotional and spiritual needs. The Elizabeth House program addresses those needs practically and holistically, preparing each resident to meet the future challenges of supporting a family. The program includes: basic health care, hygiene, nutrition education, childbirth, infant care education, instruction in parenting and discipline skills, training in financial management, career planning, job skills, job search training, personal counseling on emotional and spiritual issues, Bible study and devotional times, mentoring, referral service, transitional and continuing support for alumnae and their children, and many more.

The house belongs to Evangelical Covenant Church in Pasadena. This home was donated by a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church to be used for a program for women and children. Elizabeth House uses the house at a very reasonable cost. This is a good example of what church members who own homes can do.

There are 3,000–4,000 people without permanent homes in Buffalo, NY on any given day. 40% of them are women and children.

Haven House is a shelter for abused women and children. Haven House started in 1979 when a start-up grant was given by New York State for a 36 bed shelter facility for abused women and children. Dot Brown, a Presbyterian, was the first Director. Haven House is a Program of Child & Family Services; a member of Erie County Coalition Against Family Violence.

Haven House provides:

A 24 hour Telephone Hotline for victims of domestic violence who need information, support, and shelter. (716-884-6000). It receives 400 calls a month.

A Safe Shelter for abused women and children up to 90 days. Some women have a history of substance abuse or have been in the mental health system.

Counseling on an individual and group basis with the goal of informing women about their options and alternatives.

Advocacy & Assistance in dealing with the courts and the Department of Social Services.

Children’s Services that include educational, therapeutic, and recreational programming to assist children in coping with this family crisis and learning nonviolent forms of conflict resolution.

Follow-up Services for women and children who are leaving the shelter and are in need of continued assistance.

Outreach, Counseling & Advocacy Services for women who are victims of domestic violence but don’t need or want shelter. (716-884-6005)

Community Education & Training for any group or organization that is interested in learning about child abuse, spouse/partner abuse & elder abuse.

Health Care Services for women & children residing in the shelter.

Legal Consultation provided by volunteer attorneys.

Married or unmarried women of any age, with or without children, who are victims of domestic violence and living with the abuser stay at Haven House. The abuser can be a spouse, a lover, a parent, a relative, a child--anyone who is currently living with you in your home. Children who are abused physically and/or sexually can stay at Haven House if they are accompanied by the non-abusing parent. Separated or divorced women who are still being abused by an ex-spouse or partner can also seek shelter at Haven House.

Haven House is funded by United Way, Erie County Department of Social Services, Erie County Department of Youth Services, New York State Department of Social Services, the Presbytery of Western New York, concerned groups, private foundations, service organizations, churches, and individuals.

In this model a church purchased a house to create transitional housing for homeless people. H.I.S House is the Homeless Intervention and Shelter House.

Homeless Intervention and Shelter House assists homeless individuals couples and families to regain self-sufficiency through housing, training counseling and personal support.

H.I.S. House is a model 25-bed Transitional Living Program which started in 1989 as an outreach ministry of Placentia Presbyterian Church.

According to H.I.S. House staff, there are from 11,000 to 13,000 homeless people in Orange County; of the 2.7 million residents of this County more than 300,000 live on incomes that are below the national poverty level.

H.I.S. House provides transitional shelter to individuals and families who are homeless but have the motivation and capability, with assistance, to regain self-sufficiency.

At present H.I.S. House hosts nine bedrooms with adequate space to accommodate 25 persons.

H.I.S. House is actively involved with an expansion project that will increase the number of rooms available to thirteen and bed space to forty, which will be completed by the time of our eleventh anniversary in October 2000.

The H.I.S. House Transitional Shelter Program allows all residents to stay free for up to 120 days, provided employment is obtained within the first thirty days.

The H.I.S. House program methodology is a home-like atmosphere where residents can sleep in a private room, prepare meals, do laundry, read, do homework, receive mail, make phone calls and receive messages. H.I.S. House residents have access to a computer lab and fax machine to assist with their employment training and job

searching. H.I.S. House provides assistance with counseling, employment guidance, transportation, medical, child care and classes in life skills. H.I.S. House also provides community volunteers that work with client families as mentors.

H.I.S. House offers 7 steps to self-sufficiency: The initial interview, case management, training, employment guidance, personal support, graduation from the program, and Graduate Support.

George A. Martin, Jr., President, Shelter Board of Directors

There are 3700 homeless people on any given day in the Savannah area, but only 200-300 shelter beds available.

One day Peddy Kennington, a Christian woman, saw a homeless man dying in a trash bin in the city of Savannah and recognized the need for a shelter. She gathered churches together and helped open a shelter for homeless men. This agency says, "Inner City Night Shelter, Inc. was founded as a cooperative project of the entire local church community. Originally, facility space was donated by Inner City United Methodist Church, and the shelter operated out of their building for three years. With the growth of the homeless population, ICNS was forced to look for larger accommodations. In April of 1987, the program moved to its present location.

The program mission is to provide counseling, shelter and supportive services to homeless men, which will promote various levels of behavior change, self-sufficiency and independent living. The program utilizes more than 200 volunteers monthly. With 20 board members and only 3 full-time employees, the program continues to offer less fortunate citizens of the Savannah community an opportunity to be included in programs and services that can really make a difference in their lives.

The Inner City Night Shelter offers a three step in-house program. The first step is Safe Haven. Anyone can be admitted to Safe Haven. Identification and an intake application are the only requirements.

Each person is issued a 14-day pass. After 2 nights in Safe Haven, a person has the option of taking the drug/alcohol test. A reading of negative for drugs will allow admission into the next phase of the program.

The second step is 90 Day R.U.L.E.S. (Residents Undergoing Life Enhancement Skills). Each person admitted is restricted to the program for a 14-day period. This allows the resident the opportunity to work one-on-one with a social worker and case manager, who help the client obtain I.D., medical assistance, governmental assistance, as well as independent housing needs/referrals. After the restriction, the resident is allowed to seek employment, attend classes, and address those needs that initially brought him to the shelter. Once employment is obtained, a bank account will be opened for him. The program encourages saving 50% of all earnings (to pay deposits, outstanding utility bills, etc.). After these steps are followed, and the person has received no positive drug results from a random drug tests, he is then allowed to move to the third phase of the in-house program.

A Transitional Program is the third step. It allows a resident the opportunity to take more responsibility for the direction of his life and goals. He is given a semi-private room. The men have the option of cooking and buying their own meals and they have access to a washer/dryer. Each two-man room is furnished. The kitchen/dining room is set up to accommodate all living needs. The case manager works more diligently with these residents as they prepare to transition to outside living. They too are randomly drug tested twice each month. Residents of this program have more freedom, more responsibility, and are expected to be role models for the men in the other programs. In fact, many help out as in-house volunteers at ICNS.

ICNS also provides other services: meals, hygiene services, a barber, and a clothing bank. Therapeutic and educational classes and workshops are also available, including Bible study (various denominations), AA and NA meetings.

Judith M. Pomeroy, Manager

Marian Residence for Women is a part of the St. Anthony Foundation, a multi-service social service organization in the Tenderloin of San Francisco. The Residence is located South of Market and offers emergency shelter for 30 women, and transitional housing for about 25 women who have lived in the shelter. Each woman is provided with a bed with pillow, sheets and towel; locking storage drawers; three meals daily; laundry facilities; a shared activity space with TV, VCR and stereo; and recreational activities. Case management support services are available. These support services include information and referral to relevant community resources, help with money management, goal-planning for personal development. Women are required to assist with maintenance and reception duties as they are able. Volunteers from the community are welcome to assist in both programs.

New Hope Housing Inc. was founded as Route One Corridor Housing in 1977 by a group of concerned citizens whose leader was an Episcopalian woman. This group witnessed homeless families living in run-down, crime-ridden motels along the Route One Corridor of Fairfax County, VA. New Hope Housing, Inc. programs include:

Mondloch House I, the first shelter in Fairfax County, opening in 1978. It provides short-term transitional shelter for up to 8 adults.

Mondloch House II, which opened in 1983 and expanded in 1991. It is a 45-bed facility serving homeless families.

The Eleanor U. Kennedy Shelter, which opened in 1986. It has 38 beds for men and 12 for women, an overflow program expanded from cold weather months to year-round in fiscal year 1999, and a walk-in-shelter.

Post-Shelter Housing includes a short term program for 2 families in apartments, 2 long-term programs in apartments for 8 families, and a 4-bedroom house for single working men and a 3 bedroom house for single working women.

New Hope Housing also has 4 units of permanent housing in townhouse for families with disabilities; it is a 2-year housing program for young mothers and their preschool children, supervised by a live-in "house mother."

New Hope offers drop-in-case management and a partnership with volunteer mentors to all residents.

New Hope also opened a Safe Haven in 1998 to address the housing needs of severely mentally ill, treatment-resistant persons

New Hope Housing, Inc. offers individual case management, mental health and crisis stabilization counseling, substance abuse counseling and education, medical care, literacy classes, high school equivalency classes, English as a second language and computer skills instruction, housing counseling services, life-skill training in budgeting, parenting and employment workshops.

New Hope Housing, Inc. received an "In My Back Yard (IMBY) Award" from the United Way of Fairfax-Falls Church and a "Creative Leadership Award" from Leadership Fairfax, Inc.

The names of Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church and Heritage Presbyterian Church are on residents’ doors--their funds decorated the rooms with furniture and other items.

Contact Gillian Parke, Director

Noel House, an emergency shelter for homeless single women age 18 or older, opened in the winter of 1990 in response to the desperate need for emergency shelter for women in Seattle. Since then, it has become Seattle’s largest women-only shelter open year-round.

Noel House was one of my outreach sites when I was Pastor of the Church of Mary Magdalene. I met many women at registration and dinner time; women who worshiped at the Church of Mary Magdalene and new women who came to town and needed emotional and spiritual support.

The mission of Noel House is to create an environment that is safe for all women, to communicate dignity and respect, and to build community amongst residents, staff and volunteers. Noel House is more than an emergency shelter; it is literally the only home some homeless women know (especially chronically homeless women or women with mental health issues).

Noel House accommodates 40 women each night (40 single beds in a huge room). Each night an additional 22 beds are provided at volunteer-run off-site shelters located at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Temple de Hirsch Sinai, Woodland Park Presbyterian Church and Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Noel House also facilitates a staffed off-site shelter for 25 women at St. Mark’s Cathedral, bringing the number of women sheltered through Noel House to over 88 each night. (These overflow shelters are one way Noel House has a strong connection with the church community in Seattle).

Due to overcrowding during the peak registration hours, Noel House recently opened a new Women’s Referral Center at a nearby location. Women who have beds at Noel House or who are going to the volunteer-run off-site shelters still come directly to Noel House. All others seeking shelter go to Referral Center to get on the Noel House waiting list and to get a referral to other nighttime shelter. Currently, it takes more than two months to move up on the waiting and get a bed at Noel House.

On any given night, more than180 homeless women come to Noel House and the Women’s Referral Center seeking a warm, safe place to stay. Both Noel House and the Women’s Referral Center serve dinner and offer showers, hygiene supplies, free clothing, mail and message services. Resource information, mental health case management, counseling, and nursing services are available on-site.

Once a woman gets a bed at Noel House, it is her bed as long as she needs it—there is no maximum length of stay at this shelter. A case manager will work with individual women to find long-term transitional housing or develop a plan of action.

Women who are lucky enough to get a bed at Noel House don’t experience anxiety because there is no time limit for their stay; women can stay there long enough to find housing. Noel House is called an emergency shelter but it functions like long-term transitional housing for single women. I haven’t seen anything like this program with its unlimited length of stay; most of emergency shelters allow women to stay up to 3 months, although some shelters extend their stay above 3 months if they are in the midst of working on transitional or permanent housing.

Operation Nightwatch is a Christian ministry seeking to meet the physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs of the night community. Ordained ministers from throughout the community encounter desperate people each night who are experiencing hunger, suicidal ideation, fear, shame, loneliness and longing. The ministers and volunteers walk the streets, enter bars, and visit hospitals and shelters, making themselves available to those in need. This outreach effort continues to be a strong presence of Christ on the street.

Emergency Shelter Dispatch: Homeless people usually must get to a shelter at registration time, between 5 and 6 p.m. People who work or find themselves in emergency situations have no choice but to sleep on the street if they miss this registration time. The last resort in downtown Seattle is Nightwatch, the only nighttime dispatch point for the city. Nightwatch works hard, locating available shelter space and getting people inside. Volunteers serve simple meals and distribute literally tons of bare essentials such as blankets, dry socks and hygiene products.

Single Adult Shelter, where 75 men sleep peacefully, in a warm, drug-and-alcohol-free space each night.

Family Shelter, Operation Nightwatch’s low-cost hotel voucher program provides shelter for families with children, using several inexpensive hotels in downtown Seattle.

Low Income Senior Housing: Independence is a precious gift to the 24 low-income seniors that live in the building at 300-14th Ave. South, Seattle. The Senior Housing offers an affordable and pleasant living environment for seniors to live on their own.

Operation Nightwatch sees homeless people in three groups. The first is chronically homeless: street alcoholics, the mentally ill and addicted folks. They need lots of support each day to get stable. They are called failures by society. Many of them die on the street.

The second group is occasionally homeless: Fast food workers, housekeepers, janitors, disabled veterans. The "working poor" have occasional setbacks, then return to stability.

The third group is one-time homeless people, the largest group that Nightwatch sees over the course of a year. A personal crisis puts them on the street, and once stable, they never return to homelessness. Some of the one-time homeless people are women fleeing abuse, recent immigrants to Seattle, young adults with minimal skills, and victims of fire and tragedy.

The nights, especially in winter, are the most cold, lonely, depressing time for those who have no home to go to. Operation Nightwatch is a very unique program that makes clergypeople available at the time when no social service agencies, friends, relatives or families are awake or working. It is also unique and significant because it serves as a last resort for those who are at the end of the rope with no resources or no hope left, especially deep in the night.

Contact: Caryn Hohnholt, Exec. Director (308) 237-2599 (308) 237-1073 Fax

Kearney, NB is small town and there are neither enough low-income housing, nor enough shelters. SAFE Center was developed by 3 women who saw the need. Before SAFE Center came into existence, women who had nowhere else to go used jail as a

shelter for a night. SAFE Center plays very significant role for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. SAFE Center operates a 15-bed transitional emergency shelter.

SAFE Center, Inc. offers emergency services, public education, and utilization of resources for adult survivors of spouse abuse and sexual assault:

In 1998 the SAFE Center received 7,726 crisis calls.

Data about domestic violence, presented by Serenity Home:

o When only spouse abuse is considered, divorced or separated men committed 75% of violence. Husbands committed 25% of violence.

Between 3.3 million and 10 million children in the U.S. are at risk to witness woman abuse each year.

Children who witness or experience violence increases the likelihood of being arrested as a juvenile by 53%; as an adult by 38%.

Of all juvenile and adult criminals, 80% lived in domestic violence environments.

Parents who grew up with abuse they may abuse their own children because they are not aware of alternative parenting techniques or they think abusive parenting is normal.

76% of elder abusers are family members.

1/3 of police officers’ time is directed toward dealing with domestic violence.

In 1993, the organizing committee for Serenity Home explored the need to offer assistance to victims of domestic violence. They gathered data related to domestic violence activity for that year:

More than 100 cases of domestic battery were filed in the county, 95% of them abuse of women.

More than 250 complaints by women were recorded in the office of the domestic violence court advocate.

Women wanted to have safe shelter in Union County rather than stay in a women’s shelter in neighboring counties (one 25 miles and one 50 miles away) because of children in school or employment.

Women rarely had transportation or housing opportunities because of lack of economic resources.

County agencies did not have a common resource for county assistance from referral services.

The community was unaware of the presence and symptoms of family violence.

In response to the need, Serenity Home was organized on January 18, 1994 by concerned Christians and citizens. It is a State of Illinois not-for-profit corporation with 501©(3) federal tax-exempt status, for the purpose of preserving the dignity, human worth and well-being of victims of domestic violence. It is a Safe-House host organization that offers the following assistance to victims of domestic violence: safe shelter during a crisis, durable goods, housing assistance, transportation, referral information for intervention counseling, for rape crisis counseling, for court advocacy and for other community agency services.

Serenity Home serves persons in the community of Union County, Illinois (population 17,000) who experience domestic violence.

Serenity Home has been funded by private donations from individuals, community organizations, churches as well as one grant from Allstate Foundation.

Serenity Home doesn’t own a physical facility of its own. When its director, Millie, gets a call from a victim, she has to find a place for her to stay in the area. She places victims in motel rooms or private homes, or she sends them to a high security Women’s Center in Carbondale, Illinois which is quite distant from Union County. In Union County, there is no shelter. When she cannot find any bed for the victims in the neighboring shelters, she opens up her own home, the whole downstairs, and uses it as a temporary shelter.

Serenity Home gets calls from victims themselves, or police officers, hospital emergency rooms, ambulances, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services and even the Union County Alliance of Churches. It averages 5 calls per week and has difficulty finding suitable shelter for all referrals or appropriate relocation sites.

911 emergency services were implemented during 1998, which afford violence victims a better opportunity for help. During 1998, the police in the five villages or sheriff’s office responded to more than 138 calls identified as child abuse/neglect and more than 130 domestic violence calls by law enforcement personnel. Serenity Home had more than 143 domestic violence client contacts. The number of juveniles involved in violence has doubled, either as abuse/neglect victims or as law violators.

Serenity Home also focuses on community education by volunteers by way of newspaper articles, speaking and sharing information.

Susan Pourciau, Women's Center Administrator (850) 224-8448

In 1986, after several individuals froze to death in Tallahassee, First Presbyterian Church briefly opened a makeshift shelter in the basement. Cots were shuffled into the church's nursery at night, where volunteers helped make room for a few dozen men seeking refuge.

By the next winter, the group (which became known at the Tallahassee Cold Nights Shelter), had hired staff to oversee the growing operation (during the winter months). The ever-increasing visibility of homeless people in the community fueled the agency's conviction that shelter and support services were needed year-round. On November 24, 1991, the agency opened its doors for services at its present location on West Tennessee Street providing meals and lodging every night of the year.

In 1996, the Shelter increased its services to include emergency assistance to families and individuals with special needs.

The Shelter provides lodging 7 nights a week at no charge, with no limit on the length of stay. The Shelter provides beds, showers, laundry service, lockers, dinner and breakfast, and offers referral to all community services (including food stamps, housing placement, substance abuse counseling, legal aid, health care, employment and job training). Each night a Registered Nurse is on duty, who counsels and monitors clients with mental health issues or other medical conditions.

In 1998, the Shelter launched a new program: the Women's Center at the Shelter. The Women's Center and facilities are designed to meet the especially critical needs of homeless women. The ultimate goal of the Women’s Center is to empower women so they can establish more stable lives and move into permanent housing.

It is estimated that almost 2/3 of homeless women are mentally ill and/or disabled. Virtually all homeless women have been the victims of abuse and violence. At The Shelter, 85% of the population is male and 15% female, but while there are fewer homeless women, they have especially critical needs.

The Women’s Center has a small space where 12 beds and couches are available for women to sleep in. Length of stay ranges from a few days to 24 months.

The Women’s Center started out as a shelter for domestic violence victims in 1971; the first shelter in the nation. Its founding mothers, one of whom was a social worker, Clare McClure, and some of whom were victims of domestic violence, rented a room across from a Catholic Church when they saw a great need.

The shelter program for victims of domestic violence and their families is still housed in the same facility in which it began. In the last 7 years alone, the total number of domestic violence

and sexual assault clients has increased from 766 to 1,192. This represents a 56% increase in the number of clients that are being served.

Through increased grants and funding there has been an increase in the services provided at the Women’s Center, but space for both clients and staff has become a critical issue. The Rape Crisis Services program and the administrative team moved to another building several years ago in an effort to alleviate some of the space issues at the Shelter. However, the Rape Crisis Services program has had a marked increase in the number of staff that provide services, and space at this building is now a critical issue if services for both programs are to continue to grow to fill needs of the community.

At the current facility 12 women and 15 children can be taken in on 15 beds and couches. St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church offers a space for Monday night support groups. The Women’s Center also operates a food pantry for the community.

The Women’s Center offers comprehensive domestic violence services, residential shelter, transitional housing, emergency services, legal advocacy, and counseling. It also offers comprehensive sexual assault services (advocacy and counseling), a 24 hour hotline (1-800-334-2094) and prevention education programs.