House Of Charity Inc

Programs: Transitional housing: for single adults who need safe and sober housing. Those we serve are often considered the chronically homeless and many of them have emotional and/or psychological issues and/or a history of chemical dependency. Case management services are required for all residents. Whether seeking further education or developing employment skills, residents within the transitional housing program are working toward becoming productive members of the community, developing skills that will enable them to be self-sufficient. (statement continues on schedule o)private pay housing: house of charity has three beds available at below market rate rent for those who are employed or have a source of income (includes room, electricity, heat, water and access to the food centre). Grh (group residential housing): house of charity has 103 beds available. In this program, the state of minnesota provides room and board for low income individuals who meet grh requirements. This can be both a short-term or long-term housing option, based on client needs and eligibility. Clients' participating in the day by day program and who are in need of housing are invited to complete applications for this housing option. Va beds: the veterans administration contracted with house of charity to hold beds for veterans experiencing homelessness. At the end of 2012, 10 beds were set aside and filled. Altogether, the transitional housing programs provided housing to 325 individuals in 2012, with an average length of stay 180 days for the grh clients. Housing first: house of charity began participating in the housing first program through hennepin county in august 2010. Housing first is a national best practice model. It operates on the premise that housing is a basic human right and that people experiencing homelessness have a much higher chance of overcoming barriers when they have a safe, stable place to live. The program seeks to place clients in affordable community housing and overlay supportive services. Case managers provide home visits once a week during a client's first six months in the program, providing guidance on being a good tenant and communicating with the landlord, as well as information on nutrition, cooking, budgeting and managing physical health issues and medications. Many housing first participants are now enrolled in school or a training program so that they can secure better employment in the near future. House of charity is working on placing people in geographic clusters to promote natural support groups of clients housed near each other. To qualify for the program, participants must be long-term homeless or have a long-term disability. Clients receive a rent subsidy, passed through house of charity, and supplemental nutrition supports. The result has been that previously hard-to-place clients, who often struggled to find housing and achieve self-sufficiency, are now stably housed and are able to attend school, gain employment, reunite with their families, and/or secure additional income. Housing first has continued to grow in the past year, with 112 clients now enrolled as compared to only 36 at the beginning of 2011. We placed 42 clients in 2012 and will continue to add 2-3 clients per month.

food centre:our food centre is located at 714 park ave. In downtown minneapolis and is open every day of the year. Volunteers and staff prepare and serve hot, nutritious meals. Two breakfasts are served, one to our transitional housing residents and a second one to women, children and men with children. During the noon meal, which is open to the general public, we generally serve about 350 guests. We have a "no questions asked" philosophy about feeding the hungry - we serve anyone in need of a meal. We strive to create a safe and respectful environment to ensure our guests' comfort. The food centre served a total of 150,029 meals in the fiscal year, the highest number served in one year.

day by day outpatient program:day by day is an enhanced co-occurring chemical dependency program, with mental health services, for residents and outpatients ages 18 and older. In 2012, the co-occurring treatment program served 165 individuals. The day by day program includes the following: chemical health assessments, group therapy, individual counseling, family counseling and mental health services. (statement continues on schedule o)the mental health component features: - a comprehensive mental health assessment; - weekly screenings for depression and anxiety; - quality of life inventory to measure 16 areas of self-rated happiness, including health, self-esteem, goals, and money;- cognitive behavioral therapy to address thoughts, emotions, behaviors and beliefs;- group and individual counseling to explore how mental illness and chemical dependency are connected. Historically, many of our day by day clients have spent time on the streets, were in gangs or served time in prison. Others had families and stable jobs. Regardless of their circumstances, their addiction to drugs and alcohol has affected their health, made them homeless or in danger of being homeless. Our program is built around the philosophy of responsibility and reflection. The services provide a safe place to build self-esteem, make positive changes, and learn to live a sober life. We offer both a men's and women's program. The women's program will use a unique curriculum to meet their special needs, including a trauma group that promotes a strength-based approach where awareness of trauma as a trigger helps to develop coping mechanisms. Clients will be encouraged to follow a structured treatment program and participate in relapse prevention group as well as outside meetings in the community.

house of charity was founded in 1952 by brother de paul (also known as tom kondrak) to provide food and shelter to the poor in minneapolis. (we were incorporated in 1953. ) since our humble beginnings serving people at a 5-seat table and accommodating overnight guests on our floor, house of charity has grown to address the root causes of long-term instability - including chemical dependency, mental illness, and lack of opportunity to gain life skills, attain quality education and secure employment. Building on our 60-year history of meeting critical needs in the community, house of charity has been working to enhance the quality of its client services, as well as expand the breadth of its programs and increase the number of clients served. Our vision is to transform lives - one person at a time. With a variety of programs in housing, treatment, health and case management, and a food centre that provides free meals 365 days a year, house of charity helps some of the most vulnerable people move off the streets and toward self-sufficiency. In 2012, house of charity completed a new three-year strategic plan. Over the next three years, the primary organizational goals include:- significant program growth, enabling house of charity to place 45% more clients in permanent housing and 35% more clients in the co-occurring program. - acquisition of new sites and facilities to house expanded programs. - an increasing focus on evidence-based practices and achievement of outcomes for clients. - greater coordination between house of charity programs to result in a patient-centered, comprehensive plan for each client. - addition of new holistic health programs and life skills training. - development of new strategic alliances with community partners.