Our Neighbors Place Inc

Programs: Transitional housing and tbra: in 2017, our neighbors' place continued to operate a transitional housing program designed to stabilize and rehouse families experiencing homelessness in one of the most expensive and selective rental markets in the state of wisconsin. Residing in a 4-unit building in a quiet neighborhood in river falls under the care of a professional case manager, families have the potential to stay for up to 24 months. They contribute 30% of their income toward rent as they work toward their individual goals of securing permanent housing. In april of 2016, onp signed a memorandum of understanding with westcap to provide tenant based rental assistance (tbra) to address the need for affordable rental housing for low-income households with at least one disabled member and who are experiencing homelessness or who are imminently at risk of homelessness. To this end, westcap and our neighbors' place agreed to work together to assist these individuals and families in pierce and st. Croix counties with tenant based rental assistance grant funds from april 1, 2016 through september 30, 2017. This agreement has since been renewed; the purpose is to serve households by providing safe, affordable housing and case management services to program participants. Under this arrangement, our neighbors' place serves as a referral source for the tbra program, and westcap provides program operations functions. Onp screens all applicants, determines eligibility, completes certification of homelessness; secures medical statement of disability; refers program applicants to other community based services including applying for section 8 housing assistance; completes all program documentation; secures statement of earnings; and completes monthly service reports. Westcap provides security deposits and the rental assistance funds; pays housing assistance payments to landlords on behalf of program participants; conducts housing inspections; assists in negotiating lease changes and evictions; assists in handling landlord/tenant complaints; and conducts re-certifications. Westcap and our neighbors' place coordinate and integrate the tbra program with other mainstream resources, including health, social services, and employment programs for which our clients experiencing homelessness may be eligible. These services are coordinated through formal and informal systems among area service providers. This year 72 households were placed in housing after direct contact with the case manager. Of these: 8 households were housed via tbra (tenant based rental assistance). 7 families were housed via our neighbors' place transitional housing for families. 21 households were housed by diversion through housing counseling. 36 households were housed by referral through coordinated assessment and prioritization. An additional 115 households were placed on the prioritization list awaiting housing.

day center: functioning as a drop-in center for those in need, the day center is staffed by volunteer guest coordinators, a case manager, and a program coordinator. This day center team functions as advocate "navigators," helping connect applicable internal and external community resources with those who call or come by in person. The day center supports all of our neighbors' place (backpack program, transitional housing, tbra, and the closet) while also providing scheduling, phone service, and a meeting space for the pierce county salvation army and other organizations such as westcap and pierce county veterans office. With this full-time team in place, onp has improved and streamlined continuity of service in a way that allows for much greater day center service utilization. In 2016, we had an unprecedented 1,648 points of contact, a 58% increase over what we saw in 2015. In 2017 that increase continued with 3171 points of contact, a 92% increase over the previous year. This breaks down to 2083 physical visits and 788 phone calls. In 2017, the average age of adult clients was 37. Of these 40% were male and 60% were female, continuing the trend of an increase in female clients. A reflection of the changing face of poverty and homelessness in wisconsin, this breakdown illustrates a need to continue to provide programming which is sensitive and responsive to the gendered economic and social realities our clients face. This year 51% (1626) of the points of contact were families . Of the unique clients in 2017, 1017 (59%) were adults and 706 (41%) were children, the average age of whom was 7. Individuals and families who self-identified as homeless constituted 648 (20%) of the total points of contact. In terms of resources provided, we have witnessed noteworthy increases across several categories. The number of food resources provided again increased, this time from 229 in 2016 to 570 in 2017 (a 150% increase). The number of clients utilizing case management services and shelter referrals again increased over 2016 from 265 to 527, with 419 case manager contacts and 108 shelter referrals. These combined categories reflect a 99% increases over 2016. In other service categories, the number of referrals to outside agencies totaled 431. Haircuts (41), laundry (83), children's clothing vouchers (73) and shower usage (61) all saw modest increases. The day center also dispensed 131 gas cards, 47 food cards and 168 taxi vouchers to decrease food insecurity and help with transportation to employment and medical visits. As the day center continued to draw significant numbers of families with children in 2017, partnerships such as with jump start to literacy that provides free books for children, and the salvation army, serving both families and adults, continue to be a natural fit for the clients we serve. Moreover, as we continue to cater to the needs of children over the holiday season by making toys available to children of all ages (45 families/107 children in 2017) and by providing vouchers redeemable downtown at second chances thrift store year-round, we offer both hope and a tangible response to the growing problem of childhood poverty in wisconsin. The day center also continued to serve as a pickup location for the backpack program in 2017.

backpack program: the our neighbors' place backpack program, a durable partnership with the river falls school district and ezekiel lutheran church, continued to be our most visible community program. The rotary club and other community groups and foundations gave substantially to this program over the course of 2017. The program also continues to boast the most volunteers of any onp program. These backpacks deliver enough food for a family of four for one weekend each week during the school year. In 2017, there was an increase of 32% in the number of backpacks distributed. Over 100 children were served by the program. During the first half of the 2017-2018, school year (september through december) the program distributed 985 backpacks, representing 8950 pounds of food, and 1041 milk, eggs, bread and meat vouchers.

community closet: connecting people with free and reduced price clothing is the essential function of the onp community closet. The closet at 122 w. Johnson st. Provides an important complementary service to the core function of the day center. Often, clients present themselves at the day center without sufficient clothing to meet their daily living needs. The ability to walk down the hallway to the closet and offer clients high-quality garments they can feel proud to wear helps fulfill the onp mission. In 2017, the closet provided 851 free clothing vouchers to clients, an 85% increase over 2016. Community members donated over 14,000 items of clothing, valued at $2-$6 each.