People Responding In Social Ministry

Programs: Organizational purpose:prism is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 by community members responding to the basic needs of local individuals and families who were struggling to make ends meet. What started as a small community effort has since transformed into a strong organization that has a significant impact and an enduring commitment to its mission to provide social services and connections that empower people in our community to build healthy, stable lives. Practicing the values of collaboration, innovation, dignity, and accountability, prism believes that all people have inherent strengths and abilities. With this foundation, we serve participants in a holistic manner. The continued generosity of our community is what allows us to meet the basic needs of food, clothing and housing for nearly 6,000 low-income (unduplicated) children, adults, and seniors each year. Food programs:each month our marketplace food shelf serves more than 700 low-income households who primarily reside in golden valley, new hope, robbinsdale, crystal, and plymouth. Prior to shopping, all participants meet privately with a case manager to discuss their needs. Trained case managers learn about challenges facing each participant, may provide participants with gift certificates to access clothing at our thrift shop, assess eligibility for our housing assistance, and provide referrals to community organizations to address their various needs. The marketplace allows participants to access food with dignity. It more closely resembles a small grocery store than a traditional food shelf, with goods organized on low displays with signs that contain words and pictures, making shopping accessible to people with various physical abilities, languages, and literacy levels. We employ a choice model so participants can self-select hygiene items and one week of free groceries to fit their dietary needs and preferences. In addition to our food shelf, we increase access to healthy food by serving as the supplemental nutrition assistance program (snap) benefifts coordinator at the new hope and golden valley farmers markets, and facilitating twice-monthly free produce distributions at an easily accessible community space in the summer and early fall months. Housing programs:prism operates two housing programs to help approximately 100 families obtain and maintain stable housing each year. Our homelessness prevention program provides financial assistance for people who are at risk of losing their home and facing homelessness due to a crisis or temporary circumstance. In addition to providing financial support, access to our food shelf, and referrals to other resources, prisms case managers are in close contact with landlords, and often advocate for families in need to keep them stably housed. Case managers may also negotiate with landlords to help participants avoid costly housing court proceedings, obtain security deposits to allow timely move-ins, assist in applying for energy assistance programs, and more. We are also a contracted rapid rehousing provider for hennepin county. Through this program we help families who are living in downtown shelters transition to stable housing in the western suburbs of hennepin county. The program offers individualized case management, access to our food shelf, and modest financial assistance for security deposits, rent, utilities, and other moving costs. Our rapid rehousing coordinator works closely with families to find appropriate rental properties, connect them to community resources, and communicate with landlords. Clothing:prisms shop for change thrift shop is open to the public and offers high-quality, extremely affordable clothing and housewares. Each year more than 200 prism families receive gift certificates to access to clothing suitable for changes in size, seasons, and work at no charge. Our shop is staffed mainly by volunteers, stocked with donations from the community, and generates revenue to support our services. Children's programs:family traditions and celebrations are important for creating healthy, stable families. Through our back to school success, birthday gift room, and holiday toy shoppe programs we provide new school supplies, birthday gifts, and holiday toys to more than 1,000 low-income children each year. In addition to these programs, we respond to the increased need for food for families during the summer months when children no longer have access to free/reduced lunch programs through their schools. We provide families with a box of kid-friendly foods and snacks in addition to the food they normally receive during a food shelf visit.