Fort Wayne Social Service Network

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Administrator — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:07:17 +0000

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We hope to see all of you at next Friday’s meeting!

Minutes for Social Service Agency Luncheon, December 2, 2011

godsbooklover — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:43:19 +0000

This social service agency networking/information sharing meeting, hosted by Inasmuch Ministry, takes place from noon to one o’clock pm on the last Friday of each month, January through October, and the first Friday in December, at Broadway Christian Church, 910 Broadway. Lunch is provided and there is no cost to attend.

Our next agency meeting will be Friday, January 27, 2012 at noon.

No featured speaker today. Here are those who attended, along with any information/updates they chose to give:

Alyn Biddle, Inasmuch: Our last day of service inside Broadway Christian Church will be Friday, December 16, 2011. We’re hoping to open ASAP in January 2012 in our new space: The Edge (just south of the church, on the corner of Washington and Broadway). (See our Facebook page–click the link–for information, photos and video. Call 211 to find out the exact date of our reopening. Thanks!)

Eldon Claasen, International House. They have a brand new executive director: Tara Rajasingam.

International House provides English tutoring in homes, a computer cafe, a Tuesday int’l women’s club…women from all over the world gather for fellowship, to practice language skills and share ideas. “Women who attend Women’s Club and have obtained legal permission to work may enroll in this program that helps them begin their own small business making handbags, knitted items, or jewelry.” These items are sold through Glad Nations, and 100% of profits goes back to the individual craftswoman. 150 people are in ESL classes on Sundays at 1st Assembly of God on Washington Center Road.

Mary Morris, FWHA. They have a new phone number. (260) 267-9300 will connect you to Public Housing and all other services. They are open Monday and Wednesday ONLY for Section 8 updates, walk-ins. NO new Section 8 vouchers are available at this time. Betty Anderson, Section 8 Director can be reached at x7200.

Mary’s extension is x7500. She is personally accepting appointments 5 days a week. FWHA is taking new appointments for Public Housing. Briefings will still be done, and clients can use the entrance at the back of the building (clients should get a letter with instructions).

Joyce Even, Debra Freeman, Adams Township Trustees Office. Their Christmas Family program distribution was this week. Adams Township is NOT yet partnered with CANI for energy assistance this winter.

Jan Labas, FamilyVoices Indiana. Marilynn Hormann introduced us to Jan, a first-time attendee. Family Voices is a national organization which just arrived in Indiana in July. They serve families with children who have disabilities or special healthcare needs. They provide information and assistance in acquiring various pubic services, such as First Steps, Medicare and Medicaid. They also help with special equipment needs and transitional issues. Family Voices is state-funded, and all services are free.

Brian Brown, Archangel Institute

Thomas Smith, Richard Schafer, St. Vincent de Paul Society/Cathedral parish. The society runs the store, other care programs, including financial (rent assistance, food pantry. They serve the parish neighborhood, which includes West Central.

Natasha Crouse, Women’s Bureau. She works with the Promising Partnerships program: ” a collaboration of 5 agencies working to bring permanent supportive housing to the Allen County community.”

Jamie Martin, Vincent Village. She oversees the Pathways to Success program, through which homeless families with children transition out of the shelter into a home. The program provides a case manager for 18 months after they are established in a house.

Carrie Heck, IMPACT/ResCare (formerly ARBOR). Carrie is Jeannie Martin’s associate. ResCare is always looking for donations of yarn, fabric, sewing supplies (for quilts), plastic bags for homeless mats. Call Carrie, she will come and pick up your donations if you can’t get to the Rudisill office! [Oops--I've misplaced her business card. Carrie can be reached by email at carrie.heck@rescare.com]

The Homeless Task Force has been renamed “Hearts Helping the Homeless” (HHH)

John Zehendner, Hearts Helping the Homeless (HHH)

Kelsey Cottrell, YWCA/HHH. All previous community programs have been combined under on umbrella now, and are known as: Community Program Services. They are no longer “advocates” but case managers. YWCA assists those who have come out of domestic violence situations. Also they provide counseling to children who have witnessed domestic violence, and help them to get on with their lives. They are also meeting with refugees, including some recent arrivals from Congo. They offer ESL and other programs.

Kelsey also mentioned Huntertown UMC.org–which runs Career Closet. Sherry Myers is the ministry leader. Check the link for phone number and email addresses, either to request or donate clothing.

Cherie Berris, HHH/Cedars Hope. HHH is using Broadway House (which backs up to St. John Lutheran) to give homeless people a place to go to get warm. There is now storage available at Archangel Institute. A volunteer is giving haircuts every other Saturday. Others are doing laundry for the homeless. The annual Point in Time count will be1/24/12 PM -1/25/12 AM

If you call 911 about a homeless person who may be violent, ask for a CIT officer. CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) officers are trained to deal with mental illness.

A Planning Counsel on Homelessness meeting will be held next Monday, 12/12, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at Carriage House at United Way. Marcy Yoder a good contact for that meeting.

Annual Homeless Count This Week/How Volunteers are Helping the Homeless

Administrator — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:35:30 +0000

Hearts Helping the Homeless (HHH) is using Broadway House (which backs up to St. John Lutheran) to give homeless people a place to go to get warm. There is now storage available at Archangel Institute. A volunteer is giving haircuts every other Saturday. Others are doing laundry for the homeless. The annual Point in Time count will be1/24/12 PM -1/25/12 AM

If you call 911 about a homeless person who may be violent, ask for a CIT officer. CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) officers are trained to deal with mental illness.

A Planning Counsel on Homelessness was scheduled to meet Monday, 12/12, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at Carriage House at United Way. Marcy Yoder a good contact for that meeting.

Update provided at Dec. 2, 2011 agencies luncheon by Cherie Berris, HHH/Cedars Hope.

Career Closet: Taking Donations and Assisting with Clothing

Administrator — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:29:24 +0000

Huntertown United Methodist church runs Career Closet. Sherry Myers is the ministry leader. Check the link for phone number and email addresses, either to request or donate clothing.

Update provided at the Dec. 2, 2011 agencies luncheon by: Kelsey Cottrell, YWCA/HHH

YWCA’s Community Program Services

Administrator — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:20:54 +0000

YWCA’s programs have been restructured. All previous community programs have been combined under on umbrella now, and are known as: Community Program Services. Workers are referred to as case managers rather than advocates, as they were formerly known.

About YWCA: YWCA assists those who have come out of domestic violence situations. Also, they provide counseling to children who have witnessed domestic violence, and help them to get on with their lives. They are also meeting with refugees, including some recent arrivals from Congo. They offer ESL and other programs.

Update share by Kelsey Cottrell, YWCA/HHH at December 2, 2011 agencies luncheon.

Homeless Task Force = Hearts Helping the Homeless (HHH)

Administrator — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:18:35 +0000

The Homeless Task Force has been renamed “Hearts Helping the Homeless” (HHH).

Update shared at December 2, 2011 agency meeting by John Zehendner, HHH.

Craft Supplies Needed for IMPACT/ResCare

Administrator — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:14:02 +0000

ResCare is always looking for donations of yarn, fabric, sewing supplies (for quilts), plastic bags for homeless mats. Call Carrie, she will come and pick up your donations if you can’t get to the Rudisill office! [Oops--I've misplaced her business card. Carrie can be reached by email at carrie.heck@rescare.com]

Update shared at December 2, 2011 agency meeting by Carrie Heck, IMPACT/ResCare (formerly ARBOR)

Pathways to Success: Housing Transition for Homeless Families

Administrator — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 06:17:31 +0000

Jamie Martin, Vincent Village, oversees the Pathways to Success program, through which homeless families with children transition out of the shelter into a home. The program provides a case manager for 18 months after they are established in a house.

Women’s Bureau Collaborating to Provide Permanent Supportive Housing

Administrator — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 06:14:05 +0000

Natasha Crouse, Women’s Bureau shared at the December 2, 2011 agency meeting that she with the Promising Partnerships program: ” a collaboration of 5 agencies working to bring permanent supportive housing to the Allen County community.”

Services of St. Vincent de Paul Society

Administrator — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 06:02:21 +0000

The St. Vincent de Paul Society and Cathedral Parish serves its parish neighborhood, including the West Central neighborhood of Fort Wayne, through a variety of benevolence services. The Parish runs a store, as well as other care programs including financial assistance (rent assistance and a food pantry.)

Update provided by Thomas Smith, Richard Schafer, St. Vincent de Paul Society/Cathedral parish at December 2, 2011 Agency Meeting.