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.”
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.
At the December 2, 2011 agency meeting, we were introduced to Jan Labas, FamilyVoices Indiana. 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.
Adams Township’s Christmas Family program distribution was the week of December 2. Adams Township is NOT yet partnered with CANI for energy assistance this winter.
-Joyce Even, Debra Freeman, Adams Township Trustees Office.
FWHA has a new phone number: (260) 267-9300 will connect you to Public Housing and all other services. FWHA 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).
Information provided by Mary Morris, FWHA
International House has 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.
Update provided by Eldon Claasen, International House.
The last day of service inside Broadway Christian Church was 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!)
Update provided by Alyn Biddle, Inasmuch
Community Action of Northeast Indiana (CANI) is hosting a Small Business Conference on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. The intended audience is small business owners or anyone who wants to learn about business strategies. Please note the cost has been reduced to $20 to make it more accessible for everyone. Click here for the registration form.
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 thanks to Diane Melching, an Inasmuch volunteer from The Chapel, who provided the delicious lunch today.
The final luncheon of the year will be Friday, December 2, at noon.
There was no official “guest speaker” today, but Brent Wake from the Mayor’s Office did a brief presentation on a new program called Bank on Fort Wayne, which elicited much round-table discussion. Here, in a nutshell, is information on the program:
Bank On Fort Wayne, which launched on Monday, October 24, is a local version of a national program designed to serve a population which either has no current bank account or is not making the best use of available banking services (especially the elderly, low to middle income households, and people with past financial difficulties). Working with eight education partners and 12 financial institutions in the area, Bank On Fort Wayne is one of only two programs nationally with a required financial education component.
The free workshops are offered at a variety of convenient times and locations–call 2-1-1 or go to their website, BankOnFortWayne.org, for a complete list. Once a workshop is completed, a BOFW Certificate of Completed is issued and this document is required in order to set up your bank account.
Opening a checking account also requires a valid photo ID and verification of current mailing address. The services being offered to BOFW certificate holders include: free or low-cost checking accounts; no minimum balance; and educational programs to help manage money wisely, including: Basic Banking, Basic Budgeting, Saving, and Account Management. Having a checking account prevents hefty fees from check cashing centers, allows direct deposit of pay checks, can positively affect credit score, allows for online bill paying, and is a safe place to protect funds from theft and natural disaster. ————————————–
Others attending the luncheon who provided updates included:
Dave Lawson, Northeast Christian Church. His church wants to be more involved in the community.
Bryan and Keith Brown, Archangel Institute on Webster Street. They are trying to determine how many homeless men are planning on wintering over outside. They think there may be 20 to 30. They want to provide resources, especially sleeping bags, but also want to make sure men don’t get 2 bags, because they will sell the extra.
Lisa Thatcher (currently with the Urban League’s Read and Rise) has accepted a position with Purdue Extension Office to do Family Nutrition Education.
Denise Porter-Ross of the Urban League passed out brochures on their annual gala, which will be held on November 5th at the Scottish Rite Center, entitled “A Night in Harlem.” For more information, call the League at (260) 745-3100 or go to their website.
Jamie Martin, Vincent Village Pathways to Success, a transitional program from shelter to permanent housing. They have the only shelter in the city which allows families to stay together. Vincent Village’s Open House to view their completed renovations was last Friday night, October 28. There is a new full time (40-hour) position (combining 2 part time jobs) available…It involves working with children/child development. A four-year degree in a related area, or equivalent experience, is required. Applicants must be willing to help with cleaning and food preparation. (Note: Vincent Village’s website seems to be down, but they have a new Facebook page,which you can find here.
Laurisa Roper, CANI, HPRP program, EAP funding was cut quite a bit. No new client appointments are being made unless it’s a crisis (disconnect status)–clients can call for an appointment in that case. She also mentioned Hopewell Point, which is a group of CANI rent-to-own houses being built off Bluffton Road just north of the Social Security office. 2-, 3- and 4- bedroom homes are being built. Call to check eligibility. A link on this website provides many details of the program (under FAQs).
Joe Merchich, WorkOne. Unemployment rates are still high. Joe brought new job workshop list for November.
Kelsey Cottrell, YWCA, HHH (Hearts Helping the Homeless–formerly the Homeless Task Force): The YWCA has a desperate need for diapers, especially larger sizes. They are doing fundraisers to cover this need. Domestic Violence Awareness month was October.
John Zehendner, HHH: helps the homeless on the street, gives food and clothing, etc.
Cheri Berris, Cedars Hope, HHH. Taking donations of warm clothing, food and water, sleeping bags. HHH is going to come under the Mission Church’s 501(c)3. The Silence of Mary program (which originated in a Pennsylvania diocese) is buying homes around Sacred Heart to provide family atmosphere in a family shelter. They are holding a November 4th fundraiser to help with that program.
Alyn Biddle, Inasmuch Ministry: Annual Christmas Outreach (Christmas Baskets) sign up is Tuesday and Thursday November 1st and 3rd only. They will serve up to 100 families. Family can only be on ONE list. Must have valid Indiana State ID.
Lauren Nichols, all for One productions, invited all to attend their current production, The Ransom of Red Chief, which runs from October 28 through November 6 at the Allen County Public Library auditorium. It is a very family-friendly, all-ages comedy. For tickets and information call (260) 622-4610.
Also attending:
Marilyn Hormann, community volunteer
Nancy Hormann, White’s Family Services
Andrew Hoffman, Neighborlink
Judy Meiklejohn, Healthier Moms & Babies
Gina Dodson, job-shadowing at Vincent Village
Darlene Richards and Dave Brittenham, Inasmuch
Pat Neil and Ruth Johnson, St. Vincent de Paul/Queen of Angels
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 thanks to ladies from First Missionary Church who provided the delicious lunch today.
Next month’s luncheon will be Friday, October 28, 2011. The final meeting of the year will be Friday, December 2, 2011.
Our speaker for today was Becky Weimerskirch, Executive Director of Community Transportation Network (CTN)
Barb gave us a very informative presentation today. (I personally recognized the CTN logo from having seen it on a variety of vehicles, but I had never known what this company does.)
CTN’s unique mission is “to provide dependable and efficient transportation so no one is left behind.” They are the only private nonprofit agency whose sole focus is providing rides to a variety of “transport-dependent groups”, e.g., seniors, the disabled, low-income families, children and youth. CTN works with over 50 local organizations and groups, providing “35,000 to 40,000 trips annually for over 2,000 riders.” Over 20 local foundations support CTN, which is not dependent on government funds.
Their services fall into four categories:
Medical Transportation: This is their priority. The service is “door-through-door” (not “curb to curb” as a bus or taxi would be), and can be for regularly scheduled doctor’s visits, hospital stays, etc., one-time or recurring, one-way or round trip.
Individuals/Groups: special events, grocery shopping for seniors and disabled (these trips are usually scheduled through a senior center, church or nursing facility)
Senior Keys: seniors who give up driving turn in their cars for credit to receive transportation for any purpose local trip.
Subscription: groups charged on affordable hourly basis (for instance: the Dine and Ride program with the Embassy Theater)
CTN is looking to expand, as they acquire more vehicles and funding. One area of need they notice is helping employees without cars to get to 2nd and 3rd shift jobs (times when buses do not run).
[Barb compared their services with Citilink's, which is curb to curb , with no passenger assistance, in urban areas only. Even Citilink's Access program is limited, must be a permanent situation--not temporary--and takes 30 days to apply.]
You can get further information by calling (260) 420-3280 or visiting their website, http://www.ridectn.org
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Other friends who gave updates today include:
Cheri Berris, Cedars Hope, and Homeless Task Force. Reports that the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese “Silence of Mary” program is buying houses around Sacred Heart Church (where the Franciscan center is located) to create a community to house chronically homeless individuals and families.
Alyn Biddle, Inasmuch Ministry, reminded us that Ken has started his 1, 700 mile bicycle ride to raise the last of our funds for The Edge renovation project. (Drywalling is done, painting starts soon, and we hope to see the job completed by year’s end.) Ken is financing this trip himself, so that every dollar pledged goes to the renovation (“Every Dollar Goes to the Edge”!) go to http://EdgeRide2011.com to donate or check on his progress.
Joe Merchich, WorkOne. Brought jobs posting for past 7 days. He reported that Frontier has 30 slots to fill, and is holding a jobs fair Thursday, October 6th.
Ann Helmke, Vincent Village, reports that they have completed renovation of their primary shelter (for homeless families with children). There will be an open house in October.
Loretta Inman, Unto Others, announced their first annual fundraiser: Harvest Gathering, Thursday evening, November 3, 2011, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. It will be held at Dupont Downs, 538 Dupont Road. Tickets for this event are $25 per person or $45 per couple, and will include hors d’oeuvres, special entertainment, silent auction, live auction, desserts and time of sharing . Contact Loretta at (260) 422-9934 or email director7@frontier.com
Richard Schafer, St. Vincent de Paul/Cathedral, reported that they have a van available for taking people to medical appointments. They ask for a $5 donation, but will transport even if the passenger can’t afford to pay anything. Call St. Vincent. de Paul’s store to make arrangement.
Natasha Crouse, Promising Partnership/ Women’s Bureau. 20 houses opening up soon, though there is a waiting list. Genesis Outreach is the agency taking applications.
Also in attendance today were:
John Schendner, Homeless Task Force
Bryan Brown, ArchAngel Institute
Judy Meiklejohn, (Healthier Moms & Babies)
Laurisa Roper, CANI
Pam Sullivan, Shepherd’s House. Recovering drug abusers, veterans and others.
Patrica Engle, Gone Fishing Ministries, works with the homeless.
Stephen King, Ave Maria House, social work, counselling
Carl Jylland Halverson, Saints on the Street (SOS) and University of St. Francis. Homeless ministries
Denese and LaToya McKinney, Delilah’s House
Joyce Even, Adams Township
Nancy Hormann. White’s Family Services
Tom Smith, St.Vincent de Paul/Cathedral
