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.
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 Lori Shewman who provided a delicious lunch at short notice. We were few in number, but we enjoyed a great time of fellowship and round-table discussion today. There was no guest speaker.
Next month’s luncheon will be Friday, August 26, 2011
Alyn Biddle, Inasmuch–talked about our dilemma regarding utility bills assistance: is it wiser to work with the “past due” amount, or “total” balance due? This question prompted good discussion on enabling vs. empowering. We learned that Wayne Township encourages volunteerism, community service, and restricts the number of times a client can be seen. It seems that more and more agencies are becoming pro-active about working to get clients out of the welfare system. Join us for these stimulating monthly meetings to share what your organization is doing to give not only a hand out, but a hand up.
Alyn also initiated discussion of security in the buildings, since Inasmuch is currently planning its move to The Edge building by year’s end. We talked about traffic flow between common areas and counseling rooms. Both Townships who were present told us they have security guards. Wayne has cameras. (The Edge will have many security cameras.) Wayne/Adams have panic buttons at the counselors’ desks. Catholic Charities has locked the lobby.
Sue Walstra, Clinica Madre de Dios–The clinic has a new phone number now. (260)755-3897. Please make a note of it.
Joyce (Holderman) Even, and Debra Freeman, Adams Township–talked about the challenges of housing those who have been barred from staying at the Rescue Mission. She has successfully negotiated with a local motel for a reduced extended stay rate
Karen Walker, Wayne Township, reported that they received 1,086 requests for assistance in June. On average, 113 clients were served each day. 142 are currently enrolled in the employment training center. 2,128 community service hours were worked by clients in June. The Township is now collecting professional clothing (donations from staff, etc.) and school supplies for clients. They will be out and about at community outreach events several weekends in August: 8/13 South Side Festival; 8/20 1st annual “Amnesty and Independence” Community Festival; 8/27 Waynedale picnic.
Cheri Berris, Cedars Hope–They have 15 beds for mentally-ill homeless women–and now for the first time they are not only full, but have a waiting list. Online application is required, with a referral. Residents need to “work” 3 hours/day. Most go to Carriage House or Wellspring. Cedars Hope provides one meal a day. The women are asked to provide their own food for their other meals. They are helped in getting food stamps, and/or going to food banks, as well as in signing up for Medicaid, etc. (Cedars Hope has used volunteers from the Township community service program for deep cleaning at the Home, although residents often do daily chores and light cleaning.)
Laurisa Roper, Family Development for CANI–discussed removing causes of poverty. She sees more and more clients who are angry because they don’t want to be self-sufficient. CANI is geared to move people in the direction of self-sufficiency. Adult education/income and employment are their biggest focus. Sets goals based on 12 life areas, re-assess every three months. We have asked Laurisa to be our guest speaker at a luncheon this fall. She is also very interested in meeting with individual organizations to talk about CANI’s programs. You can contact her at LaurisaRoper@canihelp.org
Lauren Nichols, Inasmuch (Friday secretary), all for One productions (Artistic Director)–afO has launched its 2011-2012 Home Stage Production season ticket campaign. From now until August 31, for every full-priced season ticket you buy (already a 25% savings over at-the-door prices!), you can buy a second ticket HALF PRICE. If you’ve already purchased a ticket, you can still call the office at 622-4610 and buy your half price ticket! Go to the theater company’s website for more information about the coming season of exciting, thought-provoking and values-rich entertainment!
Pat Arnold, Catholic Charities–due to budget cuts she is acting as receptionist as well as seeing clients–this is challenging!
Joe Merchich, Work One. Gave us the schedule for August’s monthly free workshops–it is an impressive list. Most classes are on a “drop-in” basis, but the all-day workshops on Excel or Word fill up quickly, so clients are urged to pre-register. There are usually several different classes offered each day, Monday thru Friday (NO CLASSES on 8/12 and 8/15). Classes include: GED prep, resume writing, interviewing. The schedule changes monthly. All classes are free.
also present:
Leesa Ackerman, IAM
Terry Rutan, Inasmuch
Marilyn Hormann, community volunteer
Peggy Coburn of Cedars HOPE, W.Wayne Street joined us today. They serve homeless women with mental illnesses.
Marry Morris, default loan and loan modification specialist with the Fort Wayne Housing Authority, offers some reminders for helping clients who are in mortgage trouble. She says to make sure you get these types of clients to a HUD approved counseling agency.
Mary’s office, at FWHA, is funded partially by the US Dept. of HUD. There is no fee for her services. Her office also provides rental education and counseling. Their goal is to educate and keep individuals in housing. Currently they are in the process of being re-certificed for HECM counseling*. For families that come to you on public housing, ask them if they are on the family self-sufficiency program. If they are not, FWHA will encourage them to do this. Update from Mary Morris, FWHA
*Reverse mortgages are becoming popular in America. HUD’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) created one of the first. The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is FHA’s reverse mortgage program which enables you to withdraw some of the equity in your home. Source: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/rmtopten.cfm
The Salvation Army is currently setting up appointments for rent and utility assistance. Their bus pass policy is the same as InAsMuch Ministry*. The Salvation Army also has a food pantry. Update from Tim Smith.
*InAsMuch provides 3 all-day bus passes to clients for seeking employment, getting to work or medical appointments. Bus passes can be received once every 14 days.
The Love Your Neighbor Program of Faith United Methodist Church, seeking to help the needy in their congregation and neighborhood, is still in development. Update from Dave & Angel Brittenham.
Lutheran Social Services’ Cup of Kindness program has seen a 12% increase in families served, as well as 40% more money spent. Many are needy for the first time, and are overwhelmed, embarrassed, and getting lost in the system. Update from John Hermann.
LSS’ Cup of Kindness Program “provides direct financial assistance for qualified individuals when other public help is inadequate or not available.” Click here to go to their website.
At the InAsMuch Ministry, the numbers (of households served) are down due to the government putting more money towards those in generational poverty.
The increase IAM sees now is with clients in situational poverty. Up to two thirds of our clients are new to the system. Update from Pastor Alyn Biddle
Faith United Methodist Church is creating the “Love Your Neighbor” Ministry, patterned after InAsMuch Ministry of Broadway Christian Church. This will be concentrated in the La Rez neighborhood (Creighton and Lafayette). Poverty is abundant in the congregation.
Vincent Village Pathways to Success helps families with children move from shelters to permanent housing. The program helps with the first month’s rent, deposit, utilities deposits, groceries, etc. The program also provides case management for 6 months to a year.
i think this whole site is awesome so many groups and organizations working together to care for there city! way to go may GOD bless you all is there such help in little towns? like Angola? Peggy can you please call me I am in desparate need of conversation on my & my daughters mental states have no resources 260-573-7344 my name and e-mail address I filled in below it won’t be posted it said Thank you to all the organizations and individuals helping all of us who sincerely need you