Shelter and Emergency
JCP Mattress Donation
Giving back feels GREAT! Especially when
you are giving back to an organization that
once helped you. In the summer of 2016 Lau-
ren, an employee of JCPenney, heard that her
store was looking to clear out their collection
of display mattresses used in the store. The
store was making room on their 2nd floor to
feature new products and looked to either sell
or donate the display mattress sets to people
in need.
Lauren whose daughter once received family
support services through the Neighborhood
Alliance Help Me Grow program reached out
to our Facebook fan page to see if we knew
anyone in need. Lauren has followed the
Neighborhood Alliance fan page for some
time and knew we helped from newborn to
elderly in Lorain County. She was confident
that we could find the right homes for this
donation.
With the help of summer volunteers from
Next Step Ministries we were able to organize
pick-up and delivery of these mattress to new
homes in Lorain County. Thank you Lauren!!!
The goal of the Haven Center is to provide a safe, healthy
environment for the homeless population. The shelter
serves men, women and intact families. While at the Haven
Center, resources are shared with the residents to help
them transition into sustainable housing. The Haven Center
provides on-site services including Anger Management
and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, assistance procuring
identification documentation and provision of basic neces-
sities such as bedding, personal care products and meals.
Referrals are made to mental health facilities and hous-
ing programs as well as to other social service providers
such as Lorain County Jobs and Family Services. Through
weekly meetings with participants, the staff works with each
client to create a sustainable housing plan to ensure suc-
cessful transition to permanent housing.
Once a resident comes to stay at the shelter, a case plan is
developed within the first week; this plan will have a de-
tailed plan for moving the individual from homelessness into
sustainable permanent housing. During each week at the
shelter, a progress report is completed to keep the focus on
moving forward. Participants receive financial assistance
for identification documents, birth certificates, rental as-
sistance or security deposit without being required to travel
from agency to agency to use resources within the poverty
assistance network.
Annual statistics show an increase in the number of children
as part of intact families, as well as an increase in veterans
and adults over the age of 55 at the shelter. This trend has
changed the dynamics of what support is needed to allow
residents to develop long term solutions to their short term
situation; family issues also need to be considered with ap-
propriate referrals made by the staff to other social service
providers when indicated. The number of children residing
at the Haven Center has risen from 18% in 2013 to 28% of
the total sheltered population in 2016.