First Church Plans 24-Hour Shelter for Homeless Men
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Above: Scale model of the new church buildings at 2nd and Denny. The Urban Outreach building, left, will house the 24-hour enhanced shelter program.
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The Service Delivery Model
First Church hopes to use our new 7,200 square foot Urban Outreach Center to host a program for homeless men that provides a key stepping stone to long-term, permanent housing.
This program is designed to fill the gap between emergency shelter and transitional housing, between a "mat on the floor" and a permanent housing solution, with a target specifically toward the population of homeless men who are working but are unable to secure permanent housing.
First Church proposes to fill a gap in services for high-functioning homeless men by providing 24-hour temporary housing that will include case management services, mentoring, and an intentional community component that will help launch these men into self-sufficiency. Partners in the project are the City of Seattle, King County, and Catholic Community Services.
Unique among programs reaching out to homeless men will be the direct connection to volunteers and church members made possible through the intentionally-limited size and carefully cultivated relationship with a vital downtown congregation. The program will be delivered in collaboration with Catholic Community Services, one of the largest providers of homeless shelter in the Northwest.
As the oldest congregation in the City of Seattle, First Church has a long history of leadership in delivery of human services to the city. The church supported Civil War veterans in the late 1800's, protected Chinese workers in the riots of 1886, fed indigent families in its soup kitchen in the Great Depression, reached out to servicemen during World War II, started a retirement home for senior citizens in 1961, provided housing to homeless men and women through Pulliam/Wesley Haven in the 1970's and 80's, and most recently helped to establish a 40-bed overnight shelter, a daytime homeless women's congregation, and a biweekly breakfast that today serves over 250 needy individuals.
After a long and public debate over the status of its historic downtown building at Fifth and Marion the congregation has moved its operations to Lower Queen Anne/Belltown where it is erecting a $30 million facility. A key feature of the new space is a 7,200 square foot Urban Outreach Center at 150 Denny Way that will provide 24-hour temporary housing to 31 formerly homeless men.
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Bridging the Gap
Studies suggest that between 11% and 13% of homeless men and women are employed full-time or part-time1. The existence of tent cities and other homeless encampments in King County - often inhabited by working men and women who do not exhibit significant mental illness or substance abuse issues - suggests a service delivery gap for this population. Traditional homeless shelters, particularly those that provide only 12-hour per day services, do not meet the needs of this group.
The result is a desire to fill the gap between emergency shelter and transitional housing, between a "mat on the floor,"2 and a permanent housing solution, with a target specifically toward the population of homeless men who are working but are unable to secure permanent housing.
Program participants will be chosen from among those for whom traditional shelter does not work and who would otherwise be appropriate candidates for homeless encampments and tent cities. These are high-functioning adult men, often employed, who do not exhibit chronic mental health or substance abuse concerns. Catholic Community Services and Operation Nightwatch will be engaged to refer suitable participants to the program.
The Program
Homeless advocates across the country report that 24-hour enhanced shelter provides a key stepping stone to long-term, permanent housing-a step that is often missed by traditional models of delivering services to the homeless.
This program is designed to fill the gap between emergency shelter and transitional housing, between a "mat on the floor" and a permanent housing solution, with a target specifically toward the population of homeless men who are working but are unable to secure permanent housing.
The shelter director and case manager will oversee research-based program delivery that builds assets for self-sufficiency among participants. Program objectives include:
• An individual empowerment plan for each participant that builds on each person's strengths and encourages long term well-being;
• Measurement of success beyond the actual program period to provide ongoing evaluative information for program improvement;
• Strong connection by participants to the outside world through relationships with church and community volunteers;
• Focus on job training through on-site employment services provided through collaboration with employment partners;
• Strong partnership with the business community for mentoring, employment, and fundraising. Partnerships will include working with local banks to build a savings account for each participant as a step toward self-sufficiency;
• Focus on achieving a minimum level of education and/or vocational training for economic independence;
• Establishment of strong spiritual underpinnings for long term wellness;
• Maintenance of ongoing communication with residents after graduation to enhance a feeling of ongoing community.
We desire to build assets for participants that serve as protective factors as they move to permanent housing and gain self-sufficiency. We desire that our participants will:
• Attain a positive rental history;
• Graduate with adequate savings to secure permanent housing;
• Retroactively assess themselves as having key internal assets that demonstrate ability to achieve personal goals, such as more confidence, better life skills and stronger community connections;
• Take measurable and significant steps toward educational and/or vocational goals.
• Develop a support network among fellow participants, volunteers, and their life coach; and
• Graduate to permanent housing and retain that housing for at least 12 months.
Staffing, Lay Case Managers and Volunteers
In addition to a full-time shelter coordinator, case manager and volunteer coordinator, members of the First Church congregation and other local volunteers will provide important support to the program through life coaching, provision of meals, overnight staffing for the center, and nursing services. These important community connections will enrich the program so that participants will feel part of a larger, supportive community. The laity of First Church and the wider community will be invited to participate in the lay case manager program as well provide meals and staff the reception desk.
Space Design
The facility, once complete, will provide small living cubicles for each of the 31 program participants. These cubicles will be available on a 24-hour basis and will include a framed bed and secure storage. The facility will also include a community kitchen, eating area, TV lounge, computer center, toilets, showers, a nurses' station, administrative offices and reception desk. The architectural emphasis is on creation of community among program participants.
Detailed Floor Plan
Citations:
1. National Coalition for the Homeless, "NCH Fact Sheet #4: Employment and Homelessness," June 2008, p. 2.
2. Claudia Rowe, "Homeless advocate, city lock horns," Seattle P-I, April 12, 2008. |
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