Bethany house provides emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness those living on the streets, in their cars, or other places considered unfit for human habitation. Shelter services include safety, meals, case management, life skills classes, children's programming, mental health assessment and connections with community service providers. Bethany house strives to meet not only the immediate physical needs of every family member while they are in shelter, but also to provide the family unit with the skills, knowledge and support needed to establish a stable home. Each family works with a social worker who supports them through identifying their needs and barriers, then provides connections to appropriate community resources. All staff are trained in trauma informed care, considered best practice by substance abuse and mental health services administration (SAMHSA)and the national center on family homelessness. Trauma-informed care promotes a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing. Children's programming provides therapeutic group sessions; enrollment in childcare or school; developmental assessments for children under 5.5 yrs.; Socialization outings into the community; referrals for mental and physical health issues. Families who have exited from shelter are followed and provided with post-shelter stabilization services as needed to avoid repeated episodes of homelessness.Families in the two communal shelters remain in extended stay hotels so that each family had their own kitchenette and bathroom facilities. Initially, case management was provided by phone or virtual meetings. All children were provided with the equipment they needed to participate in their own school's classes. An educational specialist was hired to support the students as they struggled with the new procedures as well as the coursework. Apartment inspections were often conducted virtually. Our communal shelters remain closed. In 2021, 248 families received comprehensive shelter services: 962 individuals, 640 of whom were under the age of 18. Outcomes remained very good despite the challenges presented by covid 96% of the families who exited from shelter during the year moved into a positive housing situation; 38% of those who exited did so with increased income.

Families in a homeless shelter who meet the community criteria May be assigned to one of four bethany house rapid rehousing programs by the local HUD unified funding agency. These programs provide case management to assist families in identifying appropriate affordable housing as quickly as possible to minimize the trauma of the homelessness experience. Housing social workers guide the parent through a process of recognizing and overcoming their barriers to obtaining housing, connect them to mainstream benefits, identify ways to increase income, provide referrals to community mental health and other service providers, and stabilize the family in housing. The program includes short-to-medium term financial assistance to utility assistance payments and rental deposits. Children in high-risk families are followed by housing case managers to ensure they are enrolled and attending school. In 2021, 222 families were served through the rapid rehousing programs. These families included 843 individuals, 558 of whom were children.

Permanent supportive housing programs are available to homeless families when at least one member has a permanent disability or serious, persistent condition. Permanent supportive housing is a combination of housing and services intended as a cost-effective way to help all people live more stable, productive lives. Case management services are more intensive in this program to meet the greater needs of the families and although rapid rehousing program assistance is time-limited, permanent supportive case management and financial assistance services are not. In 2021, 25 families comprised of 92 individuals (58 of whom were children) were served through the bethany house permanent supportive housing program.