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.

Service Area:

No locations for this program