“Rebuilding Lives Programs Build
Community”
COLUMBUS, OHIO, October 28,
2002— The Community Shelter Board (CSB) invited a group of key stakeholders to
its October Board of Trustees meeting to discuss the impact of the Rebuilding Lives plan for Columbus and
Franklin County. The meeting
included a tour of Sunshine Terrace, a newly-renovated apartment building in
Franklinton that now offers supportive services and 24-hour reception and
security for residents.
The
Rebuilding Lives plan is a community
strategy to solve the problem of long-term homelessness, and includes developing
more effective housing, employment, and shelter services. Panel members were asked to discuss the
impact of the Rebuilding Lives plan
after three years of implementation, and identify what has changed from each of
their perspectives since the plan went into effect.
“The Rebuilding Lives Program gave me
stability,” said Brian Timberlake, current resident of Sunshine Terrace. “I was laid off from my job, and had
very little support. I was in a
shelter for quite a while. Now I
have a chance to get my life back on track. It’s a very helpful, realistic program,
and I thank you for it.”
Rosetta Clairdy is another
resident who moved to Sunshine Terrace a few months ago after tragedy struck her
family. She has been impressed with
the program so far.
“Rebuilding Lives has really been a
blessing for me since I lost nearly everyone in my family over the past few
years,” said Ms. Clairdy. “The
building is nice, the security is great, and I’ve met a lot of new people. They helped me with my medical
appointments, and I’m looking for a job through the Resource Room.”
Other panel members
included program residents, staff
members, neighbors, and community partners.
Errol Kahoun, President
of A.B. Excavating and member of the Milo Grogan Business Association and Milo
Grogan Area Commission, Mike Tynan, Director of Housing from Community Housing
Network, Mary Lou Langenhop,
Director of the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services, and John
King of Sunshine Terrace were included as panel members.
Rebuilding
Lives
programs are making a difference in many ways in the Columbus community. Notable accomplishments include 400+
units of supportive housing in operation or development, seven new employment
resource centers, nine “Good Neighbor Agreements” created between programs and
neighborhoods, and the re-structuring of shelter programs. In addition, CSB implemented enhanced
quality certification and information systems for shelters and other programs
that serve homeless persons.
“The Community Shelter Board
brought knowledge that I believe will be instrumental for the Milo Grogan
community’s development,” said Errol Kahoun. “We’re developing knowledge to improve
housing in the neighborhood, and formed our own Community Development
Corporation. The collaboration has
been tremendous.”
Sunshine Terrace is an
example of how Rebuilding Lives
programs can benefit the entire community.
A unique partnership between the YMCA of Central Ohio and the Columbus
Metropolitan Housing Authority, Sunshine Terrace provides housing and supportive
services, such as case management, employment services, and linkage to community
resources. Supportive services
provide assistance to existing residents along with formerly homeless persons
who are part of the Rebuilding Lives
initiative. Investment in
renovation and improved security helped eliminate vacancies. The changes have been welcomed by
building residents and their neighbors in the Franklinton community.
Sunshine Terrace is one of
many supportive housing developments created through the Rebuilding Lives plan. Funding for plan has been assigned to
Columbus and Franklin County’s leading public and private-sector funding sources
for housing and social services.
Working together, the Rebuilding
Lives Funder Collaborative has been able to offer more than $8.9 million for
housing, employment, and supportive service programs through the first three
years.
In
other business at the meeting, the Community Shelter Board Trustees voted to
approve additional funding for shelter and coordinating services for the coming
winter, which is the peak demand period for shelter for homeless single men and
women. CSB will contract with
Friends of the Homeless, Maryhaven, and the YMCA of Central Ohio to coordinate
services and provide additional shelter space to meet the demand. CSB also awarded additional funds for
family shelter due to 14% increase in demand by homeless
families.
The
Community Shelter Board, established in 1986, is a non-profit intermediary
organization that coordinates community based efforts, fosters collaboration,
and funds services to assist families and individuals in Central Ohio to resolve
their housing crisis. The Community
Shelter Board allocates $7.0 million annually to support programs at 15
agencies. Last year, these programs
served more than 7,000 individuals.
The Community Shelter Board is funded by the City of Columbus, the
Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way of Central Ohio, the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Ohio, and other public
and private donors.
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