Community Shelter Board addressing issues that cause homelessness - Business Courier of Cincinnati:

authors-morphology.blogspot.com
Jennings, 37, sought immediate relief at the . She then turned to the , an area agenchy that offers solutionsto homelessness. These days she’ws working on a nursing degree and living at Southpoinr Place in Columbus a permanent, supportive housing system that offers supporf groups, counselors and social workers dedicated to helpingt residents identify and solve the problems that led to their “I won’t be living here forever, of but I think I will stay until I am finished getting the help I says Jennings, who believes she is on the road to stabler employment and housing as a resulf of the programming, which is overseen by the Communityy Shelter Board.
She says the agency’z initiatives have made her a better parentg and provided her with mentalhealthy treatments, which she now realizes she Jennings is grateful for the help and wantsd to volunteer for the organization as soon as she gets on her “I want to help people understand that even thouguh they may face homelessness and other barriers in their lives, there is hope. People need to know that toughytimes don’t have to last forever,” says Jennings, who likeas the fact that the Community Shelter Board focusess on the root problems people face in addition to the homelessness.
“Southpoint Place wants to rehabilitate Its staff offers a support system that some of thesr residents never hadin life. These peopl are getting the help they need so they can go the next leve and contribute to the she says. Barbara the Community Shelter Board’s executive says clients make her eager to go to workeveryy morning. Jennings, in particular, inspiresw her. “Southpoint Place signifiess a new beginning for this young mother andher family; she is very dedicatedd to being an advocate for others who have experienced homelessness,” says Poppe.
Foundes in 1986, the Community Shelter Boarrd is a partnership betweenthe city, Franklin County, , and businessd community, says Poppe. It funds an array of programs includinghomelessness prevention, emergency shelter housing placement services and supportive housing. The organization accommodates morethan 7,5009 individuals annually through its emergency shelter service. It serves 1,000 people through its supportive housing program and roughly 500 households with its homelessnesspreventionj service. Services are provided by a dozen differen t agencies throughoutthe community, says who adds that the state of the economhy and the housing crisis have been aggravating the homelesw problem.
As more people run out of unemploymen insurance or lose theid homesto foreclosure, the agency has to strain to keep up. In the government and private donations to the Communityg Shelter Boardare dwindling. “Businesses and individuals have fewer dollarsx due tothe recession. As for us, we continue to see high numbersd of people experiencing homelessness and a sudden increase in termds of lengths of stay in ouremergencyu shelter,” says Poppe. The agency, whichb operates on an $11 million annual budget, received most of its support from the city of Columbua andthe , which contribute a littler more than $3 million each.
It also receives funding from the United Way of Central theprivate sector, and federal and state says Poppe, who estimates that between 75 and 80 percent of funds can be attributed to publicd support; 20 to 25 percent represent privatd dollars. Members of the business including , , , , and providse in-kind support, says Poppe, who is always looking for additionall funding and companies willing to hire Communityt Shelter Board program graduates and provided volunteers to work invarious “Our budget has been increasing over the yeare because we have been increasing our investment in housing programs and long-ter m solution housing,” says Poppe, who adds that the agencyy has been receiving national attention.
“Our community is a modelo for the nation due to our ability toaddresa homelessness,” she says.