Salem Mission Inc

LIFEBRIDGE'S MISSION IS TO OFFER MEN AND WOMEN THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO END THEIR HOMELESSNESS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE WAY TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS, ONE PERSON AT A TIME, IS TO PROVIDE HOUSING WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, TO ENCOURAGE PERSONAL AND INCOME DEVELOPMENT, AND STABILITY IN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. HELPING TO TRANSITION INDIVIDUALS FROM HOMELESSNESS TO STABLE HOUSING.

TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH A WORTHWHILE AND AMBITIOUS MISSION WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS - LIFEBRIDGE PROVIDES 36 SHELTER BEDS FOR INDIVIDUAL MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE GIVEN A CLEAN, WARM, AND SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP. IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR SERVICES IN THE WINTER MONTHS, WE ADD AN ADDITIONAL 18 BEDS.HOUSING - IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT PERMANENT HOUSING, COMBINED WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, PLAYS A LARGE ROLE IN ENDING HOMELESSNESS. LIFEBRIDGE IS FORTUNATE TO OWN AND OPERATE 22 UNITS OF SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY HOUSING TO THOSE WHO WERE ONCE HOMELESS. TENANTS RECEIVE ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT AND HAVE FULL ACCESS TO ALL OTHER PROGRAMMATIC SERVICES PROVIDED ON THE CAMPUS.COMMUNITY MEALS PROGRAM - LIFEBRIDGE SERVES MORE THAN 250 MEALS A DAY TO OUR CURRENT CLIENTS WHILE ALSO OPENING ITS DOORS TO ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO IS HUNGRY. WITH A FULL-TIME KITCHEN MANAGER AND OVER 350 VOLUNTEERS, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER 365 DAYS A YEAR; WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 90,000 NUTRITIOUS MEALS EVERY YEAR.NURSING - WITH A FULL-TIME NURSE ON STAFF, LIFEBRIDGE IS ABLE TO PROVIDE BASIC HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO THOSE IN NEED. OUR NURSE COMPLETES OVER 150 HEALTH ASSESSMENTS EACH MONTH WHICH INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO: WOUND CARE, DIABETES MONITORING, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING, MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING. LIFEBRIDGE DAY SERVICES - WE OFFER DAY SERVICES TO GUESTS, THOSE WHO DO NOT RESIDE AT LIFEBRIDGE, WITH BASIC NEEDS AND ONGOING SUPPORT. SUCH SERVICES INCLUDE ACCESS TO OUR NURSE, SHOWERS, CLOTHING, PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS, BASIC SUPPLIES SUCH AS BLANKETS AND MEALS.PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS - LIFEBRIDGE STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT THROUGH INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS THAT WE CAN AID IN THE TRANSITION OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS TO SELF-SUFFICIENT, INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH VARIOUS PARTNERSHIPS AND INITIATIVES LIFEBRIDGE OFFERS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: AA, NA, ARTS THERAPY, EMPLOYMENT SEARCH TRAINING, RESUME BUILDING, CREATIVE WRITING (IN CONJUNCTION WITH SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY), MEN'S SUPPORT GROUP, WOMEN'S SUPPORT GROUP, SMART RECOVERY, COPING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, YOGA, AND A CLIENT TO HIRE PROGRAM.CASE MANAGEMENT - MEN AND WOMEN RECEIVING SERVICES FROM LIFEBRIDGE ARE ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER AND PARTICIPATE IN A COORDINATED PROGRAM THAT IS DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE EACH CLIENT'S INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS. CLIENTS ARE GIVEN AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT AND PARTAKE IN AN INTAKE PROCESS TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE CAN WORK TO MOVE HIM OR HER BEYOND EMERGENCY SERVICES. OUR POPULATION IS EXTREMELY DIVERSE IN THEIR PERSONAL HISTORY, AGE, LEVEL OF DISABILITY WHETHER PHYSICAL OR MENTAL, HISTORY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY. THUS, ALL OF THESE FACTORS NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN TRYING TO DEVELOP AN INDIVIDUAL ACTION PLAN AND TIMELINE FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE GOAL OF REACHING A LEVEL OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE CLIENT IS THEN HELD TO THEIR ESTABLISHED TIMELINE AND GOALS WHILE BEING CONSTANTLY SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. SOME INDIVIDUALS COME TO US ALREADY HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO MOVE ON, EMPLOYED, AND HUNGRY TO USE EVERY RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND. SUCH PERSONS ARE USUALLY SUCCESSFUL IN TRANSITIONING TO STABLE HOUSING IN 6-8 WEEKS. OTHERS, WHO MAY BE DEALING WITH MORE CHRONIC ISSUES, MAY TAKE UP TO A YEAR OR LONGER.THROUGH ITS VARIOUS OFFERINGS TO THOSE IN NEED, LIFEBRIDGE IS ABLE PROVIDE SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR.