The Lehigh Conference Of Churches

DRIVEN BY FAITH TO BRING HEALING, HOUSING AND HOPE TO THE LEHIGH VALLEY'S MOST VULNERABLE, THE MISSION OF THE LEHIGH COUNTY CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES IS TO UNITE COMMUNITIES OF FAITH AS ECUMENICAL PARTNERS. PUTTING OUR FAITH INTO ACTION, WE MINISTER TO AND ADVOCATE FOR THOSE IN NEED AND ENCOURAGE ALL TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

PATHWAYS HOUSING SERVICES' GOAL IS TO SERVE AS A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR MEN, WOMEN, AND FAMILIES WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS WITH AN ARRAY OF RELATED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED TO FIND, AND MAINTAIN, AFFORDABLE AND SAFE HOUSING. THESE PROGRAMS ARE SPREAD ACROSS A CONTINUUM OF NEED AND INCLUDE: COORDINATED INTAKE/ASSESSMENT, HOMELESS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, HUD-BASED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, COUNTY CLEARINGHOUSE PROGRAMS, RAPID REHOUSING, AND HOMELESS PREVENTION/REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE SERVICES. GENERALLY SPEAKING, PATHWAYS' AVAILABLE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDE ASSISTANCE WITH TOILETRIES, DIAPERS, BUS PASSES, MONEY MANAGEMENT, AND FILING OUT GOVERNMENT FORMS. PATHWAYS ALSO ADVOCATES FOR CLIENTS' NEEDS AND PROVIDES REFERRALS WHEN NEEDED.

DAYBREAK, ECUMENISM, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND LAZARUS HOUSEDAYBREAKDAYBREAK'S PURPOSE IS TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS BY OFFERING SELF-SUFFICIENCY, SOCIALIZATION, RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO MEN AND WOMEN WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED OR WHO ARE CURRENTLY BEING TREATED FOR THEIR ILLNESS, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, OR HIV/AIDS AND IMPOVERISHED ELDERLY. DAYBREAK SUPPORTS THE WIDER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES CONTINUUM BY REQUIRING OF ITS MEMBERS ANNUAL PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT VERIFICATION. RESOURCES LEADING TO RECOVERY AND PROVIDED WITHIN DAYBREAK OR OTHER TLCC PROGRAMMING ARE THE REQUIREMENT THAT CUSTOMERS BE IN TREATMENT, THE AVAILABILITY OF COUNSELING AND PEER SUPPORT, MEANINGFUL PRE-EMPLOYMENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, LEISURE AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES, CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE ISSUES.DAYBREAK PROVIDES THREE NUTRITIOUS MEALS A DAY, REFERRALS, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, LIFE SKILLS AND SOCIALIZATION. THE EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY. ALL DAYBREAK MEMBERS LIVE BELOW 150% OF MINIMUM FAMILY INCOME LEVELS AND ARE EITHER HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. DAYBREAK MEMBERS ARE CONNECTED TO TLCC PROGRAMMING THAT PROVIDES HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT, REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE SERVICES, AND COMPREHENSIVE REFERRALS TO RESOURCES IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THEIR SELF-SUFFICIENCY NEEDS. ECUMENICAL SOUP KITCHEN: THE LEHIGH CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES; ECUMENICAL SOUP KITCHEN IN CENTER CITY ALLENTOWN SERVES MORE THAN 35,000 MEALS A YEAR AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE FOR THOSE IN NEED. SINCE 1982, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO ENSURE THAT THE WORKING POOR, HOMELESS, ELDERLY, CHILDREN, THOSE BETWEEN JOBS, INDIVIDUALS ON FIXED INCOMES AND THOSE WHO HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN RECEIVE AT LEASE ONE HOT, NUTRITIOUS MEAL EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.DAYBREAK HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH ITS FUNDERS TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT MEANINGFUL, OUTCOME-BASED GOALS FOR ITS MEMBERS. TO INCREASE THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF SPECIAL-NEEDS DAYBREAK MEMBERS BY DEVELOPING A PERSON-CENTERED GOAL PLAN FOR EACH THAT IDENTIFIES BARRIERS RELATED TO HOUSING, ECONOMICS, NUTRITION, LIFE-SKILLS, AND/OR HEALTH STATUS. PLANS ARE REVIEWED SEMI-ANNUALLY, GOALS REACHED RECORDED, AND NEW GOALS CREATED.TO INCREASE JOB READINESS AND SOCIAL SKILLS OF DAYBREAK MEMBERS WHOSE DISABILITIES CAUSE THEM DIFFICULTIES WITH ACCEPTING STRUCTURE, ROUTINE AND RESPONSIBILITY AS MEASURED BY THEIR PARTICIPATION IN AT LEAST 75 HOURS APIECE OF PRE-VOCATIONAL SERVICE HOURS (VOLUNTEER WORK OPPORTUNITIES).LAZARUS HOUSINGTHE LAZARUS HOUSING PROGRAM OFFERS SHARED HOUSING FOR ADULTS RE-ENTERING THE COMMUNITY FOLLOWING INCARCERATION. THE LAZARUS HOUSE HAS PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DEVELOPING SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS, AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS RETURNING TO PRISON.THIS SHARED-LIVING PROGRAM ADDRESSES THREE BARRIERS ADULTS RECENTLY RELEASED FROM PRISON OFTEN FACE: (1) INSUFFICIENT INCOME TO AFFORD AN APARTMENT ON THEIR OWN; (2) THE ABSENCE OR ESTRANGEMENT OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE PROVIDE A PLACE TO LIVE; AND (3) A LACK OF THE SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY AND REDUCE FUTURE ARRESTS.

THE HOMELESS OUTREACH AND POSITIVE-SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT (HOPE) PROGRAM PROVIDES A PATHWAY TO STABILITY FOR HOMELESS ADULTS DEALING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. ACCESSIBLE THROUGH INSURANCE, THIS 18-MONTH PROGRAM USES INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO GET INDIVIDUALS BACK ON THEIR FEET AND REDUCE HOSPITALIZATIONS. THE PROGRAM CONNECTS PARTICIPANTS WITH TREATMENT SERVICES AND ASSISTS IN AREAS INCLUDING HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, BENEFITS, TRANSPORTATION, MONEY AND PRESCRIPTION MANAGEMENT, AND LEGAL MATTERS. CASE MANAGERS ARE AVAILABLE 24-7 TO WALK ALONGSIDE PARTICIPANTS, TEACHING THEM LIFE AND COPING SKILLS, HELPING SET GOALS, AND GIVING THEM THE SUPPORT NECESSARY TO GET THEIR LIVES BACK ON TRACK.

THE CONFERENCE KITCHEN ENSURES THAT THE WORKING POOR, HOMELESS, ELDERLY, CHILDREN, PEOPLE BETWEEN JOBS, INDIVIDUALS ON FIXED INCOMES, AND THOSE WHO HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN CAN RECEIVE A FREE NUTRITIOUS MEAL, THREE TIMES A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK.