Bethany House Services Inc

BETHANY HOUSE SERVICES EMPOWERS HOMELESS AND AT-RISK FAMILIES WITH THE SOLUTIONS TO ACHIEVE HOUSING STABILITY AND LONG-TERM SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

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 GROUP SESSIONS; ASSISTING WITH 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.IN 2023, 261 FAMILIES RECEIVED COMPREHENSIVE SHELTER SERVICES: 1003 INDIVIDUALS, 662 OF WHOM WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 18. OUTCOMES REMAINED VERY GOOD DESPITE THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED WITH INCREASED RENTAL RATES AND SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING; 88% OF THE FAMILIES WHO EXITED FROM SHELTER DURING THE YEAR MOVED INTO A POSITIVE HOUSING SITUATION; 51% OF FAMILIES WHO EXITED DID SO WITH INCREASED OR MAINTAINED INCOME.

BETHANY HOMES IS A 24-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING FOR ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, MOST OF WHOM ARE SUPPORTED BY A SINGLE FEMALE WORKING PROVIDER. EVERY FAMILY WHO COMES INTO THE SHELTER NEEDS PERMANENT, SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SINCE 2000, BETHANY HOUSE SERVICES HAS BEEN THE LEAD AGENCY FOR FUNDING OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS FAMILIES IN CINCINNATI. THE LEVEL OF COLLABORATION AMONG THE THREE AGENCIES WITHIN THE FAMILY HOUSING PARTNERSHIP (FHP) IS UNIQUE IN CINCINNATI'S SOCIAL SERVICES ARENA, AND TODAY THE PARTNERSHIP IS STRONGER THAN EVER. IN 2023, THE FHP AGENCIES, BETHANY HOUSE SERVICES, INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK OF GREATER CINCINNATI, AND YWCA GREATER CINCINNATI, MADE GREAT STRIDES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOLUTIONS FOR FAMILY HOMELESSNESS (S4FH), THE COMMUNITY-WIDE PLAN TO MAKE FAMILY HOMELESSNESS RARE, BRIEF AND A ONE-TIME EVENT. IN ADDITION, ALL EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE IN AN EVIDENCE-BASED TRAUMA INFORMED CARE TRAINING.

BETHANY HOUSE OFFERS FIVE HOUSING STABILIZATION PROGRAMS. HOUSING STABILIZATION INCLUDES A COMBINATION OF RAPID REHOUSING UPON EXITING SHELTER, DIVERSION TO AVOID THE TRAUMA OF HOMELESSNESS, PREVENTION TO HELP MAINTAIN HOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES, AND AFTERCARE TO AVOID A RELAPSE INTO HOMELESSNESS. THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE LOCAL HUD UNIFIED FUNDING AGENCY. THIS PROGRAMS PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN IDENTIFYING APPROPRIATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO MINIMIZE THE TRAUMA OF THE HOMELESSNESS EXPERIENCE. HOUSING SOCIAL WORKERS GUIDE THE PARENT THROUGH A PROCESS OF RECOGNIZING AND OVERCOMING THEIR BARRIERS TO OBTAINING HOUSING, CONNECT THEM TO MAINSTREAM BENEFITS, IDENTIFY WAYS TO INCREASE INCOME, PROVIDE REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND STABILIZE THE FAMILY IN HOUSING. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES SHORT-TO-MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO UTILITY ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS AND RENTAL DEPOSITS. CHILDREN IN HIGH-RISK FAMILIES ARE FOLLOWED BY HOUSING CASE MANAGERS TO ENSURE THEY ARE ENROLLED AND ATTENDING SCHOOL. IN 2023, 223 FAMILIES WERE SERVED THROUGH THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS. THESE FAMILIES INCLUDED 833 INDIVIDUALS, 557 OF WHOM WERE CHILDREN.SHELTER DIVERSION IDENTIFIES IMMEDIATE PERMANENT HOUSING AND PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. SHELTER DIVERSION IS MORE COST-EFFECTIVE THAN ENTERING AN EMERGENCY SHELTER, PLUS THE FAMILY AVOIDS THE TRAUMA OF HOMELESSNESS. IN 2023, BHS SERVED 93 FAMILIES, 269 INDIVIDUALS, AND 166 OF THEM CHILDREN. KEYS IS A DIFFERENT SHELTER DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGE 18-24. BHS WORKS WITH PARENTING YOUTH AS OUR SPECIALTY IN THE NATIONAL YOUTH HOMELESSNESS PROJECT, WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS IN THE AGE RANGE WHO ARE OFTEN DOUBLED UP AND AT RISK OF BECOMING FULLY HOMELESSNESS IF NOT FOR OUR INTERVENTION TOWARD HOUSING STABILIZATION AND INCREASED INCOME. IN 2023, BHS SERVED 20 FAMILIES, 49 INDIVIDUALS, AND 28 OF THEM CHILDREN.PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO HOMELESS FAMILIES WHEN AT LEAST ONE MEMBER HAS A PERMANENT DISABILITY OR SERIOUS, PERSISTENT CONDITION. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS A COMBINATION OF HOUSING AND SERVICES INTENDED AS A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO HELP ALL PEOPLE LIVE MORE STABLE, PRODUCTIVE LIVES. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE MORE INTENSIVE IN THIS PROGRAM TO MEET THE GREATER NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES AND ALTHOUGH RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM ASSISTANCE IS TIME-LIMITED, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES ARE NOT. IN 2023, 24 FAMILIES COMPRISED OF 93 INDIVIDUALS, 59 OF WHOM WERE CHILDREN SERVED THROUGH THE BETHANY HOUSE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.AFTERCARE PROVIDES A SAFETY NET FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE LEFT SHELTER BUT EXPERIENCE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THAT THREATENS THEIR HOUSING STABILITY. NO MATTER HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE FAMILY EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, AFTERCARE PROVIDES LANDLORD MEDIATION, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, CONNECTIONS TO RELEVANT COMMUNITY AGENCIES - WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR THE FAMILY TO KEEP THEIR HOME AND PREVENT ANOTHER EPISODE OF HOMELESSNESS. IN 2023, BHS SERVED 97 FAMILIES, 380 INDIVIDUALS, 262 OF THEM CHILDREN.IN 2023 BHS HOUSING STABALIZATION PROGRAMS COMBINED SERVED, 439 FAMILIES. THESE FAMILIES INCLUDED 1,553 INDIVIDUALS, 1,023 OF WHOM WERE CHILDREN.

BETHANY HOUSE FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS ADDRESS THE MULTI-GENERATIONAL ASPECT OF FAMILY HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING PARENTS WITH THE LIFE SKILLS FOR POSITIVE PARENTING AND BY TEACHING CHILDREN TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES.THE POSITIVE PARENTING, FAMILY NIGHTS, NUTRITION, HEALTH, AND SAFETY PROGRAMS ARE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES FACILITATED BY THE FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT OR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS IN ADDITION TO THE CORE CONTENT. BETHANY HOUSE STAFF EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND REGULAR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, WHICH IS VITAL IF THE MULTI-GENERATIONAL CYCLE OF POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS IS TO BE BROKEN. IN 2023, 140 THERAPEUTIC GROUPS HELD IN KIDZ ZONE; 145 CHILDREN AGES 0-4 WERE SCREENED FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS; 55 WERE IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING FOLLOW-UP INTERVENTION; 115 SCHOOL CHILDREN IDENTIFIED WITH COGNITIVE/LEARNING DISABILITY; 72 SCHOOL CHILDREN IDENTIFIED WITH MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS; 391 REFERRALS TO ON-SITE HEALTH PARTNERS, CINCINNATI HEALTH NETWORK AND KALEIDOSCOPE; AND 733 REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS JFS FOR CHILDCARE, 4 C FOR CHILDREN, CRADLE CINCINNATI, SWEET CHEEKS DIAPER BANK, TALBERT HOUSE, AND OTHER OFF-SITE PARTNERS. IN COMBINATION WITH ONE-ON-ONE CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, LIFE SKILLS GROUP PROGRAMS PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR PREVENTION OF FUTURE EPISODES OF HOMELESSNESS. THESE EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS ARE TAUGHT BY EXPERTS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND BHS STAFF. SPEAKERS ADDRESS TOPICS SUCH AS FINANCIAL LITERACY, BUDGETING, PARENTING, DEVELOPING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, HEALTHY CHOICES, NUTRITION, YOGA AND TENANTS' RIGHTS. JOB-RELATED SKILLS SUCH AS RESUME WRITING AND INTERVIEWING ARE ALSO TAUGHT. IN 2023, 200 LIFE SKILLS GROUPS WERE HELD, WITH 1,623 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS.THROUGH THE NUTRITION PROGRAM, FAMILIES ARE PROVIDED THREE MEALS AND TWO SNACKS PER DAY.