A Seat At The Table

THE MISSION OF A SEAT AT THE TABLE IS TO HELP AT RISK YOUTH AGES 18 TO 25 YEARS OLD BETTER TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD BY PROVIDING MENTORING AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN A CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT.

A SEAT AT THE TABLE - SHAW FACILITY PROVIDED SAFE, FAMILY-CENTERED HOUSING AND LIVING ARRANGEMENTS FOR 4 YOUNG MEN (IN THE AGE RANGE OF 18 TO 25) WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY AT-RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS. THE HOME WAS SUPERVISED BY HOST PARENTS BOB & CHRISSY STERGOS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S SHAW NEIGHBORHOOD HOME. FURNITURE, HOME IMPROVEMENTS, REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE, SUPPLIES, INSURANCE & UTILITY COSTS TOTALED MORE THAN $38,000 PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION/VEHICLES, DRIVING LESSONS, FUEL & CAR INSURANCE TO RESIDENTS AT A COST OF MORE THAN $25,000. PROVIDED GROCERIES & COOKING LESSONS FOR RESIDENTS AT A COST OF MORE THAN $18000. TOTAL 2022 HOUSING/LIVING ARRANGEMENT-RELATED EXPENDITURES FOR THE SHAW FACILITY WERE MORE THAN $81000

A SEAT AT THE TABLE - FERGUSON FACILITY PROVIDED SAFE, FAMILY-CENTERED HOUSING AND LIVING ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2 (OF SOON TO BE 4 IN 2023) YOUNG WOMEN WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. THE HOME WAS SUPERVISED BY HOST PARENTS CLAUDE & DEBBIE BENNETT IN OUR FERGUSON HOME. FURNITURE, HOME IMPROVEMENTS, REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE, SUPPLIES, INSURANCE & UTILITY COSTS TOTALED MORE THAN $17000. PROVIDED TREANSPORTATION/VEHICLES, DRIVING LESSONS, FUEL & CAR INSURANCE FOR RESIDENTS AT A COST OF MORE THAN $12000. PROVIDED GROCERIES AND COOKING LESSONS FOR RESIDENTS AT A COST OF MORE THAN $8000. TOTAL 2022 HOUSING/LIVING ARRANGEMENT RELATED EXPENDITURES FOR THE FERGUSON FACILITY WERE MORE THAN $27000

GRADUATED OUT OUR FIRST RESIDENT TO HIS OWN APARTMENT IN DECEMBER OF 2022, A SEAT AT THE TABLE GRADUATED OUT TO HIS OWN APARTMENT TO LIVE ON HIS OWN, OUR VERY FIRST RESIDENT/PROGRAM PARTICIPANT. THIS RESIDENT ENTERED OUR SHAW HOME IN SEPT OF 2020 AND CAME TO US AT A TIME NOT KNOWING HOW TO DRIVE (AT THE AGE OF 23), NO JOB, NO CREDIT SCORE, NO MEDICAL BENEFITS, AND VERY LIMITED LIFE SKILLS. IN JUST 2 1/2 YEARS, WE WERE ABLE TO TEACH HIM HOW TO DRIVE, HELP HIM GET A PART-TIME JOB... THEN A FULL-TIME/YEAR ROUND JOB WITH BENEFITS AS A TEACHER AIDE IN THE FERGUSON-FLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE SECURED CAR INSURANCE, HELPED HIM BUY HIS FIRST CAR, HELPED HIM GET A SECURED CREDIT CARD, AND COACHED HIM FINANCIALLY TO THE POINT THAT HE GRADUATED FROM OUR PROGRAM WITH A VERY GOOD CERDIT SCORE OF 756 (OUT OF 850 MAXIMUM). HE NOW KNOWS HOW TO GROCERY SHOP AND COOK SUFFICIENTLY TO PROVIDE FOR HIMSELF. OUR PROGAM HAS ALSO ASSISTED HIM TO DEVELOP AND MANAGE A MONTHLY BUDGET. ALL OF THIS HAS ENABLED HIM TO QUALFIY FOR HIS OWN APARTMENT ONE BLOCK FROM A SEAT AT THE TABLE SHAW NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE. THIS GRADUATE THEN COMES BACK TO JOIN US AT AOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED SUNDAY AND WENDESDAY EVENING FAMILY MEALS WHICH HE NOW MENTORS OUR CURRENT RESIDENTS WHO ARE FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.