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 THERAPEUTIC GROUP SESSIONS; 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.FAMILIES IN THE TWO COMMUNAL SHELTERS REMAIN IN EXTENDED STAY HOTELS SO THAT EACH FAMILY HAD THEIR OWN KITCHENETTE AND BATHROOM FACILITIES. INITIALLY, CASE MANAGEMENT WAS PROVIDED BY PHONE OR VIRTUAL MEETINGS. ALL CHILDREN WERE PROVIDED WITH THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR OWN SCHOOL'S CLASSES. AN EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST WAS HIRED TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AS THEY STRUGGLED WITH THE NEW PROCEDURES AS WELL AS THE COURSEWORK. APARTMENT INSPECTIONS WERE OFTEN CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY. OUR COMMUNAL SHELTERS REMAIN CLOSED. IN 2021, 248 FAMILIES RECEIVED COMPREHENSIVE SHELTER SERVICES: 962 INDIVIDUALS, 640 OF WHOM WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 18. OUTCOMES REMAINED VERY GOOD DESPITE THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY COVID 96% OF THE FAMILIES WHO EXITED FROM SHELTER DURING THE YEAR MOVED INTO A POSITIVE HOUSING SITUATION; 38% OF THOSE WHO EXITED DID SO WITH INCREASED INCOME.

FAMILIES IN A HOMELESS SHELTER WHO MEET THE COMMUNITY CRITERIA MAY BE ASSIGNED TO ONE OF FOUR BETHANY HOUSE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS BY THE LOCAL HUD UNIFIED FUNDING AGENCY. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE 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 2021, 222 FAMILIES WERE SERVED THROUGH THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS. THESE FAMILIES INCLUDED 843 INDIVIDUALS, 558 OF WHOM WERE 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 2021, 25 FAMILIES COMPRISED OF 92 INDIVIDUALS (58 OF WHOM WERE CHILDREN) WERE SERVED THROUGH THE BETHANY HOUSE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.

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 2021, BHS SERVED 68 FAMILIES, 212 INDIVIDUALS, 128 OF THEM CHILDREN. 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 FOUR AGENCIES WITHIN THE FAMILY HOUSING PARTNERSHIP (FHP) IS UNIQUE IN CINCINNATI'S SOCIAL SERVICES ARENA, AND TODAY THE PARTNERSHIP IS STRONGER THAN EVER. IN 2021, THE FHP AGENCIES, BETHANY HOUSE SERVICES, INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK OF GREATER CINCINNATI, SALVATION ARMY 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 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. RENOVATIONS OF BETHANY HOMES CONTINUED IN 2021; SEVERAL APARTMENTS GOT NEW KITCHEN CABINETS AND COUNTERTOPS, AND FLOORING IN THE KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS. 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 2021, BHS SERVED 88 FAMILIES, 331 INDIVIDUALS, 230 OF THEM CHILDREN.