People Serving People Inc

WE EXIST TO SEE FAMILIES THRIVE.

EMERGENCY SHELTER:IN 2021, PEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE (PSP) WELCOMED AN AVERAGE OF 126 GUESTS PER NIGHT. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, 260 UNDUPLICATED FAMILIES RECEIVED MEALS AND SHELTER AT PSP, INCLUDING 517 UNDUPLICATED CHILDREN AND 319 UNDUPLICATED ADULTS. OF THE GUESTS, 62% UNDER THE AGE OF 18, AND 31% UNDER THE AGE OF 6. ADDITIONALLY, 93% OF GUESTS IDENTIFIED AS BLACK, INDIGENOUS, OR PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE AVERAGE AGE OF CHILDREN STAYING AT PSP WAS 6 YEARS OLD. IN TOTAL, 46,124 DUPLICATED GUESTS, INCLUDING 29,612 DUPLICATED CHILDREN, WERE HOUSED AND FED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WITH 100,773 MEALS DISTRIBUTED. SHELTER GUESTS FACE COMPLEX BARRIERS TO STABILITY AND EVERY FAMILIY'S JOURNEY IS DIFFERENT AND THEY MUST BE TREATED AS THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY ARE. PSP OFFERS GUESTS A RANGE OF WRAP-AROUND SERVICES TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR JOURNEY TO STABLILITY. GUESTS CAN CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCESS THESE SERVICES THAT INCLUDE: BASIC NEEDS, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, TECHNOLOGY ACCESS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, SYSTEMS ADVOCACY, AND CONNECTIONS TO OTHER SUPPORTIVE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. PSP AS AN ORGANIZATION AND OUR GUESTS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY BOTH THE LIFTING OF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND INFLATION. SINCE THE START OF THE YEAR, PSP'S SHELTER CAPACITY HAS RISEN FROM A 74% OCCUPANCY RATE TO 94%.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:IN 2021, PSP'S EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (ECDP) WELCOMED 80 CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX MONTHS AND SIX YEARS IN SPITE OF MULTIPLE SHUT DOWNS DUE TO COVID. ECDP IS A LICENSED, 4-STAR PARENT AWARE RATED AND NECPA NATIONALLY ACCREDITED PROGRAM THAT SERVES CHILDREN IN THREE CLASSROOMS INFANT, TODDLER, AND PRE-SCHOOL. THE STUDENTS, WHO ARE PSP'S YOUNGEST GUESTS, RECEIVE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM AND RELATED ASSESSMENTS THAT STRIVE TO MINIMIZE ANY ADVERSE IMPACTS OF THEIR EXPERIENCES AND GET THEM READY TO THRIVE IN KINDERGARTEN. THIS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING A HIGH QUALITY EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN IS EVIDENT IN PROGRESS ON GOLD ASSESSMENTS THAT SHOWED GROWTH IN ALL CATEGORIES OF THE MEASUREMENT WITH 61% SHOWING GROWTH IN ALL FIVE CATEGORIES (SOCIAL EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, LANGUAGE, COGNITIVE, AND LITERACY). FOR K-12, PSP OFFERS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, ARTS, SCIENCE, AND TUTORING PROGRAMS. AS GUEST COUNTS CONTINUE TO RISE WITH THE LIFTING OF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM THE EDUCATION PROGRAM WILL WELCOME EVEN MORE CHILDREN IN ITS CLASSROOMS. IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, PSP OFFERS ITS OFF-SITE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE PRESCHOOL AND LEARNING CENTER. THIS COMMUNITY-BASED CENTER ALLOWS PSP TO CONTINUE TO SERVE YOUNG GUESTS AFTER THEY LEAVE THE SHELTER AND SERVE OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILIES LOOKING FOR HIGH QUALITY CARE, ENRICHING CURRICULUM, AND PARENT ENGAGEMENT. THIS LICENSED CENTER ALSO HAS A 4-STAR PARENT AWARE RATING AND IS DESIGNATED A STRONG BEGINNINGS SITE BY HENNEPIN COUNTY. IN 2021, THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ALONG WITH MANY OTHER EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS SAW ITS ENROLLMENT DECLINE DUE TO COVID. IN 2021 THE COE SERVED A TOTAL OF 51 INFANTS (4), TODDLERS (12), PRESCHOOL (31), AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (4). OF THESE YOUTH, 97% FELL BELOW 100% OF FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND 93% IDENTIFIED AS CHILDREN OF COLOR. CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO EITHER STAY ALL DAY AT THE CENTER OR ATTEND BEFORE AND AFTERSCHOOL CARE. COVID CAUSED THE CENTER TO RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF ENROLLED CHILDREN AT A TIME TO ENSURE SAFE DISTANCING AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS ALSO CHOSE TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN HOME MORE. ENROLLMENT IS CURRENTLY INCREASING AND WE ARE AT CAPACITY IN OUR INFANT AND TODDLER ROOMS.

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAMS:WHILE STAYING AT PSP, FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S STRENGTHS-BASED, CLIENT-CENTERED PROGRAMMING THAT SEEKS TO EMPOWER FAMILIES TO REACH STABILITY BY ADDRESSING THEIR SELF-IDENTIFIED BARRIERS AND AREAS OF POTENTIAL GROWTH. EVERY FAMILY IS ASSIGNED AN ADVOCATE WHO WILL BE THEIR PRIMARY TOUCH POINT THROUGHOUT THEIR STAY, ALTHOUGH THEY CAN SPEAK TO ANY ADVOCATE AT ANY TIME. THESE ADVOCATES OFFER INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS AND CONVERSATIONS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EACH FAMILY IS SEEKING AND WHAT THEY NEED TO GATHER TO MOVE IN TO INDEPENDENT HOUSING. IN 2021, 373 GUESTS (UNDUPLICATED) MET WITH ADVOCATES FOR A TOTAL OF 6,855 MEETINGS. IN ADDITION TO THESE INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS, PSP ALSO OFFERS MORE STRUCTURED PROGRAMMING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PERSISTENCE OF COVID MEANT THAT MANY PROGRAMS HAD TO BE ADJUSTED OR CANCELLED AS THEY RELIED ON GROUP CONVERSATIONS AND SUPPORT. WHILE VIRTUAL OPTIONS WERE TRIED, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT TECHNOLOGY BARRIERS AND VARIED COMFORT LEVELS. HOWEVER, 40 GUESTS WERE STILL ABLE TO ATTEND PERSONALIZED FINANCIAL FITNESS CLASSES AND OF THOSE GUESTS 16 OPENED SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, 42 GUESTS ACCESSED MENTAL/CHEMICAL HEALTH FOCUSED SESSIONS, AND 20 GUESTS ACCEPTED SHORT-TERM THERAPY SESSIONS. TO FIND JOB OPENINGS AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, PSP SUPPORTED 110 GUESTS TO SEE WITH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES SESSIONS AND 129 GUESTS MADE 678 VISITS TO PSP'S TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE CENTER TO SEARCH FOR JOBS, PREPARE RESUMES, AND SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR CAREER. WHILE 5.3% OF GUESTS WERE EMPLOYED WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT PSP, 10% WERE EMPLOYED WHEN THEY LEFT. ALTHOUGH 2021'S SERVICES LOOKED DIFFERENT THIS YEAR, GUESTS COULD STILL ACCESS THE TRAUMA-INFORMED CLIENT-CENTRIC PROGRAMS THAT PSP IS KNOWN FOR.

PREVENTION PRGRAM: PSP LAUNCHED ITS NEW PREVENTION PROGRAM IN 2021. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES RESIDING IN HENNEPIN COUNTY TO RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE PROVIDING SUPPORT, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND RESOURCES IN HOPES OF CREATING STABILITY IN THEIR HOUSING TO PREVENT THEM FROM EXPERIENCING OR RE-EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. PSP'S PREVENTION COORDINATOR OERS PERSONALIZED ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES THAT ALLOWS THEM TO IDENTIFY THEIR OWN BARRIERS. THEN FOLLOW UP IS PROVIDED THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM NDING MORE AORDABLE CHILDCARE TO FREE UP MONTHLY DOLLARS TO MEDIATING WITH LANDLORDS TO PAYING FOR CAR REPAIRS SO PARENTS DO NOT LOSE THEIR JOBS. THE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) PRE-SCREENING & INTAKE: FAMILIES DO A PRE-SCREENING TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY. TO BE ELIGIBLE, THE PARTICIPANT MUST BE A FAMILY (SINGLE ADULT WITH CHILD(REN) UNDER 18, A COUPLE WITH CHILD(REN) UNDER 18, OR A PREGNANT WOMAN). THE FAMILY MUST RESIDE IN HENNEPIN COUNTY AND THEY MUST MEET INCOME GUIDELINES; (2) CASE MANAGEMENT & FOLLOW UP MEETINGS: FAMILIES WITH WORK WITH THE PREVENTION COORDINATOR TO SET UP GOALS RELATED TO FAMILY STABILITY. CASE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION FREQUENCY IS DECIDED BETWEEN THE COORDINATOR AND FAMILY BASED ON AVAILABILITY OF THE FAMILY. THE PREVENTION COORDINATOR WILL ASSIST IN PROVIDING RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN BE ACCESSED TO HELP REACH ESTABLISHED GOALS. UPON PROGRAM COMPLETION, CHECK-IN'S ABOUT HOUSING STABILITY WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE 3 MONTH, 7 MONTH, AND ONE YEAR MARK. IN 2021 PSP'S PREVENTION COORDINATOR PROVIDED PREVENTION SERVICES TO 168 FAMILIES IN 1,046 MEETINGS. FAMILIES IN THE PROGRAM RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $75,900 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PAY FOR WHAT THEY NEEDED TO MOVE TOWARDS STABILITY FROM CAR REPAIRS TO PAYING BACK RENT. THE TOP FIVE THINGS THAT DIRECT ASSISTANCE SUPPORTED WAS RENTAL ASSISTANCE, ENERGY ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES (PAYING FOR JOB TRAINNINGS AND MATERIALS NEEDED LIKE UNIFORMS), TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE (CAR REPAIRS, BUS CARDS, UBERS), AND CHILDCARE SUPPORT.