Mission
The Friendship Shelter will provide the transitional step to a healthy independence for those in need.
Assumptions
The solution to homelessness is better decision making.
The Friendship Shelter opened its doors in 1991 to accommodate the growing number of area homeless men, women, and children (30% of residents are under 16). We have found that in every case poor decision making played a major role in the homeless situation.
It has been said, "if you give a person a fish, he eats for a day, but teach him to fish, and he eats for a lifetime." This is the point of view taken by the shelter's staff and board of directors.
An array of programs have been developed to educate our residents, which has helped to reduce recidivism. The Friendship Shelter not only provides temporary shelter; but an education to keep the residents from needing to utilize such services again in the future.
Training and Services
Classes include budgeting, nutrition, job and interview training, as well as case management.
Nutrition Classes
MSU Extension comes to the shelter and provides nutrition information to shelter residents. There is also a hands-on cooking class that takes place every other Monday. This teaches residents to prepare nutritious meals using what is available through the shelter pantry. There is also education on the various ways to prepare and purchase food to receive the highest nutrient value from food.
Budgeting and Priorities Education
We discuss and teach the importance of not only having but living by a budget. We assist residents in setting priorities that will assist them in the budgeting process, such as paying the rent and utilities before buying cigarettes or renting a movie.
Savings Program
All residents are required to save 70% of all income. This educates them on how to budget for the items they need and save for a home of their own. On occasion there are bills that need to be paid and exceptions are made in these cases.
Parenting Skills
We assist and guide parents in making the difficult decisions they may need to make regarding their children. We don't make the decision for them. We do make every attempt to give them the needed support. We have also purchased the "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen" series.
Employment Skills
Once a month we discuss employment search and presentation in an effort to help residents obtain employment. We stress how important dress and appearance is to any employer. We have role-playing sessions which teach interviewing skills and prepare the resident for the actual interview. We emphasize how important follow-up is in letting the employer know how important the job is to you.
Assistance in Housing Searches
We provide guidance and direction. We keep applications on hand for subsidized housing as well as applications for the Section 8 Rental Assistance program. The problem we find most often is the resident's credit rating. This often prohibits them from obtaining affordable housing.
Transportation
We provide transportation for those seeking employment until they receive their first paycheck. We have a van that can transport six residents and a staff person. We also use the local bus system for the majority of the transportation. Transportation is a large expense for the shelter.
