“All our programs are to transition to a better quality of life,” she said.
Coronavirus: Hundreds have applied to Clark County bank for new small business loan
Interfaith was founded in 1990 by Rev. Patricia Eller, a local Methodist minister, who saw a need in Springfield and Clark County.
Now with the coronavirus pandemic, IHN is encounter new challenges and responding accordingly to CDC and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development directives for the 58 individuals the shelter is now serving.
“We’ve definitely been impacted. Due to the governor’s directives, we’ve temporarily closed both our facilities to reduce exposure but still provide services,” Bradley said. “We will continue to provide temporary shelter issuing vouchers to those faced with homelessness. Our first area of priority is making sure everyone in need of shelter have access if capacity permits.”
IHN is partnering with services including Second Harvest Food Bank, Saint Vincent De Paul, Nehemiah Foundation and United Way to help deliver meals daily.
The pandemic has had other effects.
IHN was set to have a formal anniversary celebration in March, but it was rescheduled to 5:30-9 p.m. May 26 at the Hollenbeck Bayley Conference Center. It could be postponed again if the coronavirus continues to spread.
Other fundraisers scheduled this year to help the agency include the popular Bed Race, a downtown event each June that attracts families and educates the community about homelessness, two dinners, a golf marathon and miniature golf event along with a Christmas event called Purses for a Purpose.
“We still hope to celebrate the support our services have as a lifeline to our community,” Bradley said.
IHN is seeking anyone willing to make or donate masks to distribute to those in need in the area and the state, and still welcomes financial and clothing donations. For more information, go to theihn.com/.
The agency had 700 individuals come through IHN facilities in 2019 with 80 percent graduating to permanent housing, said Bradley.
“We have a great staff that works hard meeting our clients where they are to get them over individual barriers,” Bradley said of the 25-person staff.
Coronavirus: Clark County Sheriff’s Office to assist in enforcing stay-at-home order
One of the things Bradley stresses is that all cases have different circumstances.
“Homelessness can impact anyone. It can be a life crisis, loss of employment, divorce, death of a spouse We see a lot,” she said.
Operating on a $1.7 million budget in 2019, Bradley said half of this supports operating and supporting activities for permanent and permanent supportive housing including deposit assistance, utility assistance and supportive services for individuals as part of the Homeless Crisis Response and transitioning aged youth programming funding for the Region 15 homeless planning region.
The remaining budget supports two emergency homeless shelter operations, two overflow shelters in the winter, supportive services and programs including shelter operations, meals, laundry services, hygiene, clothing, transportation and supportive services.
“Our shelter operations depend strongly on local, private and fundraising and donations to sustain operations,” said Bradley.
In 2019, IHN tracked individuals receiving services and found more than 60 percent of head of households within its programming were employed. Many of these individuals and families were faced with homelessness due to people who are doubled-up are at-risk for homelessness, Bradley said, leading to severe housing cost burdens compared to their wage earnings.
These programs are funded by the Ohio Department Service Agency and HUD.
For its first 16 years, IHN operated on a model that worked with various local churches that helped house guests overnight on a rotation and a day center on Race Street and served single women and families initially.
In 2006, a men’s shelter was opened before opening its current 24-hour facility at 501 W. High St.
At the shelters, guests have their own bedroom, bed, access to hygiene products, clothing, laundry facilities and transportation. In-house alcohol and drug counseling and workshops are also offered.
When possible, preventive services can help such as a rental or utility assistance. Guests can stay at an IHN facility for a maximum of 90 days. Bradley said the average stay is 28-30 days.
The goal is get clients out of the shelters and into housing as quickly as possible, according to Bradley.
About the Author