Whether you have banded together with family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues, we have all contributed to great collaboration in our community over the last few months. It goes to show our resilience and compassion we feel for one another. Working together is something this valley is good at, as countless stories show.
One of the most effective coordinated efforts has been the Coronavirus Response Fund, co-led by United Way and the Community Foundation. Thanks to our community’s generosity, they have awarded $843,720 to local organizations helping our most vulnerable citizens.
United Way and the Community Foundation created the Impact Assessment Tool “so that nonprofit organizations in the Chattahoochee Valley can tell their stories. Hopefully these stories will offer supporters an objective way to assess the developing impact of COVID-19, the ways our nonprofit community is responding, and opportunity for investment in both the short & long term.” We encourage organizations to fill it out and for those looking for investment opportunities, to request the results.
We know that the needs of the valley are growing and will continue to evolve. But we can continue to collaborate to ensure a competent and compassionate response is available to everyone. 2-1-1, Home for Good, and partner agency data all reveal an increase in basic needs requests, such as shelter, food, and utility assistance. The connections and relationships remain our most reliable strategy for alleviating these struggles and preventing crises. Home for Good, along with our partner organizations, will continue to be leaders in an alliance to advocate for our people. We are #InThisTogether!
Home for Good has led a successful response to COVID-19 and
is a reliable, trusted source of relief for many. We are taking this
opportunity to share the COVID-19 response, the extensive need this virus has
revealed and caused, and the proactive plan to meet that growing need.
Over the last few months, we witnessed the disruption caused
by the Coronavirus. It has been not only a health crisis but also an economic
crisis. Thanks to the support of organizations like United Way and
the Community
Foundation, Home for Good was able to immediately respond to the
community’s needs and lead initiatives that are guiding our most vulnerable
citizens.
Because of the tireless, collaborative work of Home for Good
and our partner agencies, homelessness has decreased significantly over the
years. In 2016, the By Name List of those experiencing homelessness was a high
of 282. In 2019, the average was down to 110 people. And as of March 6, 2020,
there were 94 people experiencing homelessness on the By Name List. Five years
ago, we wanted to tackle Veteran homelessness. Today, there are 4 Veterans
experiencing homelessness on the By Name List; they have turned down services
offered.
If the number of individuals becoming homeless is declining, why is Home for Good invested in leading the way in the recovery effort? Because we know the factors that precede struggle and can result in homelessness. Before the outbreak, anywhere from 50% to 75% of Americans were living paycheck to paycheck with very little savings. Combine that with the job market we are currently facing, adversity is likely. Home for Good is committed to creating systems and programs now that prevent or at least minimize the results this virus may have on our community.
We can also see the increase in need through 2-1-1 reports.
2-1-1 calls and inquiries have increased significantly over the last two
months. As those individuals and families move through the coordinated entry
process, we take that time to assess their specific needs and tailor the
referrals they receive. The coordinated entry process also allows an
opportunity to anticipate future needs and a chance to insert prevention
systems.
We are assessing the coordinated entry and referral processes
as well as available programs to ensure we meet all our clients’ needs and that
no one falls through the cracks. Because many people accessing these resources
are doing so for the first time, the process can seem overwhelming. We are
creating systems that help them navigate their way with little impediment. Our
assessment has shown gaps in services that we are now taking the opportunity to
remedy. The evaluation is ongoing and is providing valuable insight for
improvement.
A positive outcome we have seen is connecting a population
of individuals experiencing homelessness with services they were not involved
with previously due to personal preferences. People who have been experiencing
homelessness for years that did not necessarily want to accept help are now
seeking shelter and, as a result, are utilizing wrap-around services that will
help them understand they deserve a better living circumstance.
The most crucial aspect of our efforts is to ensure we treat
our neighbors that are accessing resources as deserving citizens. At the core
of Home for Good is the mission to engage with each individual or family,
discover their exact needs, and take advantage of the collaborative system of
programs we have in place.
We see the factors leading to homelessness now and can anticipate
a growing need for services and programs. Our goal is to strengthen existing
programs and enact other mitigating, preventative services. Home for Good has
been working to prepare these systems of prevention for current and future
issues. Programs, such as eviction prevention, will play a pivotal part in the
community’s recovery. Home for Good is here to lead the collaboration critical
to ensuring housing for all. We are in this together.
Home for Good – Trusted, Effective Leader and Organizer
The Coronavirus has caused disruption and destruction to what was once our normal. It has been not only a health crisis but also an economic crisis. Thanks to the support of organizations like United Way and the Community Foundation, Home for Good was able to immediately respond to the community’s need and lead the initiatives that are guiding our most vulnerable citizens.
Due to our strong Continuum of Care (COC), support of community organizations, and sound leadership, Home for Good was able to set up an Emergency Shelter in partnership with SafeHouse Ministries.
This shelter provides accommodation to an average of 30 clients per night. It adheres to distancing and other Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines developed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Client information is also recorded in the Coordinated Entry System to ensure the process of securing permanent housing and wrap-around services may begin. Home for Good applied for and received $10,000 from the Coronavirus Response Fund to staff the shelter and assist with supplies.
Proactive measures are critical components to ensuring safe environments for clients and staff. Home for Good directed the effort to adopt CDC screening guidelines among all service providers with appropriate referrals for further screening, medical care, and isolation as needed. Home for Good assisted SafeHouse with protocols and coordination with the Department of Public Health for their isolation facilities.
The COVID-19 Screening Tool implementation by Home for Good was one of a few models used by software developer Eccovia Solutions for the tool installed in all updates to their Client Track software, making Home for Good a national leader in proactive measures.
Home for Good has led the effort to conduct outreach to those experiencing homelessness to inform, screen, provide essentials, and refer to programs as appropriate. Efforts have become more and more difficult as the state-funded programs assisting in the effort announced they would not conduct outreach in areas known to be frequented by the unsheltered homeless. Nevertheless, Home for Good continues to do its part in providing services to our vulnerable neighbors.
Home for Good is partnering with the Columbus 2020 Census Task Force. In this role, Home for Good is assisting in the development and processes to reach the Hard to Count (HTC) populations, including those experiencing homelessness.
Home for Good is the acting liaison between local government and the Governor’s office as well as between service providers, Department of Public Health, and Emergency Management Agency.
Home for Good is in regular communication with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) technical advisors regarding funding, data collection, data reporting, and information dissemination.
The past months have been difficult, testing our resolve, and revealing great need in our community. Now is the time to support Home for Good, a trusted, effective organization that is leading our area in response to the virus. Moving through this crisis, we expect the number of people in need to grow as a result of Coronavirus. Home for Good will be here to guide essential programs in the recovery. We are in this together.
We are thankful for our donors. You are providing funding for programs that are not only vital to the people served but essential to the recovery of our community. Thank you.
We are grateful to those that have donated to the Coronavirus Response Fund. Because of you, our neighbors can shelter in place with peace of mind that they can keep the lights on, have enough food, and feel safe. Thank you.
We are grateful for our volunteers. Without volunteers, very little of this work would have been possible. Your dedication to each other and the valley brings hope to all of us. You are the lifeblood and soul of our community. Thank you.
The response of our community to this unprecedented crisis has been overwhelming. While we face the somber reality of COVID-19 we can rest assured that we are in this together, supporting each other, sharing the weight of caring, and ensuring our community is well taken care of. Thank you to you all.
