ShelterCare's 6th and Final HouseWarming Auction A Huge Success

Thanks to the generous support of all those who attended, we raised enough funds to support:

-our shelters for families with children

-all the families who stay in them

-our amazing Children's Program

-our Transitional Housing Program

For over two months. That is simply incredible.

While the 2009 auction was indeed our last event of its kind for at least awhile, it was by no means ShelterCare's last event. We have a few fabulous, upcoming events in the planning process and we cannot wait to reveal them, once we have finalized the important details. So, stay tuned!

We're Back After Long Hiatus

It has really been too long, but we're back to blogging. 

Did You Know?

-Dual Diagnosis refers to co-occurring mental illness and drug and/or alcohol dependency. It is more common than many people realize, with 37% of alcohol abusers and 53% of drug abusers also having at least one serious mental illness (source: Journal of American Medical Disorders). In order to recover fully, a person with dual diagnosis needs treatment for both problems. 

-Some of  ShelterCare's Mental Health Program consumers have a dual diagnosis. ShelterCare clinical staff work with each person to determine a course of treatment that is appropriate for his or her specific and unique needs. After both issues have been addressed, and a course of treatment has had time to be effective, many of our dual diagnosis consumers progress to new levels of independence and productivity. The majority remain clean. 

ShelterCare Board Member's Op Ed

Check out the wonderful op-ed in the Register Guard written by ShelterCare board member Ed Necker. 

Did You Know?

-A survey of 23 US cities found that 17.4% of homeless adults with children were employed. 13% of single adults and unaccompanied youth were also found to be employed (US Conference of Mayors 2007). As difficult as it is for the ones who are fortunate enough to have a job, for those without, climbing out of homelessness is virtually impossible without some form of assistance. How does one even go about the process of applying for a job without a permanent address or a reliable phone number? 

-At ShelterCare, many of our consumers work or volunteer throughout the community. We provide our consumers with job skills training to increase their chances of landing a satisfying job. For someone who was formerly homeless, a job can bring about a tremendous sense of accomplishment and purpose. 

ShelterCare's 6th Annual HouseWarming Auction Is Sunday, May 3

This exciting event will be held on Sunday, May 3, at the Fairgrounds in Eugene (i.e. the Lane County Events Center). We will be creating a village of "shops" filled with fun and unique items and experience packages that are up for bid. A silent auction will be followed with a sit down dinner and an oral auction. This event is an excellent way to help the homeless, get some amazing deals, and have a fabulous time with friends. 

There are numerous ways to get involved. There are tables (with seating for 8) available to sponsor if you, your company or group is interested. Individual tickets are also available. Donations large and small are, of course always appreciated. The event can also always use volunteers to help us make the event a success. 

If you are interested in being a part of what is sure to be a memorable experience, please contact the ShelterCare Development Office at 541-686-1262 or cdevore@sheltercare.org.

Nice Opinion Piece in the Register Guard

Check out this great editorial piece in today's Register Guard.

Happy Birthday Shankle Safe Haven!

(ShelterCare's Shankle Safe Haven Program opened its doors in January of 1997. Gayle Lewis, a longtime ShelterCare counselor, was there when it all began. Carla and Lindsay interviewed her to find out how the program has evolved and changes in the 12 years since it's inception.)

CD- "What was Shankle Safe Haven like when you first started?"

GL- "Well, it started out as an empty building with an empty, dirt yard." (laughs) "Yeah, it definitely looked a lot different then. When the program started, the initial idea was to provide services to folks who wouldn't traditionally access mental health services-the chronically homeless."

CD- "How were you able to reach out to these folks, at least at first?"

GL- "It was definitely a challenge. Michael Bogs' job at that time was literally to go out and find people-under bridges, under bushes, on the streets, you name it. Wherever he could find them. It took awhile for the program to fill up. There were originally 12 residential beds (there are now 16) that we needed to fill. Once we'd filled those, we began filling the 12 Day Program spaces."

CD- "What were some of the most striking aspects of the program to you?"

GL-"Well, we were one of the first programs to have Peer Advocates. The structure was also unique-we tried to structure it so it wasn't such a huge shock for folks just coming off the streets. The transition can be very difficult. The program was a pioneer of the Housing First Model, really. We gave them  (clients) time to adjust to a life indoors, and didn't try to force them to take on treatments and such before they were ready. I remember Susan (Ban, ShelterCare's Executive Director) once said that if we could get just one person to an appointment, well, that's a start."

LW- "How about significant changes over the years?"

GL- "Well, one thing that's changed is that we don't go looking under bridges for folks anymore. It's really become a word-of-mouth program, and we now have a substantial waiting list of over 100 people. It's still unique in that you can self-refer. White Bird also refers people to us. The yard is also no longer empty (laughs). Now we have grass, garden beds, a bike cage and a wonderful deck that clients really enjoy."

CD- "What are some of the greatest rewards for you for working at this program?"

GL- "Definitely seeing people get healthier. We help them access resources a lot of them weren't even aware of before. Some try treatments they haven't before and we see their conditions improve. Some even find housing."

LW- "How did you decide on this career path?"

GL- "Well, I went to school a little later in life. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to major in, but I ultimately went for Sociology. When I looked in the Yellow Pages, under Social Services, ShelterCare was the first listing I saw. It was actually the first place I applied and I got the job. I never thought at the time that I would end up working in mental health, but, you know, I found I truly love it here. I can't imagine being anywhere else."

(A room at Shankle Safe Haven)

Did You Know?

  Our first shelter

ShelterCare opened its doors on December 24, 1970. In the beginning, the agency (then known as Eugene Emergency Housing) operated a single shelter with an annual budget of $12,000. Average stay was 2 days in a 4 bedroom house where families pooled food stamps and shared shelter maintenance responsibilities. 

ShelterCare has grown considerably over the past 38 years, as the needs of our community have grown. The agency now operates 11 programs for 3 different service populations. 

During the last fiscal year, ShelterCare served 1,476 individuals. 

While the agency has expanded, the overall idea behind what we do has remained constant: to empower our clients and help them achieve greater levels of independence.

**Fun Fact: ShelterCare's original shelter was later used as the frat house in the 1978 film Animal House (after we were no longer using it, of course!).

  

Animal House cast outside our former shelter.

Volunteers Make It Happen

(Here at ShelterCare, we depend on the devotion of volunteers from our community. This morning, our guestblogger Gene Obersinner, ShelterCare's dedicated Volunteer Coordinator, weighs in on some of the whys and hows of volunteerism).

Why volunteer? There are many reasons...

- To step outside of yourself. Helping persons less fortunate or in need can help you be less worried about your own problems and issues.

- To help a cause greater than yourself.

- Volunteering is a way to meet new people and do new things.

- Helping others can be a healthy challenge for yourself! It allows you to step outside of your comfort zone, and learn and grow as a human being.

- Having a regular activity that helps others can be a very calming, grounding life ritual for people, one that provides meaning and zest to life. 

-Volunteering can be a way for you to express a talent or skill that brings great joy to yourself and others.

Volunteers paint our Shankle Safe Haven facility during United Way's Day of Caring, 2008

How to Get Involved:

- Go to www.unitedwaylane.org or www.volunteermatch.org and check out hundreds of wonderful volunteer opportunities in the local area. 

- Project Homeless Connect is Friday, March 6. This is an awesome one-day event that reaches out to over 1,000 homeless individuals in the Eugene/Springfield area by providing an impressive array of services and hope! Be one of over 500 volunteers to come and help make the 3rd annual PHC Lane County the best one yet!

- ShelterCare is often in need of volunteers to be companions for individual residents, to transport clients to appointments, take them to the library, help them learn how to ride the bus, etc. Feel free to check out our opportunities at one of the websites mentioned above or by contacting Gene Obersinner, Volunteer Coordinator, at 541-686-1262 or at gobersinner@sheltercare.org.

ShelterCare Awarded $2 Million in HUD Funds

Today, everyone at ShelterCare received some wonderful news:

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced awards for the construction of 88 units of affordable housing for the very low-income elderly or persons with disabilities in various Oregon communities on Tuesday. 

ShelterCare was one of the recipients of HUD funds. We will receive a $1,977,500 capital advance and a three-year, $168,900 rent subsidy to build 16 units for adults with chronic mental illness on the site of our Brethren Housing Program in Springfield. 

Did You Know?

-Currently, the number of homeless Vietnam era veterans is greater than the number of service persons who died during that war (Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). Many of these homeless veterans suffer from mental illness.



-With appropriate medication and a wide range of services tailored to their needs, most people living with a serious mental illness can significantly reduce the impact of their illness and find a satisfying measure of achievement and independence.

-ShelterCare provided shelter and support to 741 individuals in our mental health programs from July 2007 to June 2008.

A Warm Community Helps During Cold Times

This holiday season brought cold temperatures and snow to the valley. For many of us the storms provided a little holiday cheer and excitement, but for the homeless, weather like this can be disastrous. This year a record number of groups ran successful coat drives for ShelterCare. Barnhart and Associates Real Estate, Body of Light Family Chiropractic, the Eugene Active 20-30 Club, and a community volunteer group were able to amass a stunning quantity of warm clothing, providing our programs with enough coats and sweaters to outfit residents in need for the rest of the season.

In the picture above ShelterCare's development associate Brad Bassi happily receives a few of the many coats collected by Body of Light Family Chiropractic.

Everyone here at ShelterCare would like to extend a hearty thank you to the fine businesses and individuals that coordinated these clothing drives and helped to make the holidays a little warmer for some of the most vulnerable people in Lane County.