Created as an agency of the Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council, the Congregations for the Homeless men’s shelter first opened its doors in 1994. Founded by Nadine Shannon, Betty Spohn, and Nadine Bentsen, the shelter program was created with the mission to provide a warm, safe, hospitable place for up to 30 single men to sleep and be nourished with three healthy meals each day. Over the years, the shelter program has added access to showers, laundry, and free haircuts. Recently, the shelter program has added medical assistance and dental services.

In 2005 we added a comprehensive case management-life coaching program, expanding our mission to that of helping men successfully move from homelessness to permanent housing. Men are partnered one-on-one with a professional or trained life coach to help them develop a goal plan that leads to increased financial, physical, emotional, and spiritual stability. The program addresses a wide range of personal issues and helps men connect with other agencies that can help in their quest for ongoing stability. We have helped many men deal with social services, social security disability, mental health agencies, legal issues, marital problems, financial burdens, medical issues, drug and alcohol treatment, and more.

Our job placement services, ably assisted by Hopelink’s job’s program, helps men find jobs or move to a better job. We have also helped men reconnect to a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives. We have 3 case managers, and 12 active life coaches.

In 2006 we added subsidized housing to the programs we offer. We have been able to place 54 men in our subsidized housing to date, with 10 having graduated to their own housing, gotten married or moved back with family. Our case managers have been able to place many more men into other subsidized and private housing over the years as well.

The heart of the shelter program is the more than 3,000 congregational volunteers who coordinate space for the men to sleep, who bring meals for the men to have every day of the year, and who donate their time and money in order to make the men feel welcome, cared for, and provided for with food and other essentials. The shelter location moves to a new congregation at the beginning of each month. There are 12 host congregations each year, and each host congregation has 1-3 support congregations that help provide food for the men during that month. The shelter is open from 7 pm to 7 am and is staffed by a CFH employee during this time.

It is the combination of the shelter program, case management-life coaching program, and housing program that gives these men a real chance to successfully make the transition from homelessness to permanent housing and a stable, productive life.

Success by the Numbers

Men moved into housing since 2006: 252

By year:

2006: 27 men (52%)
2007: 44 men (45%)
2008: 53 men (51%)
2009: 61 men (56%)
2010: 68 men (73%)

2010

• Men served: 127
• Jobs found: 22
• Moved into housing: 68 men (73%)
• Bed nights: 10,793
• Meals Served: 32,379
• Volunteers: 3850
• Case management sessions or hours: 3665
• Nurse sessions: 19
• Dental van visits: 144 appointments, 432 procedures
• Men turned away due to capacity: 80
• Cold weather shelter: 188 individuals, 44/night (average)
• Available residential unit subsidies: 45