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Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council Minutes P.O. Box 662, Bellevue, WA 98009-0662 The meeting was held in Bristol Hall of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church on January 11, 2011, beginning at 12:00 noon. CONGREGATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS: CFH Executive Director Steve Roberts (206) 295-7803 or stever@cfhomeless.org) reported that the program had a great December at First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue with lots of Christmas merrymaking. The shelter is now at Redmond United Methodist Church. There they are opening early (at 6:00 p.m.) and are staying open for the Sunday Seahawks games. CFH is still in need of blankets. Each man entering the shelter receives a blanket, taking it with him as he transitions into housing. CFH is particularly looking for twin-sized, washable blankets. CFH can also use clothing, particularly XXL men’s jackets and other XXL clothing. THE EASTSIDE SEVERE WEATHER SHELTER: The Eastside Severe Weather Shelter, run jointly by Congregations for the Homeless and the Sophia Way, is now open continuously until February 15th. The shelter is moving from the Crossroads Community Center to it new location in Redmond’s Old Schoolhouse Community Center (16600 NE 80th St) on January 15, 2011.Steve says that “it is an amazing community that is occurring there.” He points out that you don’t have to be homeless to take advantage of the severe weather shelter; it’s for anyone who, for whatever reason – be it heating problems, etc. – needs a warm safe place on these cold nights. The highest single night occupancy to date has been 52 people. And this actually might increase as the word gets out that it is open continuously. How can you help?
For more information contact either CFH or the Sophia Way. THE SOPHIA WAY: Sophia Way Executive Director Helen Leuzzi (425) 463-6285 or director@sophiaway.org) reported that Christmas was also an inspiring time at their program. But she urges supporters to remember that giving can be a year-round thing. They have an ongoing need for gift cards, theater tickets, and other items that bring joy to Sophia Way residents. The Sophia Way is also putting together a support network. A group is forming that will meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Bradford Center at First Congregational Church of Bellevue (752 108th Ave NE). Joining the support network will help both you and your congregation become more involved in helping these women transition from the street into homes of their own. Helen also reported that Bellevue’s St. Luke’s Lutheran Church is set to vote on whether to house a newly expanded shelter for the Sophia Way and that additional transitional housing at the Holly House located at East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church is scheduled to open April 1, 2011. EISCC LEGISLATIVE COORDINATOR: Nancy Bent encourages those interested to stay informed of developments as the WA state legislature is now beginning its work. If you feel moved to write to your legislator it is best to focus on one or two area and whenever possible should include suggestions for raising revenue to fund those programs you support. EISCC members and guest will have a opportunity to learn much more about what is going on in Olympia and to get advocacy tips at the February 8th EISCC meeting when the special guest will be Alice Woldt, Director of the Washington Association of Churches. CITY OF BELLEVUE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: Shelly Shellabarger, Volunteer Program Coordinator for the City of Bellevue wants us to know that the City of Bellevue is very interested in connecting with local places of worship in an effort to engage congregations in their community. Most specifically, we want to welcome folks to become involved in City of Bellevue programs! She is looking to connect with community outreach staff or volunteers at faith based organizations and houses of worship and can offer these services:
For more information please contact: Shelly Shellabarger, Volunteer Program Coordinator at Volunteer@bellevuewa.gov or (425) 452-5375 Program: FRIENDS OF YOUTH – Friends of Youth Executive Director, Joan Campbell (425) 869-6490 ext. 313 Since 1951, Friends of Youth has been helping young people in challenging circumstances get their lives back on track. Their vision is to see all youth having every opportunity to succeed. They deliver a broad range of service to youth and their families to improve their emotional stability and self-sufficiency. Friends of Youth provided services to at-risk youth and homeless young people at 20 sites in 17 cities throughout the Puget Sound. In 2009, Friends of Youth served over 6,000 youth and their families through four core program areas: RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Therapeutic residential services including foster care and emergency shelter care, to youth under age 18. HOMELESS YOUTH SERVICES Street outreach, overnight shelter, individual case management, employment and transitional housing programs for homeless youth and young adults throughout East and North King County and South Snohomish County. (Friends of Youth operates Youth Haven and the Landing, the Eastside’s only overnight youth shelters.) YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES Mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, school-based prevention education and parenting programs in Issaquah and the upper and lower Snoqualmie Valley. HEALTHY START CONSORTIUM Home visiting services to support young parents and their babies from birth to age three. HISTORY The story of Friends of Youth is clear proof that ordinary people can come together to create something extraordinary–transforming dreams into reality. In 1950, a Washington resident named Iva Matsen saw the challenges faced by her community: not enough quality foster homes for at-risk (at that time, the term was “pre-delinquent”) youth; struggles with alcoholism; and a lack of encouragement for those who were most in need of support. So she and her husband joined with other members of the University Congregational Church to take the critical step from concern to action. They started an organization called the Character School, renamed Friends of Youth in 1957. It was a place where young people could find a sympathetic ear, grow personally and contribute positively to their communities. Since then, Friends of Youth has grown into a leader in developing, providing and advocating for services for children, youth and their families. To this day, members of the Matsen family continue to be active and involved in the organization. Throughout the decades, the list of donors, volunteers, friends and staff of Friends of Youth has built steadily. But while the organization has expanded impressively since its humble beginnings, its founding principles have endured: an unwavering dedication to providing quality services; the flexibility to meet new and emerging needs; and most important, a commitment to securing the futures of the most vulnerable members of the community. Mrs. Matsen and her co-founders were just individuals, but they had a vision and a shared commitment to follow through on it. More than 50 years later, each person who becomes involved with Friends of Youth has an opportunity to build something just as extraordinary. KEY STRATEGIES IN 2011 Diversify Funding by: Better matching donors’ philanthropic motivation with our core service areas through targeted campaigns Full-time associate resource joins team Increase resources for grant writing Design, locate and plan for a new facility to support program needs Merging our two (under 18) shelter programs into a combined facility Securing a new location for overnight shelter (18-24) to provide showers, food, a safe place, and connections to Friends of Youth staff and services – no such center currently exists on the Eastside. Providing low barrier transitional living/supportive permanent housing for youth who do not meet the entrance requirements for other programs but, who, with the support of Friends of Youth, have the ability to move out of homelessness. Organize Internal Structure to Align With Priorities New COO position created to head program support team (Development, IT, HR, Accounting, and Administration New Director of Business Development to head our facility budget All Program Directors now report directly to CEO CURRENT ECONOMIC IMPACT Increased Need for Services: Consistently operating at capacity at The Landing; many night they are forced to turn youth away. Full capacity in their Transitional Living Program, with waiting lists. Healthy Start program reports that stress of unemployment and economic hardship has increased the number and length of home visits. Funding at Risk King County eliminated $280K in funding for Healthy Start and $160K in funding for mental health services is at risk. They were recently notified of a 6% reduction in state payments for residential services. FRIENDS OF YOUTH PLAN TO RESPOND Expanding street outreach services to homeless youth; providing support to more communities Planning new facility to be more responsive to the needs of the homeless population on the Eastside. Creating plan for close monitoring of income and expense over the year to ensure they are meeting targets of 2011; includes plan to adjust services as necessary to maintain programs. OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTIMENT Financial Support In-Kind Support Giving Tree or other special drives Providing dinners at The Landing (the overnight shelter at the Bellevue YMCA) Creating snack packs and hygiene kits for Homeless Youth Volunteer Support Board members Executive/Partner level support from Human Resources, IT, Operations, Marketing Skilled Volunteer Opportunities – technical support, human resources, generalists Unskilled Volunteer Opportunities Provide meals at the Landing Adopt a Transitional Living Program apartment for refurbishing/refurnishing Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to check out the list of opportunities posted online at http://www.friendsofyouth.org/volunteerOpp.aspx. In 2011 Friends of Youth will be celebrating 60 years of service to youth and their families in our community. They would like to thank all of their supporters as they celebrate this milestone event. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Bridge Disability Ministries will hold a Sunday Celebration for people living with disabilities and friends Sunday, January 23rd, 4-6pm, at Crossroads Bible Church, 15815 SE 37th St, Bellevue, 98006. Dinner will be provided. Everyone is welcome and volunteers are very much appreciated. Call (425) 885-1006 ext#118 or email lindam@bridgemin.org for more information. CLOSING PRAYER: Closing Prayer was offered by Steve Roberts of Congregations for the Homeless. NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. PROGRAM: ADVOCACY – MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD IN OLYMPIA AND BEYOND. Featuring Alice Woldt from the Washington Association of Churches. LOCATION: BRISTOL HALL, ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 4228 FACTORIA BOULEVARD SE, BELLEVUE (ACROSS FROM NEWPORT HIGH SCHOOL) Brian Anderson, EISCC Secretary |
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| Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council P.O. Box 662
Bellevue, WA 98009-0662 (206) 295-7803 EMAIL USinfo@eiscc.net |
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