645 Pipestone
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Phone: 269.925.1131
Fax: 269.925.0059
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Benton Harbor Emergency Shelter
www.bentonharboremergencyshelter.org
Mission: To provide temporary housing for families and single parents with children and assist these families in finding permanent homes.
Programs and Services:
Learning Center
The McKinney-Vento Act of 2001, ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. The Emergency Shelter is extremely fortunate that the Berrien County ISD is managing the grant which funds the classroom within the Shelter itself. The Learning Center provides an educational home like environment as well as tutoring and school liaison services.
The Lead Teacher for the Learning Center is also responsible for assuring children have transportation to and from their own school. The McKinney Vento-Act specifies that children have the right to remain in their own school when they become homeless.
The Learning Center has one lead instructor and two Foster Grandparents
Volunteer:
A. Parents who are struggling with poverty and homelessness cannot always find time to teach and read with children
You Can:
1. Read to children
2. Work with children on basic skills (alphabet, counting, color recognition, etc.)
3. Cuddle babies
Outreach
The Outreach Program was established in 1994 through a grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The program was reorganized in 2003 with proven results. (STAT)
Participation is voluntary
Families are in the program for up to one year.
Referrals are provided as needed.
Stats show that families involved in the Outreach Program have a 80 % better chance of remaining in stable housing
Sisterhood Club
Case Management
Lifeskills are held daily Monday through Friday
Topics include:
1. Choices
2. self-esteem
3. Parenting
4. Budgeting
5. Nutrition
6. HIV Awareness and Testing
Homeless Statistics:
Nationally:
What is the average age of a homeless person? 9/6 years old
Berrien County:
25% of all kids in Berrien County are eligible for free/reduced lunch
20,630 people in Berrien County live below poverty
41% of the people in poverty in Berrien County are children
Poverty rates
1. Singles- 10.5%
2. 2 parent households with kids under 5 yrs- 20%
3. Single parent households with kids under 5 yrs-55%
Functional illiteracy rate:
1. Benton Harbor-50%
2. Berrien County-42%
Emergency Shelter:
267 women and children were turned away from the Emergency Shelter last year due to capacity
2004- only 57% of families leaving the Emergency Shelter went into stable housing
31% of women in the Emergency Shelter are working
21% qualify for disability
55% of the people who stayed at the Emergency Shelter last year were children
404 School-age children stayed at the Emergency Shelter or Safe Shelter last year
55% of the people who stayed at the Shelter last year were children
Families leaving the Shelter went into stable housing
1. 2003- 67%
2. 2004- 57%
3. 2005-
Where are the fathers:
1. 50% are unemployed
2. 43% substance abuse
3. 31% physical/mental health issues
4. 32% are in jail or on probation
Recidivism rate for the Shelter:
1. 2003- 82%
2. 2004- 78%
Volunteer
Volunteers are an integral part of the success of the Shelter.
If you are interested in:
i. Being a mentor to young people
ii. Volunteering to lead a group
iii. Spending time reading or playing with children
You can also volunteer in the LEARNING CENTER
Bringing a youth group to paint, do yard work or other household cleaning project
Help with administrative work
Simple maintenance
Please contact
Barbara McDavid:
269.925.1131 extension #13 or
bmcdavid@emergencyshelter.net
Email us at: ababcock@emergencyshelter.net
Visit us at: |
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