Outreach and Care for Arab Women
Building Hope in the City
Cleveland, OH
Building Hope will address a critical human care issue among Arab women. A female ethnic outreach worker will provide English as a second language classes and women’s discussions groups. They plan to expand their programs to include cooking classes, education and support session and computer and other job readiness classes.
DORCAS (Diaconal Outreach Care And Services)
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Portsmouth, OH
Nine small congregations in the Southern Circuit of the Ohio District formed DORCAS whose purpose is to fund, administer and encourage diakonia service in the region. During 2006, the inaugural year, they had weekly food and clothing distributions and other special activities throughout the year. Service expectations were surpassed. The deaconess coordinator used her counseling and organizational skills to serve the community. As additional needs have been identified, new human care programs have been established. Relationships with social services agencies have been established to provide referrals.
Multiple Program Grant 2007 – LMM/Ohio
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
Cleveland, OH
Shelter Volunteer Project
The 2100 Shelter is LMM’s newest program and provides shelter, meals and services to men who have no other place to go. The shelter serves those most in need and does it largely with staff who experienced homelessness themselves. Volunteers assist with some of the services but grant funds are needed to fully establish the shelter volunteer program. This program will allow LCMS and other congregations to put their faith into action. Volunteer opportunities will be available to match skills, interests and schedules to this ministry. The overall goal of the shelter is to provide basic services (food, clothing, shelter) while preparing residents for self-sufficiency and housing.
After School Prevention Resources
The After School Prevention Resources is an after-school program serving low-income teens on Cleveland’s west side. The overall goal of the project is to provide a safe, nurturing environment in which to identify and reduce factors which place adolescent youth at high risk for engaging in delinquent behaviors. A wide variety of activities are offered and carried out by 1.5 staff members, contract services and donated services from community service providers and public entities.
Supported Housing Community Integration
The purpose of the Doris Brennan Center for Disability Education and Advocacy is to advance the dignity, equality, self-determination and expressed choices of individuals with disabilities. Its mission is to promote, expand, protect and seek to ensure the human rights of individuals through the provision of information, education and advocacy in partnership with individuals with disabilities. The center is developing a supported housing pilot program to assist individuals to become fully integrated in their communities of choice.
WREN Supportive Housing Initiative
WREN provides holistic support services to women who have been involved in the criminal justice system, and to their families. These critical services include: individual counseling with a certified professional, peer support groups, anger management classes, specialized support for survivors of physical and sexual abuse, GED instruction and resource linkage, parenting classes and employment and housing referrals. These services are provided in the context of peer support and in an accepting environment which empowers each woman to provide for herself, rebuild her family and to reenter the community in which she belongs as a productive member.