City of Refuge- “Who refreshes will be refreshed”-Proverbs 11:25

Butler Homeless Initiative

• The Mission of The Butler Homeless Initiative is to provide homeless prevention and family preservation. We will do this by way of establishing a place in which programs such as educational opportunities, employment opportunities and community relationships will be utilized for individuals and families throughout Butler County.

Who Are the Homeless?

• In the “Point in Time Count” done in 2009 for Butler

County there are at least 120 homeless individual who are residents of Butler County.

* The Salvation Army of Butler County has seen an increase of families and individuals who are

Homless-45 families in 2011 and for the first six

months of 2012 there has already been 32 families considered homeless according to the HUD definition.

Statistics on butler county homelesness (8/12)

Safe House (not domestic abuse calls)2010 – 56 calls from homeless2011 – 39 calls from homeless from Jan-Oct.

Mid-cap2009 – 44 homeless families, no individual count2010 – 51 homeless families, or 129 individuals2011 – 25 homeless families Jan-Sept, or 113 individuals2012 – 12 homeless contacts per month

*Mid-caps Transitional Housing program can provide for6 families/2 individuals per month

Statistics on butler county homelessness

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Salvation Army2010 – 38 homeless2011 – 45 homeless families2012 – to date, 32 homeless families

SRS2010 – 100 open cases for homeless.

Given month DCF will take approximately 20-30applications for homeless with 9-10 for families with childrenSouth Central Mental Health

Currently 2 homeless 5 in precarious living situations 1 placed child in SRS custody due to becoming homeless

Children and Family Services2012 – 1 referral per month for families with children

First Baptist Church, El Dorado2011 – 58 one night motel vouchers2012 25 one night motel vouchers“Decrease in number of 2012 vouchersis due to stricter guidelines for helpgiven. Requests for help far exceeds ability to help.First Presbyterian Church, El Dorado

2012 - $502 given for housing assistance

Section 8 Housing – 2012 CurrentlyQuail Ridge

1 year waiting list 1 bedroom1 year waiting list 2 bedroom3 bedroom waiting list varies

Silverwood59 people on waiting list 1 bedroom76 families on waiting list 2 bedroom44 families on waiting list 3 bedroom150-175 calls per month for housing

Definition of HomelessAccording to HUD

• An individual or family sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation (examples-on the street or in vehicles)and or in an emergency shelter for at least 1 year. OR at least 4 episodes of homelessness in the past 3 years.-HUD website as of July 2012

Butler Homeless Initiative desires to provide housing with Administration, Safety/protection and Collaborations/ministries for

the El Dorado and Butler County area.

• Our Long term Goal for Butler Homeless Initiative.-to provide a place (transitional housing) in which to fulfill our mission.

Goal Point #1-Administration of facility

• The need for rules and regulations regarding a homeless preventative and family preservation housing unit will be established prior to it’s inception.

• BHI will have rules such as a 5 to 7 day emergency residents, then a work detail will begin for those who remain in residence.

• There will always be a trained staff and/or trained volunteer on duty during operating hours.

• There will be policies in place for length of stay after emergency shelter time is used up for all clientele.

• A set of rules, guidelines and regulations will need to be signed by client and staff or volunteer prior to overnight stay.

Goal Point #2-Safety and Protection

• Staff and volunteers will be trained in all hazardous weather procedures, emergency evacuation procedures, basic first aid procedures, basic Human services.

• All clients will need to be vetted by the Butler County Sheriff department and or local police departments prior to entering the shelter. Random drug testing and personal property search's will be conducted by trained staff and or volunteer on a regular basis.

• All medications will be placed under lock and key by staff or volunteers, all weapons will be confiscated prior to a clients entering the shelter. No alcohol , weapons and drugs will be permitted!

Goal Point #2-Safety and Protection

• There will be two staff and/or trained volunteers on duty during operating hours to insure their safety and the safety of the clients.

• Clients/residents will have designed meal times, and curfews to insure safety for them and their families. As well as outdoor time, computer usage will be designated.

• All personal belongings of clients/residents will be placed in storage lockers/or baskets but BHI will not be held liable if anything would be lost or stolen.

Current house rules and Operation plan are tentative andEvolving. Best plans includeMeeting with all community Partners for input prior toOpen, once a location has beenEstablished.

Administrative Executive Board for BHIAs of July 1st, 2012

• Krystal Wallace-mothers against Methamphetamine South Central Kansas

• Trisha Menadue- technical illustrator, Excel industries, Inc.• Marilyn Hall-retired RN• Macy Gaines-Independent Living Specialist,RCIL• Sandy Bell-Community Aid Network• Pastor Danny Chappell-New Friends Bible Church, Augusta• Melody Gault-RSVP Program Manager, Butler County Department on

Aging• Marilyn Roberts-BHI Board member• Judy Scribner-retired teacher• Kelsey Stone-student at Newman University• Yvonne Yee-retired teacher USD 490 and finance office WSU• Ron Eisenbise-ex-Board member• Pastor Bill O’Connell-ex Board member, Pastor 1st Presbyterian Church

Wikipedia Definition of a Homeless Prevention Shelter

• Homeless prevention shelters “are designed specifically to be temporary homes providing for those that have fallen on hard times and need an opportunity to get back into the workforce…they are created not just to provide shelter, but also offer a variety of services including job training, community building and family preservation”

Vision Statement portion regarding why BHI choses to keep all Safe and Protected

• “ The Butler County Homeless Initiative, City of Refuge Shelter understands the inherent value of every human being. We offer a caring base for temporary shelter based on a plan to offer success with minimum budget requirements. We formed with the idea that everyman deserves to be treated with compassion, respect and dignity. We believe that trauma, a lack of wisdom or experience in decision making, impaired ability and prior negative environments do not have to determine and individual’s value; each individual can determine his own value on any given day. We believe in God’s plan, and that we are the hands and body-the tools for His work. We would hope to reflect God’s love, providing and incubator for faith, trust and hope through relationship, action and provision.” –Krystal Wallace, president of Butler Homeless Initiative 2012

Butler Homeless Initiative Coordinates and promotesthroughout County as a member of :

El Dorado, Augusta and Andover Chamber of CommerceNational Coalition for the Homeless as well as having petitions regarding community support with more than 450 signatures.

Ministries, Programs and Collaborations

• There is tremendous potential to plug the clients and residents of this shelter into the community of El Dorado and Butler County.Such potential programs could be :

• 1. Bench making and gardening for the City of El Dorado• 2. Thrift Store needed volunteers at The Salvation Army of Butler County• 3. Cooking and/0r set-up help with the Homeless meals in El Dorado• 4. Food Pantry volunteers for 12 Baskets for Loaves and Fishes.• 5. Cooling Center volunteers for set up and clean up

• THE SKY is the LIMIT for how this Homeless Prevention and Family Preservation shelter can aid in the bonding of this entire community.

Letters Of Support• There have been letters of support from the year

2009-2012 from various Human Services organizations in Butler County, Cities in Butler County, Churches in Butler County, Service Clubs of Butler County. These letters are from those who recognize the tremendous need and value to care for our current Homeless population as well as care for those families with the potential to become homeless in the future.

Letters of Support Agencies, Cities and Churches List as of July 31st, 2012

• The City of Andover• The City of Towanda• The Salvation Army of Butler County• The Family Life Center (El Dorado Safehouse)• South Central Mental Health• Butler Community College• The Resource Center• Soroptomist of El Dorado Chapter• El Dorado Charity Auxiliary• Ministerial Alliance of El Dorado• Ministerial Alliance of Leon

Letters of Support Continued

• The El Dorado Church of the Nazarene• The First United Methodist Church of El Dorado• The First Presbyterian Church of El Dorado• New Life Fellowship Church of El Dorado• First Baptist Church of El Dorado• Trinity Episcopal Church of El Dorado• Numana• Harvey County Homeless Shelter• Midcap• New Beginnings Inc.

Questions or Comments?

• Please share your thoughts, questions and opinions regarding the Butler Homeless Initiative and it’s future plans to prevent Homelessness and preserve the families in the butler County area and more specifically in El Dorado.

Thank you for your timeand God Bless

• From the Butler County Homeless Initiative