TRI-COUNTY CAP HOMELESS PROGRAMS

10 BRICKS

Programs for People Experiencing Homelessness in Vermont & New Hampshire's Upper Valley

57 Mechanic Street #5 Lebanon, NH  03766    TEL 603.443.6150 FAX 603.443.6151    tccaphomeless@gmail.com

The mission of the 10 Bricks is to provide guidance and temporary housing in a safe and dignified environment to individuals experiencing homelessness in the Upper Valley.

At 10 Bricks we believe housing is a basic necessity. Race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, physical or mental challenges, age, veteran status, personal history or any other criteria is of no consequence in considering the worth of a person or their right to shelter. In fact, such differences contribute to the richness of our human community.

One of our first meetings (clockwise - Alan (in gray shirt), Donna, ?, Nancy, Allison, Angela, Jane, Jim, Ruth, Tyler, Donna, Ned - few faces at this table have changed in the last 4 years!!!)

Anyone who receives shelter via a 10 Bricks program will be treated with dignity and respect and be free from abuse and/or exploitation. Acknowledging the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness, we believe that we have created successful programs to help them along their journey toward safe, sustainable housing. We recognize that shelter is only part of the answer. There are other issues to be addressed such as poverty wages, lack of affordable housing, and access to mental health and substance abuse programs. To this end...we will...

• operate a Cold Weather Program which (with help from Headrest) features short term placements of people in local motels during the winter months followed immediately with intense case management and assistance.
  
• manage an Extended Stay Program to provide one month rooming house stays to individuals who need additional social services and a couple of paychecks in the bank to move on into permanent housing.
  
• teach Rental 101 - to help people to become the best tenants possible.

Our Programs

10 Bricks operates its 3 programs on a very modest budget. We have only .50 FTE paid staff and are supported by a network of wonderful volunteers that coordinate our fund raising and moral support.

The Cold Weather Program  the 10 Bricks Advisory Council addresses the emergency shelter needs of those experiencing homelessness in the Upper Valley during the winter by providing short hotel stays, food, clothing, gas, bus tickets and advocacy to those in need. With the financial generosity of the community, 10 Bricks staff and volunteers, along with the assistance of the Headrest Hot Line (448.4400), have been able to make sure those who become homeless in the Upper Valley have a warm place to stay until other options are available.

The Extended Stay Program 10 Bricks has secured a few beds in a local boarding house to be used as an Extended Stay Program (ESP). This program is designed to meet the needs of single adults without dependent children in their care who are without a home in the Upper Valley and have some income secured, but need a couple of weeks for that first check or the first of the month to role around. This program provides free lodging from 15-30 days in downtown Lebanon, intense case management, budgeting and help finding a permanent rental.

Rental 101 Rental 101 is a 4-part class designed to help people learn to be the best tenant possible.

1. Finding a rental and Understanding the Lease
2. Budgeting and Housekeeping
3. Conflict Resolution
4. Landlord/Tenant Laws

Being a good neighbor and tenant can eliminate a great deal of homelessness. This class is geared at those who are precariously housed, without a home or looking to understand the nuances and laws of renting. This class is taught to groups of 5 or more or one-on-one. Upon successful completion, the student is awarded a certificate of achievement that some landlords are accepting as a positive reference. The student may also be eligible for rental assistance when it is available and needed to prevent homelessness. The class is free to the student. see the Rental 101 tab for more details and the actual text.

Tax deductible contributions can be made by check made payable to:

"10 Bricks/TCCAP" 

PO BOX 12 or 57 Mechanic Street  #5

Lebanon, NH 03766

10 Bricks is a proud partner with the Upper Valley United Way

Another way to help!

We need food drives for the up-coming winter season. Below is the suggested list of items to gather! Call for more info!

Thanks a million from 10 Bricks!

Advisory Council

Sondra Blain, Chair-Enfield
Ned McCarthy, Chair-Hanover
Jim Alberghini-Hanover
Stu Blain-Canaan
Nancy Bloomfield- Norwich
Marc Cousineau-Catholic Charities
Ruth Emery-Lebanon
Allison Furbish-Canaan
Donna Hutchins-West Lebanon
Charlotte Jeffreys-Norwich
Jane McCarthy-Hanover
Todd McKee-White River Jct.
Rev. Richard Slater-Lebanon

Statistics

(Authors NOTE: for more information on the true meaning of  statistics, please contact Simon Dennis at simon.p.dennis@gmail.com)

2007/2008

*Cold Weather Program opened November 14th, 2007 - April 15th, 2008 we served 196 people for 588 bednights.
*YTD (July 1, 2007 - April 22, 2008) 52 individuals have utilized our Extended Stay Program this year. More than half of these residents have moved on to permanent housing.
*Rental 101 is getting ready for an over-haul! It is currently being taught at the Haven.

2006/2007

* Cold Weather Program. Accommodated 117 people in local motels for a total of 441 bed-nights with an average stay of four nights (a bed-night is one person spending one night in a sheltered environment). We provided over 100 boxes of food to people in need this winter.
* Extended Stay Program. Accommodated 67 people in a rooming house for a total of 1,649 bed nights for an average stay of fourteen nights per resident. 49 people moved on into permanent housing.
* Rental 101 Program. 78 students from 33 households have successfully completed this program. To date, we have awarded the graduates with over $10,000 in rental assistance to secure new apartments or prevent evictions.

2005/2006

* Cold Weather Program. Accommodated 134 people in local motels for a total of 460 bed-nights. The 134 persons consisted of 60 singles and 22 families/couples. We provided over 80 boxes of food to these families and individuals
* Extended Stay Program. Accommodated 33 people in a rooming house for a total of 564 bed nights. Of the 33 served, 22 have moved on to permanent housing, 6 are in other shelters/motels, and the rest are whereabouts unknown.

2004/2005

* Cold Weather Program. Accommodated 148 people in local motels for a total of 685 bed nights. We provided over 50 boxes of food to these families.

Frequently Asked Question:

• Questions:What's a Cold Weather Program and how does that differ from an Adult Shelter?
• Answer: We operate a Cold Weather Program which provides overnight sleeping facilities during the winter months. The sleeping quarters are at local motels. We act as a central collection point and arrange transportation and housing.
  
• Question: Doesn't the Haven handle the homeless issues locally?
  
• Answer: The Haven's program is for adults with children in their care. 10 Bricks' programs are for adults with or without children. The Haven is planning on building a homeless shelter for adults without children.  Our programs compliment each other without duplicating services.
• Question:How can I help?
• Answer: You can make a financial contribution in any amount. You can talk to your employer, or any community or religious organization you may be affiliated with and ask them to support us. You can invited one of our Advisory Council members to speak to your religious or civic organization about homelessness in the Upper Valley. Besides financial support, we welcome your continued interest in our organization. If you wish to be on our mailing list of financial/moral supporters, send us an e-mail at tccaphomeless@gmail.com telling us about yourselves and your interest. We will put you on our mailing list for our newsletter.

10 Bricks Timeline - by Ruth Emery

February 2004- Joie Finley Morris and Tyler Blain, Tri-County Community Action Homeless Outreach Workers, Jim Alberghini, Nancy Bloomfield (formerly of COVER) and Ruth Emery attend Upper Valley United Way Needs Assessment Forum for 2003. Housing shortages and homelessness are priority 1 or 2 in every survey conducted that year.

March-April 2004- The group begins earnest discussions on the feasibility of organizing toward a homeless shelter in this area. The Lebanon area has many jobs and services available but no adult homeless shelter. Many must leave the area for places where there is shelter but less jobs and services.

May 2004- Joie begins writings on the need for a shelter, stating the need based on statistics through her experience as a Homeless Outreach Worker. The group writes letters to the newspapers and investigates zoning regulations.

June 2004-The group begins to hold monthly meetings and invite others interested in homelessness to attend. The new group members added are: Alan Emery, Angela Emery, Donna Makarewicz, Todd McKee, Donna Hutchins, Jane McCarthy, Ned McCarthy and the Reverend Richard Slater.

July 2004- the 10 Bricks Advisory Council is officially under the umbrella of Tri-County Cap and its members are an enthusiastic bunch of doers. We create a mission statement together that states: “The mission of 10 Bricks is to provide adults experiencing homelessness with guidance and temporary housing in a safe and dignified community.”

August 2004-We talk of our goals and make them an official part of our mission. We share our visions of what our shelter will look like and discuss every aspect. Joie and Tyler, having successfully managed another shelter, are an invaluable source of relevant information.

August 29 2004- We hold a Public Forum at the Lebanon First Congregational Church. We find an open minded audience who are supportive of our goals. The evening empowers us and we press on!

September 2004 -We apply for an Emerging Needs Grant from the Upper Valley United Way. The 10 Bricks Advisory Council grows increasingly concerned about the cold winter ahead. There is much to do before our goal of a permanent adult shelter is reached but we wonder, isn’t there something we can do about those affected by homelessness now?

October 2004- Yes there is and we call it our 10 Bricks Cold Weather Program. We explore ways to shelter in the most efficient way possible and end up with a plan that involves linking up with local motels and cab companies. We work tirelessly on the plan—we iron out wrinkles, ask tough questions and scramble for answers.

October 29 2004-We hold a ‘Friend Raiser’ event in Lebanon. We cook lots of good food and invite people who have shown an interest in housing shortages and homelessness. We enjoy the donated services of musician Ed Eastridge and his wife, Dixie. It is a lively, enjoyable evening—we feel fortunate.

November 2004- A lot happens in this month for 10 Bricks. We continue to receive a lot of good publicity from the press. We receive support and generous donations from the public including a grant from the Byrne Foundation. By the end of the month our Cold Weather Plan is activated.

December 2004 - 10 Bricks mails out our first Newsletter! Our Emerging Needs Grant from the United Way is granted—to be used to hire a professional Fund Raiser. The funds raised will allow us to purchase a building and set aside a years operating expense. The search for a property intensifies. Our Cold Weather Program, in its infancy, has provided shelter for 32 people.

January 14, 2005-We see a rising interest in our efforts and expect our membership will increase. This week and next our Building Committee will check out several properties that have come to our attention. We are organizing ourselves toward the Development phase of our vision; we are refining and specifying our goals. So far this month 10 Bricks has sheltered 15 more people affected by homelessness.

Winter 04-05 10 Bricks provides 685 nights of shelter to 148 people

May 27, 2005 - Plans for a physical plant are halted when the Valley News announces that the Haven has received a generous grant from Mark Byrne to build a shelter for adults without dependent children in their care.

10 Bricks continues to focus on the gap in emergency shelter, transitional housing and educational programming.