10 BRICKS Homeless Programs
Programs for People Experiencing Homelessness in VT & NH's Upper Valley
Six years ago we sat in the Fireside Inn as the Upper Valley United Way revealed their Community Needs Assessment. One of the needs listed highest on the list was that of shelter for adults without dependent children experiencing homelessness. A small dedicated group pulled together their efforts and talents and created 10 Bricks. As we end the Cold Weather Program this year and hand the proverbial torch to the Haven, the agency that has successfully made this “Need” a reality, I want to take a moment to thank a few people and let everyone know what happens next.
First I would like to thank the 10 Bricks Advisory Board. Without your guidance, talent and perseverance we would not have been able to shelter over 850 residents of the Upper Valley for OVER 6,000 nights. The 10 Bricks Board has been there when we didn’t think we'd go on for 1 more night; when we didn’t know how we would build a shelter; when we heard the news that another agency was awarded funds to do what we had identified as our goal. And when we knew that we still needed to be here until that shelter was opened.
In the last six years we have lost friends too; Tyler Blain, Ned McCarthy, Donna Hutchins and Sondy Blain. For such a small group, we have suffered inordinate loss. For those of us who remain, our hearts ache everyday that Tyler, Ned, Donna and Sondy did not get to see this day come.
10 Bricks could not have gone forward with its’ mission and work had it not been for the ‘super’ support from the local hotels and landlords, the Headrest Hotline, the local groups who raised food and cash and the THOUSANDS of donors who made our work financially possible.
This brings me to the ‘What happens now’ part. The Extended Stay program part of 10 Bricks ended last summer with great success. The Rental 101 curriculum will continue to be available on-line at www.tccaphomeless.org and Listen’s JUNCTION will take over the teaching of the curriculum. The Cold Weather Program has been handed to the Upper Valley Haven. When the new shelter comes on line they will have 20 beds for adults without dependent children in their care and they will continue the “Cold Weather Program” as needed for overflow.
Tri-County CAP Homeless Outreach will resume business as usual in Grafton, Coos and Carroll Counties. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you know of someone who needs help. Lastly, from us to the Haven…Thank you very much for building this shelter and we wish you the best of luck and look forward to our continued partnership.
In Peace & Love,
Joie Finley Morris
Statistics
2009/2010*Cold Weather Program offered 275 people a total of 738 nights of safe shelter.
2008/2009
*Cold Weather Program is off to a bang starting on November 15th with a fire in Lebanon and ran until mid April serving 186 people with 615 safe nights of shelter. AND food for everyone who stayed!*45 residents utilized the Extended Stay Program for 903 nights of stay.
*Rental 101 went from a local High School this winter to the internet! and is now being taught in Nashua, NH and Rutland, VT.
2007/2008
*Cold Weather Program opened November 14th, 2007 - April 15th, 2008 we served 196 people for 588 nights in hotels.*40 Individuals have utilized our Extended Stay Program this year and stayed for 1,032. More than 75% of these residents have moved on to permanent housing.
*Rental 101 is being overhauled again! It was taught to 95 Households this year!
2006/2007
* Cold Weather Program. Accommodated 151 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 34 people in a rooming house for a total of 564 bed nights. Of the 34 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 CURRENT program is for adults with children in their care. 10
Bricks' programs are for anyone who is experiencing homelessness. The Upper Valley Haven Adult Shelter should be open for operation Spring of 2010.
- 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.
April 2, 2010 - 10 Bricks shelters its last person in a hotel!
May 2010 - The Upper Valley Haven opens a shelter for Adults without dependent children in their custody.