Sprig of Hope
I am the board Chairman of the Sprig of Hope homeless shelter project in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The project hopes to open a homeless shelter at 320 S. Sprig across the street from the Salvation Army later this year. You can support the project in many ways. We need qualified people to join the board of directors, especially those with experience in running a business, working with government housing programs, and helping people in distress get the services they need to rebuild their lives.
If you enjoy walking or running, please join in the REALTY EXECUTIVES 2nd Annual Hope for the Homeless 5K Walk/Run to benefit Sprig of Hope Saturday, April 16, 2011. The Race will begin at 8 AM at Clippard Elementary School in Cape Girardeau, MO - On Hopper Rd. Registration is $20 until April 1, when it increases to $25. For more information contact Varonnica Kirn at VaronnicaKirn@RealtyExecutives.com or call (573) 335-8111.
The following is the Executive Summary of our draft business plan. This plan is subject to change as the project unfolds. A complete draft business plan is available from Pastor Dan on request.
Executive Summary
Sprig of Hope Shelters, Inc. is a non-profit Missouri corporation organized to provide support for the homeless and needy population found in Southeast Missouri. The Corporation will procure and renovate property to be used as emergency and transitional housing and provide support for the operation of said property and other activities and initiatives for the benefit of homeless persons.
Homelessness is increasingly acknowledged as a serious problem in Cape Girardeau County. The United Way and the Community Caring Council have both made this a priority issue. Although some progress has been made in providing transitional housing, emergency housing for the homeless is very limited. At the end of 2010, it was estimated that there are only about 30 beds of emergency housing for the homeless in Cape Girardeau. At any point in time, almost all these beds are occupied. A recent point-in-time count identified 24 unsheltered homeless persons in Cape Girardeau. Although homelessness affects both men and women, and individuals and families, our initial project is focused on one of the most underserved populations—single men.
The first project planned is an emergency shelter for homeless men located at 320 S. Sprigg Street in Cape Girardeau. The current Sprig of Hope board of directors is made up of Pastor Dan Johnson (Chairperson), Kent Kopf (Vice Chairperson), Craig Bohnsack (Treasurer), and Eva Hillis (Secretary). Father Bob Towner and Reverend Karen Dumey also serve on the board.
Under phase I of operations, the emergency shelter at 320 S. Sprigg will provide up to 16 short-term beds (1 week each 30 day period). When resources permit, phase II will provide up to 8 medium-term (up to 30 days) beds, as well as showers, laundry, and evening and breakfast meals. The shelter will be closed during the day. Clients will be referred to appropriate day sites according to their needs. The shelter will provide transportation to day sites.
The Cape Girardeau police, the Salvation Army, area churches, and other partner organizations may refer clients for services. Walk-ins will not be accepted. Clients must not be a danger to themselves or others to stay in the shelter and have to be cleared for outstanding warrants by Cape Girardeau police. All clients must agree to comply with shelter rules during their stay including no drug or alcohol use. All areas of the shelter will be under 24-hour video surveillance.
Short-term beds will be assigned to client on a first-come first-serve basis. An intake coordinator will screen clients each day to assess whether it is appropriate for them to stay at the shelter. They will also assess client needs for services and refer them to other service agencies as appropriate. Clients will receive an evening meal and have access to a shower. Clients cannot bring drugs, alcohol, or food into the shelter. Clients must store all personal items in a locker while staying at the shelter. Clients will also have access to laundry facilities. Clients will have the opportunity to spending the evening socializing and engaging in approved activities (for example, playing cards, watching television, reading) with other clients and volunteers. Smoking will be allowed only in an approved outside smoking area behind the shelter. All clients must retire to their sleeping cots at the curfew. In the morning, all clients are required to fold their cots and bedding and attend breakfast. At closing time, the outtake coordinator will issue belongings to clients and will provide transportation via the Cape Transit Authority to those clients receiving referrals to day sites. After breakfast the facility with be cleaned and then secured until the evening intake.
Once resources permit, the shelter will begin phase II, medium-term housing. Clients in the medium-term program require professional case management. Ideally, a social worker employed by the shelter would provide this. If this is not possible, case management could be provided by partner agencies, including the Community Caring Council's community case manager.
In phase II, clients seeking placement in transitional housing, rehabilitation, job training, and other programs may apply for a medium-term bed. These clients will be house in two dormitory rooms, with four bunk beds per room. These clients will be assigned a case manager, at either the shelter or a partner organization, who will assist them with referrals to services and transportation. Clients will be offered referrals to physical and mental health providers, job training, transitional housing, and a full range of other services from community and government providers. Clients will be housed for 30 days. If the client does not have alternative housing after 30 days, their case manager can approve up to another 30-days of housing.
Shelter hours of operation will be initially limited to overnight, approximately 5 PM to 8 AM, depending on staffing. There will be at least one shelter employee on site at all times the shelter is open. Placement of one or more social work interns at the shelter is also planned. Volunteers can apply to work at the shelter with direct client contact, including serving meals and socializing with clients. Volunteers can also assist in shelter cleanup, record keeping, fund raising, and arranging client referrals during the day. Specially trained and qualified volunteers may be used for as intake coordinators, outtake coordinators and for overnight duty. Love INC of Southeast Missouri will coordinate church volunteers.
Currently $21,000 has been raised for building out the shelter in accordance with city codes. Major funding has come from local churches, businesses, private individuals and the United Way. Additional funds are needed to complete build-out of the shelter in compliance with city codes. Initial estimates are that a total of $60,000 needs to be raised to complete construction. Alliance Bank is providing the shelter property for $1 a year.
Operating expenses are estimated at $74,000 to $131,000 a year, depending on staffing levels. Phase I staffing would consist of two full-time staff. Phase II staffing levels depend on the extent to which cooperating agencies can provide case managers at no cost to the shelter. Retired case managers and social workers could also provide case management. If Phase II services are to be provided by shelter employees, phase II staffing would consist of a full-time case manager (MA level) and one part-time client specialist (BA level) and one part-time assistant (high school level). If partner organizations can provide some case management, the phase II case manager position will not be necessary, substantially reducing operating costs. For example, it may be possible for the Community Caring Council's Community Case Manager to be the primary case manager for some shelter clients.
The Sprig of Hope needs to raise $34,000 to complete the build out and $30,000 to fund the first 6 months of operations. Plans are to raise the bulk of capital and operating funds from local sources, primarily Cape Girardeau county churches, and the business community. We will also ask the City of Cape Girardeau to apply for funds for the shelter under the Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESGP) as authorized by Subtitle B of Title IV of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. The shelter will actively seek Federal, State, local, and foundation grant funds to supplement locally raised monies.
Future plans could include expanding hours to function also as a day center so homeless who are working or looking for work have a place to establish base. For example, job applicants need to list a phone number and an address for mail. Plans could also include an emergency shelter for women and families with children. Consideration will also be given to complementing current transitional housing programs.
Matthew 25:31-46 (New International Version, ©2011)
The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
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