HOMEWARDBOUND OF THE GRAND VALLEY

HomewardBound is the only community homeless shelter within a 100 mile radius serving families, single women, our homeless veterans and single men. Our economy has affected so many that have never been homeless before. We know that our community still has those homeless individuals that are highly visible, (pan handling, passing time in parks). But we primarily house those much less visible. Single moms, with small children. Families who have lost their homes to foreclosure. Single woman over 45 who are divorced, had an emergency illness, or aged out of the service work field. Many folks that have just not been able to make ends meet in these hard economic times. HomewardBound has been three plus years operating at full capacity. This year alone we served a record 109,800+ meals and 4,860 sack lunches for the working. HomewardBound provided 49,437 nights of shelter for those in need to 1,308 unduplicated people including 182 children, 67 families. Veterans make up 11% of residents. Domestic violence victims make up 17% of residents and the average stay for men and woman is 47 days, while families stay an average of 23 days. In addition to our year-round Shelter, we also run three case-managed transitional living programs; the Phoenix Program for veterans, the Family Stability Program and the Family Transitional Program. This year alone we provided 494 days of medical for the most ill or recovering from surgery, community food boxes to over 300 households and collaborated with several agencies on employment training opportunities. All programs at HomewardBound whether for families or individuals are designed to encourage a journey back to self-sufficiency.