A Project Fact Sheet

Leah’s House Complex Fact Sheet

A collaborative public-private partnership to improve housing facilities and supportive services to homeless women and children in St. Mary’s County, Maryland

About St. Mary’s County Homeless

The services of Leah’s House are needed and carried out in light of the gaps in services recognized by the Homeless Prevention Committee meetings held during the year. According to the Point-In-Time Survey of the homeless population conducted on January 25, 2007, there were 1,345 homeless individuals observed. At that point in time, only fourteen percent of the counties homeless were sheltered. In addition, there were 5,156 motel nights funded for the homeless in St. Mary’s County in 2007¹and the average length of stay in a motel was 15 days.

Episodes of homelessness can stem from prolonged unemployment, sudden loss of employment, lack of affordable housing, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness, and lack of independent living skills. The Maryland Office of Children, Youth and Families report, Maryland’s Results for Child Well-Being 2005, that Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties were among the worst in demonstrating stable and economically independent families in Maryland.

In rural areas, research indicates that families, single mothers and children make up the largest group of people who are homeless.[1]

Figure 1

Gap In Services	How this project addresses gap
Limited # of available beds for homeless	As of October of 2008, fifteen beds are now offered from the site, with fifteen additional beds to be provided with the completion of the new building. Phase III will bring an additional 8 beds.
*No safe house in the county*	Leah’s House will provide services to homeless women and children including victims of domestic violence with an increased level of security at the new site.
County’s 2007 Point-In-Time Survey yielded 1,345 homeless, only 14% were sheltered	As shelter beds are increased, number of individuals not sheltered will decrease by 25%
5,156 motel nights funded for the homeless in 2007 = $360,920	1,676 beds nights provided by LH in 2007 equaling an aprox. savings of $115,010. We estimate at least 2,670 beds in 2008 a 40% increase from 2007.
Average length of stay in a motel was 15 days in 2007	Offering emergency beds up to 30 days and transitional housing for up to 24 months
County lacks services addressing homeless and domestic violence issues effecting youth	Providing positive alternatives to shelter youth

In addition, homelessness among the residents of Leah’s House is compounded by abuse and/or violence perpetuated on them and sometimes their children by husbands, domestic partners, or boyfriends. Children are not immune to this abuse. Every day more than three children die as a result of abuse at home, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Since the number of shelter beds available in the county does not currently meet demand, the Leah’s House Shelter Project is important to the health and safety of both individuals and families.

Overview of Building Use

Providing comprehensive services and opportunities for homeless women and children including the physical provision of emergency beds and onsite temporary, furnished transitional housing

This is the first project of its kind in this rural area. After the construction of this 10,000 square foot Family Services Center Housing Leah’s House our organization will have a much greater capacity for multiple services for residents. This project will ensure more beds are available to serve homeless persons including victims of abuse from all areas of the county.

At present, Leah’s House provides shelter for up to fifteen women and children in a manufactured home recently purchased by the organization to house families until the new building is in place.

Programs for the Homeless at the Leah’s House Campus:

Leah’s House Provides Shelter for Homeless Women and Children. Residents are required to actively pursue goals for housing, employment, treatment, education, etc. Limited counseling, referral to other social service agencies, medical prescriptions, rental, and mortgage assistance, financial/budget education and recommendations for permanent housing are also available. Empowering these families begins the moment they make contact with Leah’s House. An assessment of current needs and resources is made available. Over the next few weeks and months, residents develop a plan of action with the help of a Case Manager and are connected with the other service providers to help them make the transition into individuals who have greater control over their lives.

Addressing Rural Community Needs thru Collaborations (ARCNC) In collaboration with 15 other agencies via a Memorandum of Understanding LH provides greater access to services. These agencies provide residents the support, skills and encouragement to create a more positive future.

Domestic Violence Shelter/Program Seminars Strives to enhance community's awareness and sensitivity to the need to have a new response to the issues of domestic violence and homelessness.

4. Supporting Organizations like A Better Life (ABL), which helps provide for victims of domestic abuse. Since its inception it has served 320 short term referrals, 125

long term and 6 persons with an off site rent free efficiency apartment for up to one year. This is achieved by helping individuals/families with living expenses and

providing areas of support not available through other agencies. ABL serves an average of 20 to 30 residents per year.

Shelter Life Living Program This project is committed to helping residents adjust to shelter life; achieve self-confidence, self-reliance, and independence. It empowers them to take control of their lives, discuss and share their own personal emotions that can come with being in a strange environment with the many restrictions that are necessary for group living.

Dinah's Domestic Abuse Survivors Home (D.A.S.H.) is a planned safe house that will offer an additional 8 beds dedicated solely to the emergency sheltering of fleeing survivors of abuse. Even after responding to the need, the challenges women and children in crisis face are great. LH staff, on occasion have transported survivors out of county to neighboring safe houses. D.A.S.H. will be supported in part by the Family Services Center supporting Leah's House.

Innovative Youth services addressing the needs of homeless youth. This program offers positive alternatives to at risk youth and meets with them on a weekly basis. Youth at the shelter are integrated into this group which addresses behavior issues and offers conflict mediation/resolution, teen dating violence prevention, responding to and coping with peer pressure, and addressing teen victimization.

For this campus type setting the organization purchased a three plus acre property in November 2007. Its approach to meeting the needs of homeless families in St. Mary’s County is per the following:

Phase I Construction of Family Services Center Housing the Leah’s House Shelter

Has preliminary site plan approval and has been preparing documentation and participating in an ongoing application process since 2007. Demolition, environmental studies, post appraisal, and architectural drawing are complete.

After completion the following additional services will be offered;

a) Fifteen emergency and transitional sheltering facilities for women and children including victims of domestic violence. This building will house 5 bedrooms (with room for future expansion) a computer lab for educational and vocational purposes, room for in-house 12 Step meetings for residents only. Interior and exterior play area, media center, reading area, etc.

b) Child Enrichment Center (providing shelter residents childcare, internships, and employment). One of the immediate needs of women and children in crisis is affordable childcare. This center will serve up to 30 children. Shelter residents can receive purchase of care vouchers which aid the women in affording care and help bring sustainability to the shelter programs. Childcare services will continue to be available to residents after they exit the shelter as a means of continued supportive services.

c) Food service facility (commercial kitchen) providing a dining room for residents, job training, and food service to the childcare center.

d) Multipurpose room for before and after school care programs for shelter residents; onsite classrooms offering G.E.D. and college level courses for residents; domestic violence prevention training; Residents are encouraged to pursue or complete their education – this will bring college courses on site to residents. This area will house a computer lab, and space for in house 12 step meetings for supportive services to residents only.

e) Onsite meeting space for resident and staff, other county or nonprofit agencies with direct services for shelter residents. (i.e. DSS caseworkers, counselors). Offices for staff.

f) Exterior amenities include parking, outdoor playground, walking paths, basketball and tennis courts, picnic area.

g) Administrative offices are currently located in construction trailers and will be moved to the new building upon completion.

Phase II. A Second 15 Bed Shelter Homeon same property. Phase II has already been initiated to meet the immediate shelter needs of the homeless community. Leah’s House, as a part of this campus type project placed a 2040 square foot manufactured home on the site. This building currently can support up to fifteen beds and represents a major joint community effort. It offers an increased level of security; privacy for residents with children and will have an outdoor play area for children. In addition laundry facilities, a small computer lab area are on site, as well as room for the night security staff. This home setup required a new road, water lines, electric, and the installation of a new septic tank. Once the new building is completed it is expected that residents from this home will have access to the common areas in the main building. i.e computer lab, main dining room, childcare resources, G.E.D classes etc

Phase III. A Third Shelter Home is planned for late 2010.This house for homeless adult women only is a part of this campus project and at no additional cost to the grantor application a second 2040 square foot manufactured home will be placed on the site. This building will support up to eight more beds. It will offer an increased level of security and privacy for residents without children. Housing its own laundry facilities, a small computer area etc. Once the new building is completed it is expected that residents from this home will have access to the common areas in the main building. i.e computer lab, main dining room, childcare resources, G.E.D classes etc.

Resident Description

The following is, in part, in the resident’s own words.

Clare writes "I am a forty year old female with two children. As a result of emotional and sexual abuse In my lifetime, I had been in two women's shelters, one in Idaho, and the other in Colorado, before I came to Leah's House Women and Children's Shelter of St. Mary's County, MD,. Because of LH I am more able to live stable and without abuse. Because of Pastor Marguerite Morris and the Leah's House staff, I have been able to become more independent. I have also met some very wonderful women during my time at Leah's House. They are wonderful and courageous and shared their stories; I now realize that I am not alone, knowing that God brought me here, and that I do not have to live in fear"

Clare arrived weak/timid and frail having been put on a bus with very little food and money for a 16 hour ride. She had no income or insurance and her meds were over $3,500 per month. She now gets SSD, has Medicare and takes pride in her appearance. Clare has learned how to budget her finances, and she has plans to purchase a car with her savings.

[1] ibid