2014

Lincoln Park Community ShelterBringing our community together.

Empowering life changes.

• Tour• History• Vision and values• Programs• Prevalence of Homelessness• Volunteer Program• Q & A

Objectives

History•In 1985, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless estimated that 25,000 people would be homeless in Chicago.

•Four neighboring churches established a partnership: the Church of Our Saviour Episcopal Church, Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, St. Clement Catholic Church, and St. Pauls United Church of Christ.

•February 12, 1985, the Lincoln Park Community Shelter opened its doors.

Lincoln Park Community Shelter

The Lincoln Park Community Shelter brings communities together to empower homeless men and women to make and sustain life changes.

Mission

Vision•Provide a holistic continuum of services that removes barriers and increases self-sufficiency.

•Be a leader and innovator in creating solutions to homelessness in our community.

•Believe that every person in our community has a stake in and can contribute to ending homelessness.

Values

•Accountability

•Self-Determination

•Community Engagement

LPCS is a comprehensive social service agency serving adult men and women who are experiencing homelessness. Providing shelter and other basic needs to homeless neighbors in the Lincoln Park community. Also providing interim housing, meals, and a targeted array of social services to over 300 people each year.

Service

Programs Interim Housing Community

On Track Program

Graduate Community

Community Engagement Program

Independent Community Living Program

Homelessness Is

Prevalence of Homelessness in Chicago •According to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless 2013 analysis, 116,042 Chicagoans were homeless in the course of the 2012-13 school year. A 10% increase from the previous year.

•According to the CCH 2012-2013 analysis, people living in families made up 50% of Chicago’s homeless population. With 34.8% being children and 15.2% parents or grandparents.

•According to a study conducted by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, in order to afford an Illinois rent level of $885 (2-bedroom home) and utilities –a household must earn $35,392 annually.

Additional research and references available at chicagohomeless.org.

Get involvedVolunteering – operated by a annual pool of more than 1,500 volunteers Overnight Volunteer: Overnight volunteers provide supervision for LPCS and our Guests from

9:00 PM - 6:30 AM on weekdays, and 9:00 PM 8AM on weekends. Job Coach: The Coach will work one on one with the Guest to advise them about the field,

help make networking connections for the Guest, provide materials or tools needed to begin work in the field.

Peer Coach: A volunteer with a similar background or life experience in relation to mental/physical health issues and/or substance abuse issues will work with Guest in a one on one mentor/mentee setting.

Meal Volunteer: Purchase, prepare, and serve hot meals for our clients and/or Guests (breakfast, lunch, dinner, sack lunches)

Track Volunteer: each a Daily Living Skills class or make a class of your own. Hospitality: Come assist in facilitating a hot meal, showers, laundry, and other services for our

Community Clients at this weekly Program. Front Desk: Work with our Guests, volunteers and staff. Answer phones, answer doors, and

oversee sign in/out sheet.

What do I do when…?

1. LPCS staff is outside of the building on one of their Security Patrols. This leaves you in charge inside the shelter. You notice an individual sitting in one of the chairs who you don’t recognize and you get the sense that none of the other guests are familiar with them either. What do you do?

2. You witness some guests exhibiting disrespectful behavior and taunting another guest. They are verbally mocking/making fun of them and everyone, including the individual being singled out, is laughing. What do you do?

Scenarios cont.3) You find that a guest is “talking your ear off.” You feel that it is

disruptive to your ability to accomplish your tasks. How do you handle the situation?

4) A guest confides in you about a personal problem and asks you to keep it confidential. You believe the guest may be at risk for harm (i.e. they are in an abusive relationship). What do you do?

Volunteer Expectations and Agreement• Read the handbook!• Arriving late• Cancellation policy• Taking photos of guests—As first, do not use publically • Alcohol policy• Client confidentiality• Bringing someone to volunteer with you

Volunteer Information Center

A login ID and Password will be sent to you via e-mail following the Volunteer Orientation.

Overnight, front desk and meal volunteers will be able to schedule themselves for shifts and remove themselves up to two weeks before said shift. Within two weeks of your shift, you must contact the Volunteer

Coordinator in order to be removed from the calendar.

Track Activity Volunteers (classes, tutoring, one on one program, job/peer coaching) will have to schedule through the Volunteer Coordinator.

Reminders• Meal and other group volunteers – you are responsible

for sharing the handbook information with your volunteers

• Taking home leftovers • Cleaning kitchen and putting away of dishes, pots and

pans • Parking – lot available most evenings and days, depends

on when you volunteer.• Please reply to reminders that are emailed to you!

Recording Hours• When you arrive at LPCS, sign IN in the Volunteer Sign-

In/Sign Out log (round to the nearest quarter of an hour)

• When you leave don’t forget to sign out!

Questions? Comments?

Contact Us:

Lauren KirbyVolunteer CoordinatorE-mail: lpcsinfo@lpcsonline.orgPhone: (773) 549-6111 ext. 216

Lashawnda M. Carter Community Relations & Development ManagerEmail: lcarter@lpcsonline.orgPhone: (773) 549-6111 ext. 202

@LincolnParkCS Lincoln Park Community Shelter Lincolnparkcs