Model Proposals - Specific Funding Request by Interfaith House

One of VNA's grantmaking priorities is to fund programs which can demonstrate objective measures of their impact on a population or problem. In addition, we enjoy funding programs which offer innovative solutions to problems facing the needy populations we seek to serve.

Interfaith House (IH), a unique respite care center designed to serve ill and injured homeless adults who need a place to recover after being released from the hospital or emergency room, neatly addresses both these funding priorities in the proposal presented below.

This proposal was for a renewal grant in support of IH's Respite Program (currently being considered for replication throughout the country), in which homeless clients are allowed to recover at IH in a safe and supervised environment, and access assessment, housing, employment and case management services. During its previous VNA grant, Interfaith House's success rate for placing its clients in post-IH housing opportunities was an extremely impressive 70%, and the clear outcome measures enumerated in this proposal promise similar strong results.

The proposal was approved in full by the VNA Foundation Board at its November 1, 2001 board meeting. We are pleased to offer it as the Proposal of the Quarter for the quarter ending December 31, 2001.

Interfaith House respectfully requests a renewal grant of $40,000 from the VNA Foundation to support the operation of Interfaith House as a Respite Center. If awarded, Interfaith House will use grant funds to support its efforts to serve ill and injured homeless adults in need of a place to recover from a short term physical illness or injury.

VISION AND MISSION OF INTERFAITH HOUSE

Interfaith House is a 60-bed, not-for-profit Respite Center dedicated to healing the ill and injured homeless and to empowering those we serve to break the cycle of homelessness. We support and inspire our residents to restore their health and to rebuild their lives through integrated services in a wholistic healing community. Our mission is to provide short-term residential and support services for homeless adults in need of recovery from an acute medical illness or injury. Through our team of professional staff, committed service partners, and dedicated volunteers we:

• Support our residents' needs for health, social and spiritual services, healing and reflection, and longer-term housing.
• Advocate for persons who are homeless and for solutions to homelessness.
• Provide measurable excellence in caring, cost-effective, wholistic healing that inspires and serves as a model for others.
• Offer learning opportunities for students, interns and volunteers on homelessness issues and services.

HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION

Located on Chicago's West Side, Interfaith House is a 60-bed, nonsectarian Respite Center providing housing and wholistic support for homeless adult men and women recovering from acute medical illness or injury. Founded in 1994 by the Interfaith Council for the Homeless, and an independent 501(c)(3) since 1996, Interfaith House helps fill a critical gap in services for ill and injured homeless adults who have been discharged from citywide hospitals and emergency shelters and require housing and support during their medical recovery. By offering a range of integrated services on site, and partnering with local health and social service agencies to provide ongoing outplacement, treatment, and referrals, Interfaith House aims to move homeless individuals through Chicago's Continuum of Care toward future wellness and self-sufficiency. As the only Respite Center of its kind in the Midwest, Interfaith House is nationally recognized as a model for cost-effective homeless healthcare, and for local interagency partnerships that promote continuity of treatment for the many complex factors underlying homelessness.

INTERFAITH HOUSE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

As a Respite Center, Interfaith House will respond to the need described below and serve ill and injured homeless adults through two main programs; namely, the Assessment/Respite Program and the Supportive Living Program. Homeless persons in need of a place to recover from an illness or injury are referred to Interfaith House's Assessment/Respite Program by nearly 60 Chicago area hospitals and the Chicago Department of Human Services (CDHS). Once admitted, all residents participate in an assessment process to determine their medical and psychosocial needs, and receive appropriate services. Residents generally stay between 2 and 8 weeks, and are provided with an array of services (described below). Above all, the overall goal of Interfaith House's efforts is to support its residents to achieve greater self-sufficiency and housing stability.

Interfaith House also provides longer-term housing and services for residents nearing completion of their medical recovery plan through its 12-bed Supportive Living Program. Residents who have shown an increased commitment to addressing underlying issues related to their homelessness and/or demonstrated peer leadership qualities are invited to apply for an additional stay of up to six months. Supportive Living also provides transitional housing for residents with a complicating disability that makes placement into other housing situations particularly difficult. Residents participate in structured programs with the goal of achieving greater self-sufficiency, and support the Interfaith House community by serving as "room captains," mentoring new residents, performing house jobs, and representing Interfaith House at public forums.

In addition to short- and longer-term housing, Interfaith House offers all residents the following services and programs year-round:

Supportive Health Services. Working with referring hospitals and healthcare providers, Interfaith House develops and monitors individual medical recovery plans, provides access to primary medical care, offers weekly one-on-one and group health education sessions, and maintains safe, supervised storage and distribution of medications.

Health Services Clinic.
Currently, more than two-thirds of residents arrive with no prior relationship to a primary care service provider. Interfaith House's Health Services Collaborative, a partnership with Rush University School of Nursing, Chicago Health Outreach, and P.C.C. Community Wellness Center (affiliated with West Suburban Hospital), maintains an on-site health clinic that offers residents access to primary care services five days a week.

Social Services.
Recognizing the many cofactors that contribute to continued homelessness, Interfaith House provides on-site case managers and referral counselors to assist residents in assessing and identifying related psychological and social issues such as mental illness and substance abuse. Interfaith House staff coordinates referrals to community programs and support services, as well as appropriate temporary or permanent housing and public assistance programs.

HIV/AIDS Education and Services.
Over the past four years, the total number of Interfaith House residents identified as living with HIV/AIDS has multiplied dramatically, from less than 5% to 20%. (This does not take into account residents who may be untested or choose not to disclose their diagnoses during their stay.) In response to the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS among Chicago's homeless population, Interfaith House provides dedicated case management, confidential on-site testing and counseling, group and one-on-one support sessions, supportive housing referrals, and twice-weekly HIV/AIDS/STD education programs that are mandatory for all residents.

Resident Life Services.
Interfaith House's Resident Life staff supports and oversees residents' compliance with medical recovery plans, promotes a harmonious communal environment, coordinates recreational opportunities such as the Horticultural Therapy program (a collaboration with Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory), and implements daily education programs on a variety of topics such as health, hygiene, and nutrition.

Transportation Services.
Interfaith House provides daily transportation and/or CTA fare cards to residents for outpatient and follow-up medical appointments, and other off-site services such as public aid, recovery, and mental health programs.

ADA Accessibility.
Interfaith House provides wheelchair ramps, an elevator, wheelchair-accessible showers, adjustable beds, dietary accommodations for residents with special needs, and a wheelchair-accessible paratransport bus.

Alumni Outreach Services.
Cultivating trust between service providers and clients is a key factor in helping individuals successfully address and overcome issues of ill-health and homelessness. Interfaith House offers all successfully discharged residents the opportunity to maintain established relationships with case management, health care, and social services staff through phone calls and office visits for ongoing support, referrals, and education.

PARTNERSHIPS

For the majority of residents, Interfaith House represents a unique opportunity to move beyond the day-to-day struggle of street survival and begin to address, in a supportive environment, the many physical, social, and psychological factors that contribute to their homelessness. Through its extensive network of interagency partnerships, Interfaith House provides residents with access to critical health and social service resources, such as primary health care (described above), HIV/AIDS testing, substance abuse and psychological counseling, and job placement. Interfaith House also maintains formalized outplacement partnerships with Housing Opportunities for Women, Deborah's Place, Chicago Christian Industrial League, and AIDSCare to provide continuing housing and support services for residents. As a member of the Partnership to End Homelessness, a non-profit organization of nearly 70 area homeless service providers, Interfaith House works with local government agencies and homeless organizations to assess existing services, explore strategic collaborations that will improve Chicago's Continuum of Care, and raise public awareness of homeless issues.

INTERFAITH HOUSE STAFF AND QUALIFICATIONS

Interfaith House's executive team is made up of an Executive Director, a Director of Development, a Finance Director, an Operations/Human Resource Director, and a Programs Director. Interfaith House's programs staff consists of three case managers, a mental health referrals counselor, a substance abuse referrals counselor, two supportive health services coordinators, a licensed clinical social worker, eleven 24-hour resident life support staff, a full kitchen staff to provide three meals per day, seven days per week, five housekeeping staff, and more than 150 volunteers, including professional educators and interns.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND EVALUATION

Between July 1, 2001 and June 30, 2002, Interfaith House expects to intervene at a critical moment in the lives of between 450 to 500 unduplicated ill and injured homeless adults by providing an alternative to the streets after hospitalization. During this same time period, the following outcomes are expected:

• 90% of its residents will be supported to complete their medical recovery plan.
• 80% of its residents will be assisted to identify and receive assistance with their psychosocialissues.
• 75% of its residents will be assisted to obtain successful placement into appropriate transitional shelter, permanent and/or supportive housing, or treatment.
• Interfaith House quantitatively measures programs and services using standard government and private documentation forms. Staff members file monthly statistics with the Programs Director, who compiles quarterly reports. These reports are reviewed on a semi-annual basis to evaluate staff efforts, guide program policy and delivery of services, and target areas for change or improvement. Interfaith House also qualitatively assesses its programs through weekly interdisciplinary staff meetings, resident discharge questionnaires, and bimonthly
• Resident Council meetings, in which longer-term residents dialogue about quality-of-life issues at Interfaith House.

LONG-RANGE PLAN

Currently, Interfaith House is the only facility in the Chicago area completely dedicated to providing comprehensive respite care to ill and injured homeless adults. As a result, demand for its services regularly exceeds capacity: while Interfaith House served nearly 1,000 individuals during the past two years, records indicate that more than 500 appropriate referrals were denied admission solely due to lack of bed space. In response to the extreme need for respite care services for Chicago's homeless, Interfaith House is taking steps to increase its organizational capacity, enhance its visibility as a model program, and advocate for improved homeless services. In collaboration with the consulting firm of Roberts, Nathanson & Wolfson, Interfaith House recently developed and approved a long-range Strategic Plan.
Over the next three years, this plan aims to:

• Increase Interfaith House's visibility and promote its partnership model through public relations initiatives and networking with nationwide colleagues in the field;
• Maintain and expand fundraising efforts; increase individual, corporate, and major gifts; and establish a reserve fund;
• Strengthen administrative capacity through development, training, retention, and recruitment initiatives; and provide for a succession of leadership;
• Improve the quality of residential support services; expand existing partnerships and create new collaborations; and support continuity of care for all residents;
• Enhance evaluation and reporting processes, and expand research opportunities for measuring Interfaith House's impact on homelessness;
• Identify and implement a plan to increase Interfaith House's capacity within the greater Chicago area;
• Collaborate with local and national networks to pursue advocacy strategies that will support the missions of Interfaith House and its partners;
• Formalize internship and learning partnerships with local universities and educational institutions; and establish Interfaith House as a teaching and learning site for individuals pursuing health and human service careers.

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Interfaith House's wholistic approach and its early and innovative use of interagency partnerships, is now recognized as a leading model for cost-effective homeless healthcare nationwide. In September 2000, Interfaith House, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Primary Health Care (Health Care for the Homeless Branch) and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, hosted the first national conference to focus on respite care for the homeless. As part of the conference, 34 homeless services providers and community groups from more than 20 cities, including Nashville, Memphis, Boston, Washington, D.C., Portland, Austin, Orlando, and Los Angeles, visited Interfaith House to learn from its experience, and explore methods for replicating Interfaith House's successful partnership strategy in their home communities.

Also in September 2000, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago selected Interfaith House as one of eight community-based Chicago agencies to participate in its "Evaluation for Excellence." Working with a researcher from the University of Chicago, Interfaith House is conducting a 12-month study to assess the impact of its current HIV/AIDS services on Chicago's homeless population. While approximately $35 million in government funds was spent on AIDS prevention and care last year, none of these financial resources was directed toward evaluation projects. The AIDS Foundation initiative represents a significant opportunity to measure and enhance Interfaith House's HIV/AIDS programs, assess the quality and outcomes of citywide HIV prevention and care services, and offer a national blueprint for addressing the needs of this growing segment of the homeless population

VNA Facts

More than half of uninsured families earn an annual income of less than $35,000 for a family of four and private health insurance can exceed 10% of this income.

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