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News release from the City of Fort Wayne:
Mayor Henry announces City’s Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services helping meet winter weather shelter needs
City prepared for anticipated cold temperatures; Winter weather plan in place
(January 18, 2019) – Mayor Tom Henry today announced that with leadership and help from the City of Fort Wayne’s Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services, $10,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding will go toward efforts to help provide overnight accommodations for homeless single women.
With temperatures and wind chills expected to reach dangerous levels this weekend through early next week, providing shelter to those in need is a top priority.
The sheltering of homeless single women has been identified as a community challenge that needed to be addressed. Christian Praise and Fellowship Church will provide the service.
The Rescue Mission provides overnight shelter for homeless men, and Just Neighbors Interfaith Homeless Network provides overnight space for homeless families.
The Rescue Mission also serves as the lead provider of a warming shelter in the City of Fort Wayne.
In addition, the Rescue Mission also oversees the intake of all individuals and families in need of shelter. Anyone in need of shelter needs to first start at the Rescue Mission and not go directly to the other organizations providing help.
Fort Wayne’s Winter Contingency/Emergency Shelter Plan is in place and is a partnership between the City of Fort Wayne, the Rescue Mission, Just Neighbors Interfaith Homeless Network, Christian Praise and Fellowship Church, the Salvation Army, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department, Park Center, the 211 Resource Center, operated by United Way of Allen County, and Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana.
Highlights of the Winter Contingency/Emergency Shelter Plan:
Partner Agencies agree to:
Primary Provider – Services commencing at 40 Degrees
The Rescue Mission will be the primary provider for the program offering shelter and food to individuals needing assistance. Overnight accommodations will be provided at the Mission for adult men. The Rescue Mission will request assistance of plan partners as needed to provide safe and comprehensive shelter.
Secondary Provider – Services commencing at 32 Degrees
Just Neighbors Interfaith Homeless Network will provide overnight shelter for families with children as space allows. When families arrive at the Rescue Mission requesting shelter, and no one appears to be under the influence, staff will contact Just Neighbors to arrange for emergency accommodations. Just Neighbors will not be able to provide transportation to their facility.
Secondary Provider – Services commencing at 20 Degrees
Christian Praise and Fellowship Church will provide overnight shelter for single women. When an individual arrives at the Rescue Mission requesting shelter, staff will contact Christian Praise and Fellowship Church to arrange for emergency accommodations.
Secondary Provider – Services commencing at 10 Degrees
When the temperature drops below 10 degrees, The Salvation Army will serve as a backup provider of overnight accommodations to men, women and children when requested to do so by the Rescue Mission. The Rescue Mission will provide transportation for clients to the Salvation Army as needed.
Secondary Provider – Services commencing at 10 Degrees
When the temperature drops below 10 degrees, The Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department, a division of the City of Fort Wayne, will serve as a backup provider of daytime warming centers for men, women and children when requested to do so by the Rescue Mission. The Rescue Mission will provide transportation for clients to the designated warming centers as needed.
Technical Services Provider – Services commencing on an on-call basis
Park Center will provide Outreach Team members to help connect clients to services. Any of the partner agencies may contact the Park Center outreach staff directly to request assistance.
Communication Provider – 211 Resource Center, operated by United Way of Allen County will direct those in need on how to access services provided by the plan.
Financial Considerations – If our community experiences a difficult winter with severe weather, the City of Fort Wayne reserves the right to have flexibility to possibly provide financial resources that would assist program partners with staffing of facilities on an as-needed basis.
Logistics – The Rescue Mission will serve as the point of entry for all clients and that intake may be in-person at the Rescue Mission or by phoning Rescue Mission staff for instructions.
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