A Shelter Program Serving Homeless Families and Victims of Domestic Violence in Bonner County
The holiday season is upon us. It is time to be grateful for our many blessings. It is also a time for reflection.
2009 will be remembered for the unsettling mood that pervaded our country. Everyone has been impacted. Many of our friends and neighbors are in crisis and pushed to the brink of homelessness.
As an organization devoted to ending homelessness and the tragedy of domestic violence these are indeed exceptional times. We have been further challenged by the difficult environment surrounding grant financing. It is, therefore, incumbent on all of us to strive for more purposeful and impactful results in this time of scarce resources.
We currently have a total of 60 people in our service, including 14 families in our supportive housing program with 35 children. In the past year we have had a total of 101 people in our residences at Blue Haven and Trestle Creek. We currently have a waiting list of 8 families. Our domestic violence shelter, Harmony House, has assisted a total of 17 women and 13 children in addition to 25 victims in the community.
In addition to ensuring the sustainability of our existing supportive housing and domestic violence programs it is critical that our organization responds to the hardships faced by our neighbors. In the coming year we plan to facilitate the formation of a county-wide homeless advocacy group, establish a 24-hour emergency shelter, and a social service HELP Center to enhance access to community-wide programs and services.
We at T.I.P.S. are proud to be a part of the extraordinary array of services available to our community. We continue to be heartened by the remarkable support we receive in donations of food, clothing, household goods, time and financial assistance.
We ask that you regularly view our web site www.transitionsinprogress.org for updates on our current needs.
Your gifts make a real difference in the lives of your neighbors. Evidence your support by sending your tax deductable gift today.
All of us at Transitions in Progress Services wish you a safe and joyful holiday season.
Craig Koester
President, Board of Directors