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Program Updates:
Transitional Housing Program
People are calling us daily, asking about availability of transitional housing apartments. This is keeping Transitional Housing Director Carol Jackson very busy giving out information, receiving housing applications, and placing people in appropriate facilities. As of the second week in July, there are no openings in Agnes’s Inn Between, John’s Delaware Lodge, or Billie’s Manor but there are a few single women’s apartments at Ada’s place. Because of the ever-increasing number of applications, Carol now has a formal waiting list for all housing requests, so that she can better track when the applications come in. We have an excellent group of residents at all facilities now, and we are very proud of that.
Carol has successfully partnered with referral organizations such as The Salvation Army, Julian Center, The Gennesaret Clinic, Coburn Place, and our own Waldron W.I.N.G.S. in order to assist in finding low-cost housing for people in need. If you have any questions or know someone who is looking for transitional housing, please contact Carol at (317) 283-5730 or email her at cjackson@q4e.org.
Luise’s Love Child Care Center
Program Director Charity Jablonski greets her adorable three- to six-year-old charges with a smile each morning, knowing they are coming to a place where they are loved and cared for like family. The Luise’s Love teachers have been there many years, and are dedicated to preparing each child to eventually enter kindergarten successfully.
Tuition is lower than other child care centers (many pay as little as $25-$45 a week per child), without skimping on quality care. Charges are based on a sliding scale to income, and CCDF is also accepted. We would love to care for more children at Luise’s! If you know anyone in need of low-cost, quality child care, please call Charity at (317) 630-1543.
Waldron W.I.N.G.S. (Women In Need of Growing Strong)
Our domestic violence shelter has been extremely busy and at capacity most of the time. Although the presence of victims at the shelter is a grim reality of these times, the staff at W.I.N.G.S. work very hard to empower the shelter clients with tools for better decision-making, resources for jobs and job search preparation, classes in budgeting/financial management, and group counseling sessions.
W.I.N.G.S. was recently awarded an Emergency Shelter Grant through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, which was approximately 30% higher than the previous year’s award. We are grateful that IHCDA thinks highly of our organization and is increasing the grant so that we can continue to provide much-needed services to the women and children who come to us.
SPECIAL REPORT: A W.I.N.G.S. SUCCESS STORY
When Sonya entered our domestic violence shelter at W.I.N.G.S. last year, she was carrying a baby boy less than a year old and was pregnant with her little girl. After her daughter was born she started working two jobs to make ends meet (one day and one night job). She was able to move into one of Q4E’s transitional housing units under the encouraging and protective eye of Housing Director Carol Jackson. Recently Sonya decided to improve her financial and career future even more and began to take CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) classes, while still working a full-time job. She has just graduated from those classes, is now working in a Veteran’s Administration nursing home, and is going to start a training class at Larue Carter Hospital. When she completes the class at the hospital and gets settled in at the nursing home, Sonya has plans to go back to school at Ivy Tech to complete her nursing degree. This is one determined young woman, and she is doing all this with no child support or assistance from others. We applaud Sonya as one of our best W.I.N.G.S. success stories, and encourage others that they can do the same if they truly want to accomplish their goals.
EMPLOYEE UPDATES
*Caryn Smola is the new Executive Director of Quest for Excellence. She has a strong background in management, not-for-profit work, training and counseling. Caryn replaces MeLissa Williams who left to return to her family in the Evansville area.
* Yvonne Hughes is the new Program Director for Waldron W.I.N.G.S. Yvonne’s background is in case management, mental health counseling and public school student/parent facilitation. Michelle Comstock will be missed as she leaves us after almost two years.
* Kristen Weir is the new Case Manager at W.I.N.G.S. She comes to us from the Indiana Department of Child Services and holds a degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University.
* M.E. Johnson is a new Resident Advocate at W.I.N.G.S. We love her because she loves midnight shifts!
*Darius Conley is the new Kitchen Manager at Luise’s Love. The children love having a wonderful male role model around, and he makes great food, too!
DONATION CENTER ALERT
We are always so grateful for the tremendous generosity of people who continue to contribute clothes, furniture and other items to the David R. Davis Donation Center. However, that generosity has put us a little behind in our ability to meet all the pick-up requests. Please be patient with us, since we may not be able to pick up your items until the third or fourth week of July. Please continue to call (317) 925-1387 with your donation pick-up requests, and of course, you may drop off items to the center any time Monday through Friday.
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