Bethany House Services

Bethany House provides emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness those living on the streets, in their cars, or other places considered unfit for human habitation. Shelter services include safety, meals, case management, life skills classes, children's programming, mental health assessment and connections with community service providers. Bethany House strives to meet not only the immediate physical needs of every family member while they are in shelter, but also to provide the family unit with the skills, knowledge and support needed to establish a stable home. Each family works with a social worker who supports them through identifying their needs and barriers, then provides connections to appropriate community resources. All staff are trained in trauma informed care, considered best practice by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)and the National Center on Family Homelessness. Trauma-informed care promotes a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing. Children's programming provides group sessions; assisting with enrollment in childcare or school; developmental assessments for children under 5.5 yrs.; socialization outings into the community; referrals for mental and physical health issues. Families who have exited from shelter are followed and provided with post-shelter stabilization services as needed to avoid repeated episodes of homelessness.For majority of 2022, families in the two communal shelters remain in extended stay hotels so that each family had their own kitchenette and bathroom facilities. Initially, case management was provided by phone or virtual meetings. All children were provided with the equipment they needed to participate in their own school's classes. An educational specialist was hired to support the students as they struggled with the new procedures as well as the coursework. Apartment inspections were often conducted virtually. Our communal shelters remain closed. As of October 7, 2022, all families in the extended stay hotel and scattered sites moved into the new facility at 4769 Reading Rd. All services resumed under one roof included the nutrition program which provides three meals and two snacks per day.In 2022, 251 families received comprehensive shelter services: 1025 individuals, 693 of whom were under the age of 18. Outcomes remained very good despite the challenges presented by COVID 84% of the families who exited from shelter during the year moved into a positive housing situation; 35% of those who exited did so with increased income.

Permanent supportive housing programs are available to homeless families when at least one member has a permanent disability or serious, persistent condition. Permanent supportive housing is a combination of housing and services intended as a cost-effective way to help all people live more stable, productive lives. Case management services are more intensive in this program to meet the greater needs of the families and although rapid rehousing program assistance is time-limited, permanent supportive case management and financial assistance services are not. In 2022, 26 families comprised of 99 individuals (66 of whom were children) were served through the Bethany House Permanent Supportive Housing program.

Permanent supportive housing programs are available to homeless families when at least one member has a permanent disability or serious, persistent condition. Permanent supportive housing is a combination of housing and services intended as a cost-effective way to help all people live more stable, productive lives. Case management services are more intensive in this program to meet the greater needs of the families and although rapid rehousing program assistance is time-limited, permanent supportive case management and financial assistance services are not. In 2022, 26 families comprised of 99 individuals (66 of whom were children) were served through the Bethany House Permanent Supportive Housing program.

Shelter Diversion identifies immediate permanent housing and provides case management and rental assistance for families at imminent risk of homelessness. Shelter Diversion is more cost-effective than entering an Emergency Shelter, plus the family avoids the trauma of homelessness. In 2022, BHS served 90 families, 280 individuals, and 179 of them children. KEYS is a different shelter diversion program for youth age 18-24. BHS works with parenting youth as our specialty in the national youth homelessness project, working with individuals in the age range who are often doubled up and at risk of becoming fully homelessness if not for our intervention toward housing stabilization and increased income. In 2022, BHS served 24 families, 68 individuals, and 41 of them children.Aftercare provides a safety net for families who have left shelter but experience an emergency situation that threatens their housing stability. No matter how long it has been since the family experienced homelessness, Aftercare provides landlord mediation, emergency financial assistance, connections to relevant community agencies - whatever it takes for the family to keep their home and prevent another episode of homelessness. In 2022, BHS served 102 families, 391 individuals, 270 of them children.Bethany Homes is a 24-unit apartment building for economically challenged individuals and families, most of whom are supported by a single female working provider. Every family who comes into the shelter needs permanent, safe, affordable housing. Since 2000, Bethany House Services has been the lead agency for funding of case management services for the homeless families in Cincinnati. The level of collaboration among the three agencies within the Family Housing Partnership (FHP) is unique in Cincinnati's social services arena, and today the partnership is stronger than ever. In 2022, the FHP Agencies, Bethany House Services, Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cincinnati, Salvation Armay and YWCA Greater Cincinnati, made great strides in the implementation of Solutions for Family Homelessness (S4FH), the community-wide plan to make family homelessness rare, brief and a one-time event. In addition, all employees participate in an evidence-based Trauma Informed Care training.