Programs and Services
Since its origin, CES has provided high-quality, direct services to persons with emergency and ongoing needs. In each “crisis interview,” CES attempts to go beyond the stated need in order to discover—and help resolve— any underlying needs that may have contributed to the crisis. Programs and services include Rent & Mortgage Assistance, Joshua Transitional Housing Program, Utility Assistance Program, Kids Care Program, and Emergency Food & Hygiene Assistance.
Other services include the following:
• Emergency Transportation
• Overflow Site for Women’s Shelter
• Referring Agency for CARS Corporation
• Neighborhood Bible Fellowship
• Meals on Wheels
• Urban Softball Series
• Senior High Rise Deliveries
• Alpha Lighthouse Ministry
• Fare For All Host Site
• Employment and Referral Assistance
• Housing Link Service Site
• Advocacy Work.
THE JOSHUA FAMILY HOUSING PROGRAM
The Joshua Family Housing Program is a transitional program designed to assist families trying to move from welfare to work and families who need extended assistance due to a crisis situation that has interrupted the family income. In either case, through this six-month to one-year program, CES assists families with housing-related needs and other needs so that they can move toward self-sufficiency. The families in this program are chosen from existing CES housing clients, referrals from self-sufficiency programs, or referrals from churches.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ASSISTANCE
Affordable housing is a growing problem in the Twin Cities. CES is usually able to assist with paying a portion of rent for families (and occasionally for individuals) who have an eviction notice in hand or who have already been evicted. Local foundations, corporations, and individuals provide the necessary resources to meet these needs. CES is also able to work with other social service agencies, landlords, and caretakers to find serious solutions to people’s housing problems.
KIDS CARE PROGRAM
As a result of networking through TURN (Twin Cities Urban Reconciliation Network), Hennepin County, the Greater Minneapolis Daycare Association, and CAPI (Center for Asians and Pacific Islanders), CES is able to assist low-income mothers who are well-qualified to open their homes for licensed childcare. When the only barrier to licensing is the required equipment (i.e. – cribs, smoke detectors, first-aid kits, etc.), CES provides it. Since June 1997, CES has facilitated the opening of more than 309 licensed childcare centers.
FARE FOR ALL
Fare For All (FFA) is a nationwide self-help food program (known in some states as “Fare Share”) that has been serving the Twin Cities for five years. For $14 and two hours of community service, participants receive $30-worth of carefully selected food items. Each package contains 15 or more items including meats, vegetables, and staples such as rice, pasta, and bread. The package content varies, depending on the best buys for the month. FFA is not charity or welfare, but enables thousands of people to cut food costs by purchasing in mass quantity, thus minimizing local hauling costs.
TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE
Transportation can often be an overwhelming problem to solve. For many, it is a critical roadblock to self-sufficiency. For others, it may mean missing the last chance to visit an immediate family member who is terminally ill or to attend a funeral. People attempting to get an education can sometimes be hindered by inadequate transportation opportunities. CES can help with short-term, emergency transportation needs. Recently, CES helped develop a longer-term solution for those with transportation needs. (See the CARS program listed below.)
MEALS ON WHEELS
CES’ Meals on Wheels program is an important solution to both long- and short-term emergency situations facing many people in the community. It involves preparing and delivering hot meals at noon—Monday through Friday—to homebound seniors and, in some cases, non-seniors who are unable to manage their own meal preparation. Volunteers do the bulk of delivering meals to homes. The goal of Meals on Wheels is to provide a nutritious, low-cost meal to the homebound while forging new relationships.
FOOD SHELF
CES uses its building to provide a variety of services to those in need. The food shelf is its main program and continues to be the largest area of service.
CARS PROGRAM
Community Automobile Repair & Redistribution Service (CARS) provides reliable automobile transportation to low-income individuals, primarily those moving from welfare to work. The program favors those enrolled in a mentoring program, those who have completed a job-training program, and those who have children who require transportation to childcare.
ADVOCACY
Advocacy is a very important aspect of CES’ programming. People experiencing crisis situations frequently need help negotiating with landlords, agencies, utility companies, or the courts. Suffering from intimidation or lack of information, many of CES’ clients are not articulate on their own behalf. By stepping in at a critical point, CES can often help individuals and families out of crisis situations.
UTILITY ASSISTANCE
Much of CES’ help in this area is through referrals to already existing resources such as the Fuel Assistance Program and Heat-share. CES can provide a variety of ways to find solutions for people with emergency energy needs. For instance, CES is able to negotiate with utility companies to resolve outstanding bills and occasionally can provide financial solutions through grants, work, and budget counseling.
Geographic Scope
CES primarily serves people in South and Southeast Minneapolis, Minnesota.
DEMOGRAPHICS
CES refuses its services to no one with a demonstrated need. Following is the demographic breakdown of those CES served in 2001 (the latest statistics available):
PERCENTAGE SERVED BY ETHNICITY
African American-- 44%
Caucasian-- 21%
Somali-- 14%
Native American-- 13%
Latino-- 6%
Other-- 1%
PERCENTAGE SERVED BY INCOME STATUS
Employed-- 44%
No Income-- 35%
MN Family Investment Program (MFIP)-- 20%
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)-- 17%
General Assistance-- 5%
Other (Unemployment, Vet’s Pension, Social Security, etc.)-- 4%
PERCENTAGE SERVED BY GENDER
Females-- 54%
Males-- 46%
PERCENTAGE SERVED BY MARITAL STATUS
Families-- 67%
Singles-- 33%
Similar Organizations
CES is unique in that no other organization in the Twin Cities combines faith-based principles with crisis and food shelf services in quite the same way that CES does. Matters of faith or “religion” are not forced on anyone. All are served regardless of race, color, creed, or sexual preference. At the same time, when folks are asked if they have any prayer requests, many respond very enthusiastically. The interviewers are sensitive to follow those signals and proceed from there with regard to spiritual matters. Because CES is part of the Emergency Foodshelf Network (EFN), it expands upon, rather than duplicates, the services of other organizations in the area.
Following are some organizations that have at least one similarity to CES:
• Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) and Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) do similar things with food and funds but have no spiritual component.
• The Marie Sandvik Center is a faith-based organization and provides some assistance similar to CES on a much smaller scale and does not maintain a major referral system.
• Caring and Sharing Hands and Catholic Charities have some similarities as well.
Outcome Measurements
While not all of CES’ success can be quantified numerically, the statistical criteria by which it measures its success are the following:
• Number of individuals served— 16,985
• Interviews with clients requesting aid— 8,708
• Food requests— 6,024
• Meals shared— 146,624
• Value of meals shared— $248,638
• Individuals receiving referrals— 182+
• Value of referral help— $198,000+
• Meals delivered by Meals on Wheels— 38,348
• Volunteers— 460+
• Families receiving housing assistance— 416
• Individuals/families receiving non-housing financial aid— 720
• Individuals/families receiving miscellaneous non-financial assistance— 663
• Childcare centers facilitated through the Kids Care Program— 19.
Recent Accomplishments
CES had the following accomplishments during 2003:
• 8,327 people were interviewed requesting aid.
• The value of meals shared in 2003 totaled $388,874.
• Approximately 390 families received housing assistance at a cost of over $135,000.
• 800 people received non-financial assistance including house wares, education, furniture, counseling, etc.
• The CES Bible Fellowship was restarted after several years. It meets on Sunday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. and is held for local people who need or want faith-based input.
• In the past 6 months, 10 people either made a new or renewed commitment of faith.