THE DIGNITY CENTER 2010 ANNUAL REPORT

Overview of the Dignity Center Program:

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The Dignity Center is an outreach ministry of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist
Church, in partnership with several other congregations. The mission of the
Dignity Center standing between charity and justice is to provide support,
opportunity and resources for people in transition as they take steps on a path to
regain stability in their lives.

The program is open three mornings per week. Each client meets with a trained
volunteer advocate to address each person’s unique needs. The Dignity Center
is founded on the idea that when clients develop an ongoing, supportive and
accountable relationship, they make progress on goals to achieve stability. The
working relationship ensures accountability and gives clients hope and
encouragement as they regain confidence and self-motivation.

The Dignity Center follows a unique, comprehensive model to help clients set
goals and take steps on their path to regain stability. Goals are set in nine key
focus areas:
• Housing
• Income/financial management
• Employment
• Education
• Health/medical needs
• Substance abuse/sobriety
• Legal issues
• Criminal Record
• Relationships/support network

What is the current community need for Dignity Center services?

The 2009 Wilder Homeless Survey which came out in May 2010 reports that
there were 9654 homeless people in Minnesota, which is a 25% increase over
the 2006 survey. Of the 9654 homeless individuals counted in the study, nearly
half of them are children and youth. 34% are children with their parents; 23% are
adult females, and 30% are adult males.

What’s new from the 2009 Wilder survey follows:

• 40% of homeless adults reported a job loss or reduced hours as a
reason they lost housing.
• Use of food support is the highest it’s been since Wilder began
surveying homelessness in 1991.
• There is an increase in long-term homelessness ( defined as
continuously homeless for 1 year or three episodes in 4 years)

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 The largest percent increase-57% is among young adults (age 18-
21)
• Only 20% of homeless adults reported that they are employed. 48% of
homeless adults have been jobless for more than a year.
• Adults who are homeless for more than one year are significantly more
likely to have serious barriers to permanent housing. These include
mental illness, chronic health condition, cognitive disability and
traumatic brain injury and chemical abuse disorder.
Wilder Research Report, May 2010

Who are the clients served by the Dignity Center in 2010?

A random sample of 90 Dignity Center files revealed the following information

about clients:
• 60% of our clients are homeless.
• Many of Dignity Center clients have multiple barriers to stable housing.
These include:
o 60% of clients have current or past issues with chemical
dependency.
o 50% of clients suffer from mental illness
o 62% of clients have criminal records.
o 30% of clients face all three of the above barriers.
• 80% of clients are persons of color
• 70% of clients are male

As of the end of November, 2010, the Dignity Center served 884 new clients, had
3175 repeat visits for a total of 4059 visits. These numbers were approximately
the same as in 2009.

What Services did Dignity Center deliver in 2010?

In 2010, the random sample of files indicated that the program made significant
progress in the delivery of our services as we continued the transition of the DC
program from addressing client’s immediate needs to helping clients achieve
steps on their path to stabilization. Specific examples include:
• 75% of our clients are making progress in 9 key focus areas:
• (mostly employment, housing, education and medical/health
issues.)
• Advocates are setting goals with clients in 2-3 agreed upon action
items.
• Since we started tracking client goals achieved in March 2010, over
250 clients have reported reaching specific goals. (got housing,
graduated from GED program, got a job etc.)

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 • Clients are making appointments to return; however only 47% of
clients are keeping appointments. ( This percentage shows
improvement from 2009)
• Clients are seeing the same advocate..
• Resources are being distributed according to policy.
• Client Experience surveys are being distributed.
• Tracking sheets are being given to clients and most are being
returned.
• 6 clients completed the third Abundant Life Group
• The Volunteer lawyer network is in place
• A health specialist, financial coach, housing specialist and Veterans
Benefits specialist provide clients with consultation one day per
week each.

To support the clients in their steps towards stabilization, over 75 volunteers from
throughout the Twin Cities metro area, from HAUMC and other congregations
and unaffiliated individuals donated an estimated 5,000 hours of their time
supporting the work of the Dignity Center.

Client who were working on goals were supported by:

• Thousands of referrals for housing, job counseling and training,
schooling, medical resources, psychological counseling, food
shelves, financial counseling and legal help.
• $29,300 was spent on bus transportation. (In August, we were able
to purchase bus tokens at half price which stretched the amount of
resources provided by the transportation budget item.)
• 3239 pounds of emergency food was given and 238 $10 food
vouchers were given.
• Hundreds of hats, gloves, scarves, backpacks, toiletry kits,
calendars and sets of school supplies were distributed.
• Vouchers and cash help worth more than $20,000 for eye glass co
pays, dental care, clothing, household goods and haircuts were
given.
• Some clients in school full time and working on goals with an
advocate received special resources such as refurbished
computers and bicycles.

What improvements were made in the Dignity Center Administrative

Functioning in 2010?

Volunteer Management:
9 The Standardized training for volunteer advocates is completed and
delivered.
9 The volunteer skills inventory design is completed.
9 The numbers of volunteers has increased to 75.

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 9 A new Volunteer Coordinator, Mary Martin, was hired in July 2010.
Kristyn Ebert accepted a new job at HAUMC.
9 The resource referral notebook was completely revised and
reprinted.

Communications:
9 A semi-annual newsletter was developed and sent out.
9 Topics re the Dignity Center were increased in the Hennepin
Church monthly newsletter, thus broadening awareness within the
church community.
9 A Blog on the Hennepin Church website is up and running.
9 The Dignity Center presence on the Hennepin Church website has
been increased.
9 A Power Point Presentation and orientation film about the Dignity
Center were created.
9 Extensive communication to promote the Steele Concert was done.
9 Communication with church leadership was increased.
9 A system for more consistent communication at M-W-F meetings
was developed.

Infrastructure:
9 Three new members were added to the Steering Committee
9 Re: Dignity Center and HAUMC relationship:
o Various systems are set up to strengthen relationship with
other HAUMC committees.
o System of volunteers was put into place for purchasing and
organizing supplies.
o Program Committee met monthly re program design and
delivery issues.
9 Dignity Center is working with Downtown Congregations to End
Homeless congregations to design a collaborative data base.

How is the Dignity Center Program funded?

The Dignity Center budget in 2010 was $141,474. Hennepin Church operating
budget and foundation provided $43,330 to support the Dignity Center. Other
support came from a variety of sources including the following:

Fundraising:
9 Individual Donations…………………$.33,844.51
9 Steeple People Surplus Store……… $1500.00
9 Partnership congregation donations…$.15,535.00
9 Other congregational donations………$3910.00
9 Donations from United Methodist Church “Advance Special”
designation:………………………………$1851.87
9 Steele Family Fundraising concert…….: $10,996

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 9 Carlson Family Foundation............ $10,000
9 Other Community Foundations…… $800.00
9 Client Christmas party ( designated) $1295.00
9 Plaques and Cards $200.00
9 Other Organizations $800.00
9 Bus passes ( designated) $1910.00
9 Microsoft Matching $3,487.00
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o Total: $86,129 .38

How has the Dignity Center helped clients?

In a sampling of 700 client experience surveys completed May through

September 2010, 255 clients thanked the Dignity Center for its help. 171
commented on how helpful the service was; 68 people expressed appreciation
and gratefulness and 40 people commented on especially feeling respected. A
sampling of comments is the following:
• “I thank God for a resource like the Dignity Center. At one point I
had given up hope until I found the wonderful staff at the Dignity
Center.”
• “I would refer anyone who needs help getting to their goals and are
willing to work hard to make their dreams come true, like me.”
• “I have been to other places for help, but I’ve gotten more help from
the Dignity Center.”
• “I have been able to do a lot; thanks to the Dignity Center.”
• “Just knowing that sometimes you have someone to give you their
ear so that you can unload the pressure. The advocate and staff
are wonderful and respectful. Every time I leave, I feel more
motivated to achieve my goals and make my advocate proud of
me.”

Dignity Center advocates nominated clients that they thought had made great
progress on their goals. At the Christmas party, six people were given a “Great
Progress Award”. These people made extraordinary strides in becoming self-
sufficient. Their stories follow:
• V (female) – was a prostitute who was addicted to cocaine for 25
years. She has been clean and sober for one year. She has been
attending GED classes 5 times per week and NA meetings twice
per week. She lives in transitional housing.

• M (male) - struggles with serious mental health problems. He has

stayed on his medication, which has contributed to his stability. He
completed a financial management course, and as a result was

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 given a car. He joined a church and participates in a 6 month Bible
study class. He has started his own business in home maintenance
and repair. This client is a graduate of the Dignity Center’s
Abundant Life Group.

• R (male) - has been involved with the Dignity Center for two years.
He moved to Minneapolis after receiving a serious injury in
Chicago. Initially, when R. came to the Dignity Center, he was
homeless, but has since gotten housing. He has gotten his GED
and enrolled in MCTC community college. He expects to graduate
spring 2011. He holds a part time job and is a graduate of the
Dignity Center’s Abundant Life Group

• T (female) When this client came to the Dignity Center, she was
homeless, depressed and chemically dependent. Over the course
of 4 years, she has gotten into housing, dealt with chemical
dependency, medical, and mental health issues. She got Social
Security Disability. She is a graduate of Dignity Center’s Abundant
Life Group.

• J (female) - This client was wrongfully fired from her job which she
held for 7 years. She was denied unemployment, but had the
courage to appeal. As a result, she got the unemployment. She
got her teeth repaired. She got health insurance for the first time.
She has worked through serious depression. She now has a new
job, but makes and sells crafts to make ends meet.

• A (male) This client once had his own business, but chemical
dependency, health problems and a divorce left him homeless and
jobless. He has regained his sobriety, taken care of his health
problems, and gotten into housing. He recently found out that he
qualifies for Social Security Disability. He has been a speaker about
homeless issues for St. Stephen’s Human Rights Program.

January 13, 2011