Get to Know the Dignity Center
First Christian is looking at establishing a partnership with Dignity Center, a ministry of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. Below is a description of what the Dignity Center is all about.
Description of the Ministry:
The Dignity Center is an eight year old outreach ministry of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church whose mission is to provide support and structure for homeless people as they take steps on the path to obtaining greater stability and self-sufficiency. Open three mornings per week, The Dignity Center is staffed by a cadre of over 70 trained volunteers, from throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area, who donate an estimated 5000 hours of their time supporting the work of the Dignity Center. The core volunteer job of the Dignity Center is serving as an Advocate. An advocate meets one on one with a client, assesses the client’s unique needs. The Dignity Center program is based on clients developing an ongoing and supportive relationship with one or two volunteer Advocates. The working relationship ensures accountability and gives clients hope and encouragement as they regain confidence and self-motivation. The Advocate’s role is to help clients with:
· Setting goals and ensuring accountability
· Making referrals to identified community programs and services to meet clients’ unique needs
· Provide ongoing support, problem solving and coaching in life-skills
· Provide resources such as bus transportation, clothing vouchers, and school supplies to support the client’s stabilization process.
To guide the client’s in developing life-change goals, the Dignity Center follows a unique comprehensive model including 9 key focus areas in which to develop goals. They are: housing, income/financial management, employment, health/medical needs, education, relationship repair, legal issues, substance abuse.
Service Statistics and Accomplishments:
In 2010, the Dignity Center saw 884 new clients, 3175 repeat client visits for a total of 4059 client visits. These service statistics are about the same as in 2009. In 2010, over 250 clients have reported that they have reached significant goals such as finding jobs, housing, getting in or completing training and managing health problems. Also in 2010, clients received:
· Thousands of referrals for housing, job counseling, and training, schooling, medical resources, psychological counseling food shelves, financial counseling and legal help.
· $29,000 worth of tokens and bus cards for schooling, job searches, medical appointments was given to clients. ( In order to receive bus transportation, clients must provide documentation that the transportation help was used to meet scheduled appointments.)
· 3239 pounds of emergency food was given out.
· Hundreds of hats, gloves, scarves, backpacks, toiletry kits, calendars and sets of school supplies were given.
· Vouchers and cash help worth more than $20,000 for eye glasses, dental care, clothes, household goods and haircuts were given.
Volunteer Roles at the Dignity Center:
The Advocacy Role, is the key role in the Dignity Center ministry. However, many other roles are needed to keep the program afloat. Volunteers takes on a variety of responsibilities including the following: receptionist, office staff, hospitality, door monitor, purchaser of supplies, organizer of supplies, keeping monthly statistics on resources given. Twelve people serve on the Dignity Center Steering Committee, which is a working committee who provides administrative and program direction and support to the program. There are many possibilities for volunteering at the Dignity Center. A role can be tailored to an individual’s interests, skills and time available.
Opportunities for Congregations to Partner with the Dignity Center:
The Dignity Center is looking to collaborate with other congregations to provide opportunities for additional people to volunteer in this direct service ministry. Examples of volunteer opportunities include providing some of the support needed for hospitality such as making sandwiches, toiletry kits, hats/gloves/scarves and backpacks as well as providing financial support to the ministry. For congregational members to become acquainted with the scope of the Dignity center, we encourage people to visit the Dignity Center in action. It’s best for one or two people to visit at a time so they can sit in on a client interview with an advocate. We’d appreciate folks making arrangements for a visit in advance. You can get a broader picture of the Dignity Center ministry by going to the Hennepin Church website. It is www. Haumc.org. Then click on the Dignity Center. There is a short film that explains the Dignity Center program more fully.
