On June 6th Capitol Hill Group Ministry will be participating in a city-wide day of giving called Do More 24.

Do More 24 is a local movement that is leveraging the power of the crowd to support our region’s most effective nonprofits through focused, online giving. Every donation we recieve gives us a chance to win great cash awards that will go to help those in need right here in Capitol Hill.

Do More 24′s easy online giving platform will allow you to give a donation of…

$12 for hygiene care package items to serve 6 individuals at the Shirley’s Place Day Center.
$24 for Outreach Supplies to serve 50 neighbors in Ward 6.
$48 to help provide a Back to School Back Pack and Supplies for a year for a child in our Community.

Spread the word to your friends, family, and coworkers!!!
It’s all happening on June 6th and for one day only.

Click Here to See our Donation Page

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Capitol Hill Group Ministry (CHGM) was once again proud to lead two of the city’s volunteer teams through the Capitol Hill community and to be joined by HUD Secretary Donovan, VA Secretary Shinseki, and numerous key members of their agencies’ staffs. CHGM staff and volunteers were delighted at the opportunity to work closely alongside our federal partners in serving the homeless.

The Point-In-Time censuses are organized locally, with all the counts being conducted during the last 10 days of January. The numbers collected, while imperfect and lacking the ability to count individuals and families “doubled-up” on couches and floors in temporary homes, provide a baseline of the homeless population across the US.

The numbers help private and government agencies identify gaps in services and to better allocate dwindling funding. The January 2012 count found 633,782 homeless persons nationally, with 6,954 coming from the District.

“I tell my staff, you can’t sit in Washington with a thousand-mile-long screwdriver and try to fine-tune everything,” Shinseki said. “I’m at the other end of the screwdriver now. This is where problems get solved.”

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True to his word both Shinseki and Donovan and their staffs were active participants in conducting surveys, identify resources, and in offering general comfort and compassion to the individuals surveyed late into the evening. It was apparent that with the temperature hovering around the lower thirties both parties were truly passionate about the accuracy of the count and effectiveness of homeless services. Their participation was no media charade or simple photo op.

It is essential to the success of homeless services that we know how we are doing and that we remind those still homeless that we care. CHGM’s Street Outreach Program does just that by building relationships with individuals often looked past.

Individuals living on the street are prone to give up on themselves and the services still available to them. Many struggle with mental illness and substance abuse, often both.  As a result, national statistics indicate that the average lifespan of the street homeless is only 47 years old.

CHGM would like to offer a sincere thank you to all of the volunteers who assisted in this year’s count, to the city organizers for all of their hard work, and to the USICH, VA, and HUD staff for helping CHGM “Serve the Community, One Neighbor at a Time.”

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After recovering for a little over a month, Ms. Stevens was determined to “get her life and her family back.” She went to the Virginia Williams Resource Center in hopes of someone finding placement for them. After waiting months, a call was received informing her that a handicap accessible unit was located and the family should prepare to move immediately.

Once arriving and moving into the handicap unit, Ms. Stevens was overwhelmed with joy and felt like “God had answered her prayers.” Although Ms. Stevens understood that the unit was only a shelter, she was relieved that her family could now begin to “breathe.” The unit provided the space needed to accommodate all needs and now everyone even had their own bedroom.

After months of case management and individual counseling Ms. Stevens began to make progress and her children began to show signs of improvement.  In the summer of 2011 Ms. Stevens was informed that she and her family would be moving into a fully renovated handicap accessible apartment. Ms. Stevens expressed excitement, and gratitude. Although she had been grateful for the shelter, she was happy to be moving into the apartment.

Finally, while still under the care of CHGM, Ms. Stevens received notice from DC Housing that her name came up to receive a housing voucher.  After months of searching, Ms. Stevens moved for the last time into a permanent, fully renovated 4 bedroom handicap accessible unit in January of 2013.

Ms. Stevens credits her progress to CHGM. In her own words, “CHGM has saved my life and I will always be grateful. Thank you for making me feel like I am a part of society again.” Although Ms Stevens’ family has many physical challenges, she is determined that she will take full advantage and use wisely her ” second chance.”

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“Our Adopt-a-Family Christmas project provides an opportunity for hundreds of local donors to give of their time and money to make Christmas special for our neighbors in need,” said Barfonce Baldwin, Executive Director of CHGM.  “Not only will children receive toys and books to brighten their holidays, but households will be provided with basic necessities including clothes, sheets, blankets, and kitchen goods, thanks to the contributions of generous supporters of CHGM.”

CHGM’s annual Adopt-A-Family project is a unique way to harness the spirit of giving in our community to meet the needs of many neighbors at this special time of year. On December 22nd, 3,480 gifts were provided to more than 696 individuals.  Participating families are vetted by CHGM staff, then their requests are provided to contributors who purchase, wrap and return goods for distribution.  Gifts often include basic necessities families would otherwise go without, including baby blankets, sheets, towels, clothing, and kitchen essentials.

This gift drive, as well as an annual Thanksgiving food drive and back-to-school backpack drive, are special projects for CHGM, which provides traditional social services to thousands of DC residents in need of housing each year through a holistic approach aimed at enabling consumers to become self sufficient.  Residents are referred to CHGM through DC Social Services and through CHGM’s street outreach program which distributes information about services directly to homeless individuals on the streets of DC with the help of volunteers.

“It is truly a Christmas miracle for so many DC residents to help make the lives of their neighbors in need a little easier,” Baldwin concluded.  “Thank you to the hundreds of supporters who make this annual gift drive a success.  These generous gifts give families throughout our area hope and joy at this special time.”

The post CHGM Makes Season Brighter for Families in Need During Holidays appeared first on Capitol Hill Group Ministry.

Families in the SPC program have all spent time in homeless shelters, and many have histories of substance abuse, mental illness, and chronic health issues. They all have also faced economic hardships and unemployment. Despite these hardships, in August 2012, CHGM celebrated our three high school graduates who will begin their first year of college.

Elizabeth Banner was a standout student at H. D. Woodson High School, both academically and athletically.  She participated in an event hosted by the College Success Foundation, where she spoke to younger students about her path towards academic success.  She was an important addition to the Volleyball, Basketball, Softball and Track & Field teams.  She was even invited to an event at the White House hosted by the Athletic Women Association as a high school representative.  Currently, Elizabeth is interested in studying criminology at Trinity University, and hopes to use her education to protect animal rights and end animal cruelty.

Lewis Parker is another one of CHGM’s successes. Lewis is a student at North Carolina Central University.  During his time in high school, he added greatly to the McKinley School of Technology community. He was both active in athletics and recognized for his academic achievements.  He also participated in the College Success Foundation event, and shared his story to help inspire younger students in the community.  Lewis hopes to use his college education to pursue a degree in journalism.  More specifically, he plans to cover sporting events and work in sports broadcasting.

Finally, Daniell James is a freshman attending Prince George’s Community College. Prior to beginning his first year of college, Daniell attended Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, MD, where he played varsity level football.  He was also recognized for his academic success by the school’s academic honor society.  Daniell is still undecided about his academic future, but hopes to someday coach football.

Elizabeth, Lewis, and Daniell are encouraging examples of the success that Capitol Hill Group Ministry’s Shelter Plus Care program can achieve when combined with the determination and hard-work of the youth in our program.

While these college students’ achievements were accomplished through their own talent and dedication, CHGM provided and continues to give stability along the way. Help was provided in the form of housing, as well as assistance through care packages that included much needed school supplies and food.

CHGM was successful in helping secure financial aid to help with senior dues during high school as well as college fees. This includes our SPC staff’s assistance with filling out FAFSA forms that allowed these students to focus on their academics and truly flourish. It is our hope as an agency to assist the next generation of students in their academic development and work towards ending poverty by ensuring the continued education of our youth.

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In keeping with the unfortunately growing trend over the past several years, CHGM received record demand in requests from the community for thanksgiving food baskets. Starting as early as August, calls and emails from community members in need began flooding CHGM’s inboxes.

Many of the parents and grandparents reaching out to CHGM explained how unemployment and dwindling public benefits have left them with little opportunity to provide a special meal for their families.  One grandmother commented that her household had 9 people living together and they simply did not know where else they could turn for help. Many calls came from concerned neighbors who were just looking for information that might help their friends who have fallen on hard times.

Throughout the October and November months our Shirley’s Place Day Center office was filled with neighbors in need submitting their requests, conducting need assessment interviews, and checking on the status of their name on the waiting lists.

Thankfully, CHGM’s congregational partners, our local community based groups, the Capitol Hill Businesses, and many individual sponsors heard the community’s call for help and were able to answer it. Longtime friends and partners such as Mothers on the Hill (MOTH), St. Monica & St. James, and Christ Church Washington Parish all made significant contributions to help CHGM keep up with this year’s demand.

Beyond the large groups that made contributions, individual sponsorships significantly increased over previous years. Well over 80% of this year’s food basket donations came from individual donors sponsoring either 1 or 2 families.

Shelah Wilcox, CHGM’s Special Events Manager, commented that “CHGM truly made an impact and difference for so many families this Thanksgiving despite the high demand.”  She added that “With the help of our partners, sponsors, and the numerous volunteers, it’s incredible to know that 1,480 of our neighbors were able to sit down to a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.”

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The success of the 2012 Thanks-Giving Food Basket Program has given all of Capitol Hill something to be thankful for. For a holiday depicted by Norman Rockwell as being one celebrating our freedom from want, your contributions and participation has turned his idealistic holiday portrayal into a reality for so many. So congratulations sponsors, donors, friends, and neighbors for helping make this year’s food basket drive the best one to date.

CLICK HERE to read about CHGM’s Thanks-GIVING Basket Program in the December 2012 issue of Street Sense

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The 9th Annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service celebrated CHGM’s 45th year of faithful partnership with the community. During our celebration of service, we recognized and spotlighted outstanding neighborhood volunteers and the causes they have championed through the gifts of their time, talent, voice, and expertise to help strengthen the Capitol Hill community.

This years’ service included the recognition of 18 outstanding volunteers, the Volunteer Taxpayer Clinic, and the 2nd Annual Ruth Rappaport Wisdom award honoree Durinda O’Brien.

Volunteer services ranged from the running of local food banks and meal programs to visiting sick and shut-in neighbors in our community. Nominated by their home congregations, each volunteer has made great strides in upholding CHGM’s motto to “Serve the Community, One Neighbor at a Time”.

CHGM proudly acknowledged the 40 years of faithful and dependable service that the Free Tax
Clinic has given to the Capitol Hill community. Founded by Rick Halberstein and Former CHGM Executive Director Rev. Ed Goode, the volunteer-led Tax Clinic brought an important service free of charge to neighbors who could not afford mainstream tax companies or simply needed
the extra care and attention of a friendly professional.

Finally, the Ruth Rappaport Wisdom award, which honors volunteers who have displayed remarkable warmth, wisdom, and commitment to the Capitol Hill Community, was awarded to Durinda O’Brien. When Durinda O’Brien joined CHGM’s Board of Directors in 2006, she immediately joined the Executive Committee and the team that led the search to hire our current Executive Director, Barfonce Baldwin.

As Board Treasurer, she was instrumental in putting “best practices” into place to get CHGM financially fit. She later took over as President, where her leadership and expertise led the organization to greater community recognition, including as a finalist for the 2011 “Hilly” award for outstanding non-profit.

Rindy finished her Board term at the end of 2011, but she still actively participates and consistently gives of her time. CHGM is just one of her many passions—she has been active in numerous non-profits and is a prolific writer and photographer. She has been an asset to CHGM, the Capitol Hill community, and a friend to all.

If you would like additional information regarding the 9th Annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service please visit www.CHGM.net or contact Jacob Wilkins at (Wilkins@chgm.net) or by telephone at 202-544-0631.

The post CHGM’s 9th Annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service- Update appeared first on Capitol Hill Group Ministry.

Homeless individuals in Ward 6 can never be generalized, but our Street Outreach services may be exemplified through several client stories.

Many of CHGM’s chronically homeless clients have lifelong ties to the Capitol Hill community, or are familiar with the area but due to mental health struggles are battling with self-imposed isolation.  Ted, for example, suffers from severe autism and is well-connected with mental health resources but remains wary of interactions with new people.  Staying in a shelter is thus not a good fit for him so he created a makeshift home with cardboard boxes on the staircase outside of an abandoned building.  The bottled water Street Outreach provided Ted this summer was essential to keeping him safe from hyperthermia and the relationship that developed from consistent interactions respectful of his special needs has proven helpful for him and the community.

In late August, when MPD and city officials ordered Ted to relocate, Street Outreach helped them communicate with Ted in a sensitive manner and eased the transition, packing his belongings- tupperwares filled with rainwater, newspapers, dirty clothing- into a cart and moving to a nearby park.  Although Ted is triggered by males, particularly those he finds intimidating, Street Outreach was able to deflect the anxiety he started to feel with MPD present and his move went smoothly.  Ted is a very conscientious individual, always asking if there are enough snacks and water bottles for others before accepting one, so he was very appreciative of the special attention paid to him during his move, repeatedly saying that there were other homeless individuals in need.

Ted still has trouble making eye contact with even people he knows and has not decided to use the resources at Shirley’s Place yet, but the progress he has made in allowing Street Outreach to partner with his case manager to provide wraparound support has already paid off.  Ted has been clean and sober, attended all of his court dates, and is looking forward to one day doing laundry at Shirley’s Place as long as the familiar Street Outreach team he refers to as a “super-friend” is there.  Ted knows he will have to seek shelter this winter to remains safe from hypothermia, but the blankets, food, and sensitive care he receives from Street Outreach have helped him remain healthy so far, as well as provided for interactions that increase his ability to socialize with others.

For clients new to homelessness, often as a result of a family conflict or eviction, the basic resources and shelter information distributed by Street Outreach and offered at Shirley’s Place are crucial.  Michelle is a young woman recently aged out of the foster system in Maryland who left home upon suspicion that she was pregnant; her ex-foster mother warned she would no longer be welcome if she had another baby.  Michelle and her boyfriend, Tom, both new to DC, tried navigating shelters and resources on their own to find no vacancies at women’s shelters, so they turned to the street.  Unfortunately, Michelle requires an environment sensitive to her bipolar disorder and developmental delays, and her past traumas have left her susceptible to the dangers and influences encountered while being homeless.

Street Outreach provided Michelle and Tom with snacks and water they desperately needed and immediately set up a meeting to discuss shelter options that might fit Michelle’s special needs and be sensitive to her trauma history.  Additionally, she had left her infant son with her ex-foster mother and required mediation to address the situation.  The Street Outreach office was the safe place Michelle was able to call family members, prioritize her needs on paper, and find consistent care and support.  She asked to be accompanied to get an HIV screening and pregnancy test, keeping the Street Outreach reference card with her as a reminder of who might be able to advocate on her behalf or provide insight.

Michelle’s son was taken into custody by Maryland Child Protective Services, so the subsequent visiting hours, court dates, and identification of relevant resources was done through Street Outreach.  Because she was in such a vulnerable position without means of buying food or water, the immediate resources provided by Street Outreach were critical to surviving her time on the street during the harsh DC summer.

The homeless community also includes those who do not sleep on the street or in shelters, but may be “doubled-up” or have been transitioned to a group home.  Jeff, for example, spent over a decade sleeping on the streets of Capitol Hill but is now housed in a subsidized apartment provided by a mental health agency to his wife, who is currently incarcerated.  Jeff is very proud to no longer be homeless but struggles with issues faced everyday by his peers who remain on the streets.  He is proud to be a recovered addict, no longer touching crack, PCP, marijuana, or liquor and is focusing his efforts on eliminating beer and cigarettes from his life.  Due to his substance abuse, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and trauma history, Jeff is currently unable to work but is looking forward to one day serving his community in a job that allows him to aid seniors.

Street Outreach resources such as snacks and lessons on safety at night are not as relevant to Jeff, but he instead uses the consistent support provided to supplement his case manager and rehab instructions.  His case manager has reached out to Street Outreach to partner in observing Jeff’s substance use and for testimony that might aid him in qualifying for disability benefits.  Furthermore, because Jeff is a long-standing member of the local homeless community, he himself is a resource for Street Outreach, relaying information and blankets to other clients, and referring new individuals to Shirley’s Place.

The trust developed during Street Outreach interactions is exemplified in Jeff’s experiences.  As a recovered addict, he prefers to remove himself from negative influences, spending his days near his case management appointments.  Street Outreach was present when other individuals nearby were partaking in drug-related behavior and Jeff requested to be escorted to a more positive environment.  This intangible resource, coupled with the consistent supply of water that guarded him from hyperthermia were invaluable this summer, and his progress has been fantastic.

Capitol Hill Group Ministry prides itself on serving neighbors in all capacities, and through Street Outreach, those that might be overlooked are not.  As the only Street Outreach team in Ward 6, we are an essential resource; in 2012 alone, we have provided 436 services to over 205 individuals.  Though the resources distributed are not the focus of Street Outreach, they are vital to our clients maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and we are proud to have distributed 98 lbs of bananas, 100 lbs of oranges, 51 cases of water (1224 bottles), and well over 200 sack lunches during the summer and fall months with the assistance of more than 605 volunteers.

CHGM’s Street Outreach Service is always looking for more volunteer groups and individuals to help assist our Street Outreach Coordinator. If you would like more information, please contact Jacob Wilkins at Wilkins@chgm.net.

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The 9th Annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service will celebrate CHGM’s 45th year of service, the Capitol Hill community, and many of the congregations and volunteers that help make Capitol Hill such a wonderful place to call home.

It is an opportunity to lift a prayerful voice of concern for those in our neighborhood still in need and to celebrate those who in faith are called to serve those in need.

 This years’ service will include readings, prayers, and the inspired voices of our congregational choirs that have made past services of thanksgiving extraordinarily meaningful. Returning this year will also include the recognition of volunteers from our member congregations as well as the 2nd Annual Ruth Rappaport Wisdom Award.

This annual award will honor the spirit of one of the hill’s generous, energetic,and caring citizens, Ruth Rappaport. Ruth was a founding member of the Hill Havurah, and a longtime friend and donor to the Capitol Hill Group Ministry. To remember Ruth’s indomitable spirit, the Capitol Hill Group Ministry will recognize the work of one individual annually at the Interfaith Service that has displayed remarkable warmth, wisdom, and commitment to the Capitol Hill Community. Carrying on the tradition of an exceptional woman, a person that is an inspirational mentor to us all.

If you would like additional information regarding the 9th Annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service please contact Jacob Wilkins at (Wilkins@chgm.net) or by telephone at 202-544-0631.

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CHGM’s annual charity raises necessary funds to assist  homeless and underserved families in our Capitol Hill community. By sponsoring and golfing in the tournament, individuals and businesses help provide services for homeless families not just on September 24th but all year long.

Congratulations to this year’s “Hope for the Homeless” golf tournament winners Matt Emmel, Mike Connelly, Ken Johnson, and Frank Andracchi of Team Exelon Industrial Services who posted an impressive score of -10 at Bay Hills Golf Club! 

CHGM would also like to offer a special Thank you to this year’s Platinum Sponsor National Capital Bank and all of our 2012 sponsors and golfers. Please take a look at our CHGM Facebook page to check-out some of the tournament pictures.

Thanks for supporting CHGM and we look forward to seeing you next year!

Photo Credit: Alexzandra Bardwell-Morgan

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