News

Programs to benefit shelter visitors

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

	Volunteers needed Victory in Life will need volunteers to assist with expanded services. A meeting for those interested is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at the facility, 436 S. Jefferson in Green Bay. Donations are also needed including food items for its lunch program. The lunch program currently serves 30 to 40 people each day, but is expected to increase as day programs are added. For more information, contact Tony Madden at (920) 437-3111.
	Related articles this week: • Green Bay mayor spends night at St. John homeless shelter     Mayor Jim Schmitt volunteers at shelter, visits with     homeless guests     Sidebar: Shelter seeks donations Past articles: from November 16, 2007 issue: • Shelter gets preliminary approval • Shelter seeks volunteers, donations • Editorial -- Give them shelter     Church, society have moral obligation to provide shelter     to all homeless from November 9, 2007 issue: • Front-page photo: Shack-a-Thon at St. Norbert College • Homeless shelter opens     Diocese supports plans to open shelter at local church • Hunger, homelessness in spotlight     National Hunger, Homelessness Awareness Week     is Nov. 11-17 from October 26, 2007 issue: • On Nov. 1, where will Green Bay homeless go?     City plan for most marginalized may not happen,     but church hospitality center ready from September 28, 2007 issue: • Alternative to COTS homeless shelter in works     Green Bay's New Community Shelter in mix,     advises patience from August 31, 2007 issue: • Green Bay nixes winter shelter at church     COTS offered a place to sleep to people     who couldn't go to city's other shelters • Bridging the Gap by Bishop David Zubik --     A scraped knee and beyond     Emergency shelter in downtown     is all about caring for each other

GREEN BAY -- The location of the St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter may have been a concern for the Green Bay City Council, but not for one of the shelter's closest neighbors. The staff at Victory in Life Community Development Corporation, located across the street at 436 S. Jefferson, not only welcomes the shelter, but wants to offer their support.

"To see the shelter moved back into a faith community is very important to us," said Tony Madden, executive director at Victory in Life. "While we can't run the shelter, what we can do is provide services for the clients over there."

Victory in Life, which opened at its current location in May of 2006, operates Adullam House, a transitional living facility for men. It has space for 20 residents and its services include AODA (Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse) counseling and a daily lunch program, open to those in need.

Madden, a Southern Baptist pastor, served as the on-site director at the original COTS (Churches Offering Temporary Shelter) shelter housed at St. John the Evangelist Church. He said that people of all faiths should be inspired by the diocese's commitment to help the homeless.

"That is the church, doing what the church is supposed to do," he said. "Now let's work together to put an end to homelessness. We can take care of them, but let's take steps to make sure they don't come back next year."

Deacon Tim Reilly, diocesan director of administration, said the Board of Trustees for the shelter was scheduled to meet this week. Possible day programs were among the issues to be discussed. The homeless shelter operates from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. daily.

Madden said Victory in Life is planning to expand its services to include a structured day program and 12-week residential program for men in its lower level. Day services will be open to both men and women. He hopes to have programs in place by Dec. 3 as a prospective option for clients of the homeless shelter and anyone in need of assistance.

"We want to offer some specialty opportunities and then connect them to resources that are available in the community," said Madden. "For example, we have good connections with the (Wisconsin) Job Center. We can take people there. In addition to helping people with addiction issues, we also want to offer some budget counseling and some emotional support groups. It's important to build some emotional, spiritual and lifestyle stability."

Madden has referred residents to budget counseling services offered by Catholic Charities.

"We can offer budgeting basics here," he said, "but we do encourage them to utilize the classes offered by Catholic Charities. That's one of the best programs available. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel, when such a good program already exists."

Men in the day program would have the opportunity to become part of the 12-week residential program.

"It will be a free program," said John Mulvaney, on-site housing coordinator for Adullam House. "It is really a stepping stone process. Clients from the homeless shelter who want more can become a part of this program. They can then move to our transitional living program. If they fail in that stepping stone process, they can start over. We are probably going to see that, but the second time hopefully we can get them off the floor to move forward with their lives."

Residents in transitional living have various backgrounds. Some have dealt with mental health issues and addiction. Others have made poor choices or are there because they lost employment, said Madden. The men are encouraged to stay at least six months, but many leave after three or four months.

"We've noticed many of the same issues that brought them here cause them to go," said Madden. "They haven't looked at their budget problems. They can't overcome their struggles with addiction or they suffer from self-esteem issues. Some get a job and the first time they get angry with their boss, they quit, so then they no longer have funds. We can address all these issues if they are willing."

"We have one resident who has been here for 18 months and he's come so far," said Mulvaney. "It's unbelievable the progress he's made. We work on their past, but we don't hold it against them. It's not a matter of what you did, but of giving them hope for the future. We stress that you are a good person and people care about you. Building a person's self-esteem is so important."

Madden said he realizes that no one can force the residents of the homeless shelter to take part in programs, but it's important for them to have a place to go.

"If we can get them to come, that's the key," he said. "If they come, we don't want them to sit in the dining room drinking coffee the whole time - although they are welcome to do that. We want to ask them questions about their needs and help them. We can't change the system, but we can help people to change within the system. The more people change, the more it changes the dynamics of downtown for the better."