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First Base/Fresh
Start A member of the Evanston Alliance on Homelessness |
Our mission is to take a holistic approach to building Christian character. We strive to restore high self-esteem to those in the program through encouragement which will in turn keep hope alive in those we work with.
Our emphasis is on sharing and caring with our clients, promoting physical, mental, and spiritual growth, as well as providing assessments and counseling or case management when needed. We believe in advancing the spiritual growth of our youth, young adults, and older people and creating a positive self-image from within.
We focus on the quality of life, maintaining good secure jobs, wholesome homes and families, and building all people into healthy, responsible, contributing members of the Evanston community.
It is time for all of us to go forward as women and men with God's plan, whereby everybody is somebody. Because in the strongest there is weakness, and in the weakest there is strength, but it takes both the strong and the weak together to create the whole. All of our programs follow the motto, "WORKING TOGETHER WORKS."
Respectfully submitted,
John Barner-Williams, Director
There are many individuals in the Evanston community who are homeless, without permanent address, and do not have contact with family or friends. The First Base program provides services five days a week where people can make telephone calls, receive messages and mail, send and receive faxes, or make copies. Also, this service provides counseling for drug and alcohol abuse and makes referrals for housing or jobs.
Program Beginnings
The First Base program was conceived twelve years ago at the First United Methodist Church of Evanston where John Barner-WiIliams spent five years working closely with the First Base Homeless program until the church began a major remodeling plan and could no longer house the program. John Barner-Williams met with his pastor, Rev. Hardist Lane of Fisher Memorial, to convince him to take on the project. John knew that this was a valuable ministry and that the project was good for the community, and he was not about to let it pass away. John Barner-Williams and Rev. Hardist Lane agreed to start the program on October 15, 2002, and since have made strident efforts to make the program work. This has not come without significant fiscal, spiritual, and physical obstacles, but the vision remains the same thanks to their hard work and compassionate efforts.
Situation and Involvement
First Base carried 120 active applications for clients in the month of August, 2003 alone. We provide our services to 62 of our clients: 14 were referred for jobs, 6 of which were hired and the others are waiting, 8 people were referred for housing, 6 of which received a place to live, and 4 were referred for treatment programs dealing with drug and alcohol abuse. The remainder of our clients are waiting while their applications are being processed. In a follow up we found out that 5 of our clients were placed in permanent housing, 6 are now gainfully employed, and 6 others have completed treatment programs. On a daily basis, the rest of our clients take advantage of our mail and telephone services we provide.
What We Have Done
To get these ideas off the ground we have submitted proposals for funding to the City of Evanston and other governmental agencies. In order to keep these important programs running we have solicited other churches, corporations, and foundations, as well as engaged in fundraisers.
Funding will be used for the cost per client, administration cost, the program director, staff salary, training, supplies, transportation, telephone, utilities, fax, copying, and building maintenance. We will sustain our idea by continuing to work with other churches, raising funds, corporation grants, foundation grants, and government agencies.
Purpose:
Fresh Start reaches out to women and men who have been incarcerated, caught up in chronic substance abuse, and other forms of anti-social behaviors, but are now open to the challenge of change and a new life.
Aids ex-offenders with reintegrating into the community.
Promotes family restoration through reunification discussion groups.
Utilizes spiritual leaders motivational speakers and bible study leaders.
Provides for assessments, counseling, and case management.
Renders employment assistance and transportation.
Engages in advocacy, referral services, and outreach.
Evaluates, plans, and follows-upon clients' progress.
Acts as a liaison to the court and job placement centers.
Investigates educational opportunities, training, and career options.
Conducts substance abuse education and support groups.
Goals:
Our goal is to help build a new Christian character within the people whose lives have not had the security of a social "safety-net" to guide and encourage them to achieve and have somehow "slipped through." To do this we will have to restore self-esteem through care and sharing experiences. We believe that this will in turn decrease the number of arrests in Evanston while simultaneously increasing public safety by reducing crime. We will work together to help ex-offenders to become healthy, responsible, contributing members of the community. Needing direction or love, we are honored to help our clients with maintaining abstinence and recovery from their addictions. In addition, we also .
assist with transition difficulties of starting over
cultivate Christian values and establish dignity
make self-sufficiency counseling available
offer community resources to develop healthy lifestyles.
Emphasis
Bible study
Discipleship
Substance abuse
Conflict resolution/anger management
Job readiness
Family reunification
Program Services
Individual/family counseling
Support group
Transportation
AA meeting