"Destination: Home" is a comprehensive, community-developed concept that challenges the previously accepted idea that homelessness will always exist in our community. As long as we continue to do what we’ve always done, we will continue to get the same results.

But if we continue to work together to shelter and care for individuals and families who face homelessness and commit to the development and implementation of models that have been proven to bridge them into permanent housing and equip them with the skills and understanding to build stable lives in Evansville and Vanderburgh County, we will eliminate homelessness as we know it today.

By signing this endorsement, we are committing to the spirit and philosophy of "Destination: Home--A Ten Year Journey to End Homelessness in Evansville and Vanderburgh County." My organization will support efforts to prevent homelessness and the development of permanent solutions to the many factors that lead to homelessness.

We understand that this plan is only the starting point, and that the path to ending homelessness will be complicated and challenging. We will be tempted to give up and revert to our “old ways”. But we commit to making the vision of ending homelessness in our community a reality.

If you or your organization support such an effort, would you consider signing an endorsement form and becoming part of a growing number of community members, businesses, organizations, congregations, etc., who collectively believe that Housing Matters! and desire to work together toward solutions??

We continue to actively solicit endorsements, both from organizations and individuals.

Click here to print an endorsement form. Please send in your endorsement if you support the spirit and philosophy of Destination:Home.

Aurora facilitates H.E.L.P. (Helping Each other Learn Peace, Patience, Priorities and Partners), a support group of local homeless service providers. This group’s increasing concern for the lack of services available these youngest homeless in this southwestern Indiana county has led to the development of PlaySpaces in six local shelters and transitional housing programs: YWCA, Goodwill Family Center, Lucas Place, Albion Fellows Bacon Center, House of Bread and Peace, and Life Choice. These shelters individually serve 20 to 80 children age 0-5 annually.

Click here to read more about how PlaySpaces can make healthy play possible for homeless children.

Funding for this project has initially come from 4C of Southern Indiana, with Welborn Baptist Foundation support, the Downtown Optimist Club, Junior League of Evansville, the James R. & Adelaide H. Duncan Foundation, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana. More funding is needed to equip the other sites and to hire a PlaySpaces coordinator.

PRESENTATIONS
Over the past six months, presentations regarding "Destination:Home" and issues related to ending homelessness have been made to groups or representatives of the following entities in this community:
Vanderburgh County Commissioners, Evansville City Council, Kenny Kent Chevrolet, Crossroads Christian Church, Christian Fellowship Church, McCutchanville Community Church, Potter's Wheel, C.A.J.E., ladies circle of former St. James United Methodist Church members, Good Shepherd Catholic School sewing classes, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Vincentian Family Gathering (Daughters of Charity, St. Vincent DePaul, Ladies of Charity, etc.), ECHO Housing, Downtown Kiwanis, Leadership Evansville, St. Mary's Hospital, Evansville/Vanderburgh County Commission on Domestic Violence, ECHO Community Health Care, U of E student volunteers, Aurora board of directors, Junior League of Evansville.

IN THE NEWS
Homeless issues and "Destination:Home" have received news coverage in recent months:
3,000 lbs. of chicken thighs were donated by Tyson Foods to Aurora and distributed to area homeless residential service providers, with the transport help of CRS One Source. (Featured in the Evansville Courier-Press, Mt. Vernon Democrat, Grayville (IL) Navigator, and on Fox 7 News)
Editorial comments in the Courier-Press by Sue Ann Hartig, Legal Aid Society, shed light on the struggles of impoverished families.
PlaySpaces grand opening was covered by the Courier-Press, News25, Fox 7 News, 14WFIE and WIKY.
The Discharge Planning Policy as discussed by the Commission on Homelessness was highlighted by the Courier-Press and by News25.
"Homelessness: Big Problem in Evansville" was 14WFIE's news story focusing on homeless families who find shelter in cheap motels

In addition to creating the housing (rental apartments), Partners provides residents with mission-driven property management and direct access to supportive services. These services are aimed at helping people overcome those issues that contributed to their becoming homeless in the first place. This concept is called supportive housing.

Partners' support service people meet with residents upon move-in, work with them as needed to stabilize and maintain their housing, and develop ongoing programming to address a variety of resident needs.

While each may have approached Partners In Housing with the common problem of homelessness, each has his or her own unique needs. Partners In Housing works to meet those needs with a service staff and links to a network of established social service providers. They will work together to address issues of healthcare, community resources, employment, and financial and social needs. Ultimately, results are determined by the residents themselves--they are in charge of their success in life. Partners equips residents with the tools they need for success.
(Source: Partners in Housing Development Corporation website)

Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne, and Evansville/Vanderburgh County are three communities in Indiana that have developed and are implementing a ten-year plan to end homelessness. Ft. Wayne's efforts are focusing only on ending chronic homelessness. Indy's in called Blueprint to End Homelessness -- click here to view it.

Our own plan, Destination:Home, also calls for the development of Supportive Housing Projects. See the details and strategies in the plan itself: Build the Infrastructure--Housing

Can we count on you to help Evansville and Vanderburgh County create supportive housing projects in order to help EVERYONE reach his/her destination: HOME?

Contact us to find out how: Email- luzhayes@auroraevansville.org or Phone: 812.428.3246

Getting Involved
If you would like to explore a strategy for development, participate in an ongoing strategy or would like more detailed information, please contact
Destination Home Resource Coordinator, Luzada Hayes, at 428-3246 or
e-mail luzhayes@auroraevansville.org.

Funding Sources
Destination Home is funded in part by: Bussing-Koch Foundation, City of Evansville, Fifth Third Foundation, Mission & Ministry Inc., Trinity United Methodist Church and Vectren Corporation.

"We are called to heal wounds,
to unite what has fallen apart,
and to bring home
those who have lost their way.
- St. Francis of Assisi

To financially support Destination:Home
strategies and endeavors,
send checks made payable to
Aurora, Inc., 1100 Lincoln Avenue, PO Box 74, Evansville, IN 47701-0074.
You may also make donations online via PayPal or your checking/debit card by clicking on the "Make a Donation" button above.