3. Tenants spent a total of 7,052 nights (an average of 282 nights per person) in
shelters run by Preble Street prior to moving to a Florence House
apartment
• 6 women stayed in a shelter for over 300 nights
• 10 stayed in a shelter between 200-300 nights
• One tenant stayed in a shelter 1,152 nights
• One tenant was living exclusively outdoors year round due to
severe chronic mental illness
• Tenants with lower bednight totals had stayed on and off at various
other locations (Milestone, Oxford Street, other shelters) for years
prior to finding permanent housing at Florence House.
4. “Sometimes it's easy to walk by
because we know we can't change
someone's whole life in a single
afternoon. But what we fail to
realize it that simple kindness can
go a long way toward
encouraging someone who is
stuck in a desolate place.”
― Mike Yankoski
8. The women at the Safe Haven are the most challenged and
have been homeless for years. However, after being given
personal space and dignity as well as assistance and
supportive services, most (74%) remain in permanent
housing, having moved into a more independent setting
upstairs or in the community. Only 1 is known to have
returned to homelessness (a local shelter).
9.
10. Mental health and substance abuse are the two most
pervasive disabilities affecting tenants at Florence House and
have been barriers to their finding stable housing in the past.
Nearly all of the 25 tenants struggle with mental illness.
11. The day Florence House opened…….
25 women found a permanent home and permanent support.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16. Where are we today?
Come meet a few of our residents
20. JoAnne, known as JoJo to her friends, is the resident cook and baker.
All of Florence House looks forward to JoJo’s home-baked goodies,
which she is always eager to share with her neighbors and guests.
21. JoJo became a permanent resident of Florence House in February 2010
after living in both the emergency shelter and the safe haven housing
available at Florence House.
Coming from a physically and emotionally abusive family situation, JoJo
had not known stability or safety for much of her life.
Florence House has offered her a safe place to call home with
supportive staff who help her overcome her painful past. Now able to
get medical treatment and keep appointments, JoJo is able to properly
take care of her body and mind.
JoJo has been an inspiration to her neighbors and her new community.
With a safe place to call her own, JoJo has found a community to which
she can belong and positively influence. She takes care of her
neighbors with a lending ear and fresh baked treats.
She now gives back to a community that has given so much to her.
22. Donna spent too many
years without a voice. With
the safety and support of
Florence House, Donna not
only found her voice, but
she decided to speak for
others who were without a
voice of their own.
She has become a tireless
advocate in her community
and works with Homeless
Voices for Justice.
23. Donna has found that art is a therapeutic outlet. Her home is
decorated with meaningful crafts that tell her story.
She loves to create beautiful gifts for her friends and neighbors at
Florence House. Donna is a frequent attendee of the Florence
House art class offered to its residents.
A gift made by Donna for JoJo after her dear friend passed away.
24.
25.
26. Secure in her new home, Donna reached out to another victim
of homelessness and found a new companion, Baby Jewel.
27.
28. “A house is made of walls and beams;
a home is built with love and dreams.”
29.
30. Thank you for watching and a special thanks to the
supportive staff and residents of Florence House.
