ARTISTS HELPING THE HOMELESS INC
11412 KNOX, OVERLAND PARK, KS 662102910 www.ahh.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MISSION OF ARTISTS HELPING THE HOMELESS IS TO REDUCE THE NEED AND COST OF CARE FOR THE HOMELESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING AID WITH RESPECT, ADDRESSING UNDERLYING ISSUES, PROVIDING ADVOCACY FOR THOSE WISHING TO REINTEGRATE, WORKING WITH, RATHER THAN DUPLICATE EXISTING SERVICES AND RAISING AWARENESS OF HOMELESS ISSUES.

ARTISTS HELPING THE HOMELESS CREATES INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO FILL THE GAPS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT OF THE LOCAL HOMELESS SERVICES SAFETY. BECAUSE AHH IMPROVES OUTCOMES AND EFFICENCY FOR BOTH ITS HOMELESS CLIENTS AND THE AGENCIES THAT SERVE THEM, A TRUE COLLABORATION DEVELOPED WHICH ALLOWED AHH TO WORK WITH HOMELESS PERSONS AS THEY PROGRESSED FROM AGENCY TO AGENCY, WITHIN THE FACILITIES OF THESE AGENCIES. THIS UNIQUE, LONGITUDINAL APPROACH FOSTERS COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION AND CLIENT ENGAGEMENT. AHH IS ALSO UNQUIE IN TAILORING PLANS TO THE INDIVIDUAL. RATHER THAN STARTING WITH THE SERVICES A SPECIFIC AGENCY OFFERS, AHH STARTS WITH THE PERSON AND THEN MATCHES A WIDELY DIVERSE MENU OF SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH LOCAL SAFETY NET AGENCIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET THEIR NEEDS, FILLING GAPS THAT MAY DEVELOP. AS A RESULT, CLIENTS CAN ADDRESS MULTIPLE ISSUES THAT LED TO OR RESULTED FROM BEING HOMELESS CONCURRENTLY, IF APPROPRIATE, OR WHILE WAIT-LISTED FOR ADMISSION TO ANOTHER AGENCY OR SERVICE. THIS APPROACH IS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE WITH YOUNG ADULTS ALIENATED FROM FAMILIES AND THE VERY AGENCIES THAT COULD HELP THEM. ITS SUCCESS RESULTED IN NEARBY DOUGLAS COUNTY FUNDING A THREE YEAR PROJECT TO REPLICATE THE PROGRAM. IN 2019, AHH ASSISTED 2,000 INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL SEGMENTS OF KANSAS CITY'S HOMELESS POPULATION, AS WELL AS A DOZEN IN THE NEW DOUGLAS COUNTY FACILITY. IT DIRECTLY HOUSED AN AVERAGE OF 51 PEOPLE EACH NIGHT. THE SCOPE AND EXTENT OF SERVICES VARY BY INDIVIDUAL. FOR EXAMPLE, AHH PROVIDES RIDES TO MEDICAL, LEGAL AND HOUSING APPOINTMENTS FOR RESIDENTS OF FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS. POLICE FREQUENTLY CALL AHH TO ASSIST TRAVELERS WITHOUT MEANS WITH OVERNIGHT LODGING, FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION. HOSPITALS, RECOVERY FACILITIES AND JAILS REQUEST AHH'S HELP IN DEVELOPING AND EXECUTING DISCHARGE PLANS. AHH'S RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS PROVIDE EXTENSIVE SERVICES, PRIMARILY TO ALIENATED YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES BACK IN ORDER. THE PROGRAM'S HOMELESS DISCHARGE PLANNING AND EXECUTION IMPROVES ADHERENCE TO TREATMENT REGIMENS AND REDUCES RECIDIVISM. HOSPITALS CALL UPON AHH BECAUSE IT TRANSPORTS DISCHARGED PATIENTS TO HOUSING FACILITIES WITH A WARM HAND OFF THAT ASSURES ADMISSION AND WILL PROVIDE WRAP AROUND SERVICES, IF NEEDED. IN MANY CASES, THAT INVOLVES ASSISTANCE WITH RENT AND MEDICATION. WHEN WARRANTED, AHH PROVIDES HOUSING AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES. THE PROCESS STARTS WITH AHH MEETING THE PATIENT IN THE HOSPITAL TO DETERMINE NEEDS AND AIMS. THE FIVE URBAN CORE HOSPITALS REFERRED 683 PATIENTS IN 2019. TWO MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES REFERRED 237 PATIENTS. AHH HOUSED 97 PATIENTS, INCLUDING 57 AT A SALVATION ARMY FACILITY FOR 1,198 DAYS. THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS TARGET ALIENATED YOUNG ADULTS, POTENTIALLY THE CITY'S NEXT GENERATION CHRONIC HOMELESS. THEY ALSO FILL HOUSING GAPS IN ORDER TO AVOID THE NEED TO RETURN TO THE STREET WHILE WAITING TO BE ADMITTED TO ANOTHER PROGRAM OR FACILITY. ON THE STREET, THIS POPULATION RELIES HEAVILY UPON COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESOURCES. THIS RELIANCE IS SHARPLY REDUCED OR ELIMINATED WHEN THEY ARE HOUSED. EMPLOYED AND HOUSED, THEY CONTRIBUTE TO RATHER THAN RELY UPON COMMUNITY RESOURCES. TODAY, "GRADUATES" OF THESE FACILITIES INCLUDE EMPLOYEES OF KANSAS CITY'S BEST KNOWN ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING, HEALTH CARE, BANKING, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES. AHH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS INVOLVE TWO TYPE OF FACILITIES, RESPITE RESIDENCES AND ACCOUNTABLE LIVING APARTMENTS. THE RESPITE RESIDENCES (BODHI AND KAIROS) WERE HOME TO 87 AND 12 MEN, RESPECTIVELY, IN 2019. AT THE RESPITE HOUSE, BASIC NEEDS ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO CLEAR THEIR HEADS AND FOCUS ON CREATING RECOVERY PLANS. RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS THE FULL MENU OF SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE LEGAL AID, JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS, COUNSELING AND A FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL CLINIC. RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND AA/NA MEETINGS, GROUP COUNSELING/LIFE SKILLS SESSIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES. THEY MAY PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION ACTIVITIES. OF THOSE LEAVING BODHI AND KAIROS, 43% MOVED INTO THEIR OWN OR FAMILY HOUSING, 26% WENT TO OTHER PROGRAMS AND 23% MOVED TO MORE INDEPENDENT LIVING ALSO AN AHH FACILITY PROVIDED. ANOTHER 3% LEFT, BUT LATER RETURNED TO THE PROGRAM. FINNEGAN PLACE CLEAN/SOBER APARTMENTS WITH PEER SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO THE FULL MENU OF AHH SERVICES AS CLIENTS BUILD RESOURCES AND INDEPENDENCE. RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO PAY RENT AND ARE SUBJECT TO PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. FINNEGAN HOUSED 54 PEOPLE IN 2019 WITH 30 RESIDENTS AT YEAREND. OF THOSE MOVING ON, MOST (70%) MOVED TO THEIR OWN PLACE OR WITH FAMILY, 9% WERE EMPLOYED AT KAIROS, 9% OPTED FOR THE MORE STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT OF BODHI AND 4% WENT TO ANOTHER PROGRAM. TRANSPORTATION REMAINS A CRITICAL NEED FOR HOMELESS. AHH VANS RACKED UP 196,000 MILES CRISSCROSSING THE CITY ON OVER 2,000 TRIPS. THOSE INCLUDED RIDES TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO/FROM SHELTERS AND OTHER SAFETY NET SERVICES, PROVIDING BUS AND TRAIN FARES FOR 69 INDIVIDUALS TO RETURN TO LOCATIONS WHERE THEY HAVE SUPPORT, PAID RENT AND TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR 83 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND PROVIDED MEDICINE AND SUPPLIES TO MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF 90 INDIVIDUALS. BASIC GAP SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO ALMOST 40% OF HOMELESS SERVED BY AHH DURING 2019. IN ADDITION, TWO WEEKLY MEALS DISHED UP OVER 12,000 SERVINGS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR IN NEED. THE MEALS ARE AN INTEGRAL FORM OF OUTREACH FOR THE PROGRAM. THE SUNDAY NIGHT MEAL IN A MID-TOWN PARK IS NOW IN ITS TWELFTH YEAR. KNOWING HELP IS AVAILABLE, AREA HOMELESS HAVE COME TO THAT MEAL SEEKING (AND RECEIVING) A RIDE AND ADMISSION TO DETOX OR HOUSING, CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES. THE MEALS ALLOW AHH TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH AREA HOMELESS WHILE BUILDING RAPPORT AND TRUST.

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