2015 Annual Report

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Mission Possible Annual Report 2015

“The experts in providing compassionate, intensive, personalized care to homeless and at-risk veterans and their families.”

Mission Possible Annual Report 2015 Donors and Friends, 2015 was an exciting year for the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, full of progress and change. We are absolutely thrilled with the advancements we made during this past year. In March, we consolidated our staff and programs under one roof when MSHV purchased and moved into its new headquarters, located at 433 S. Carlton Avenue in Wheaton. Property ownership helps protect the longevity of the services we provide by reducing our annual operating expenses, and allows us to direct more dollars towards client services. At the very heart of the services we provide is our commitment to ending veteran homelessness. Since opening our doors in 2007 we have diligently worked to grow our capacity to meet the needs of our nation’s heroes by creating a continuum of quality services designed to meet the diverse housing needs of veterans and their families. This past summer, we expanded our capacity to further our mission by deploying two new housing programs targeting unique veterans groups. Freedom Harbour, a scattered site permanent supportive housing program for chronically homeless veterans was launched in July. Tammy’s Trace, an affordable housing leasing program designed to meet the needs of our female veterans, opened its doors in October.

OUR MISSION: To provide veterans and their families with housing and supportive services that lead to selfsufficiency.

Also in 2015, MSHV was again acknowledged by the Veterans Administration, this time for operating a model Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. 2015 marked our second full year administering the program. Through SSVF, MSHV has assisted nearly 200 households, consisting of 380 individuals (123 of whom were children) with stabilizing their housing and rebuilding their lives. As we look to the future, our efforts will focus on building new and exciting collaborative partnerships and developing rapid response systems to identify and connect homeless veterans with low-barrier housing opportunities as quickly as possible. On behalf of MSHV, its Board of Directors, staff and the veterans we serve, we are deeply grateful to all of you for your support in helping us work towards the goal of ending veteran homelessness. Most Sincerely, Jane

Bob Adams

Dirk Enger

Our Founders… Still in Service To End Veteran Homelessness

No Hero Left Behind! Meet Jim. Jim is a 57 year old U.S. Navy veteran, who after four years of service, was honorably discharged in 1980. Following his time in the service, Jim was employed with the railroad, working as a signalman for 33 years. Jims career ended when he was injured on the job in 2013. Without the income he was accustomed to having, Jim found himself no longer able to afford payments on his home. Jim subsequently suffered an alcohol relapse and decided to enter a substance abuse treatment facility. Although Jim successfully completed treatment, he was discharged back to the community without a solid housing plan. Jim returned to his townhome, which was now in foreclosure and uninhabitable because it had no running water or electricity. That’s when Jim reached out to the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans program at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Medical Center. Between May 2014 and June 2015, Jim entered and exited five different treatment facilities and numerous homeless programs. In June 2015, Jim relapsed while staying at a sober-living program and was forced to leave. Faced with limited options, Jim began living in his car. That’s when Jim heard about the Freedom Harbour Permanent Supportive Housing, a program for chronically homeless veterans administered by the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. Jim was screened and assessed and determined to be eligible for Freedom Harbour, which operates based on a Housing First approach, focused on housing stabilization and compliance with a standardized lease agreement. Since entering Freedom Harbour, Jim has successfully maintained stable housing for the first time in years.

Jim is actively participating in case management services twice a week, and has self identified numerous goals he would like to work at accomplishing. These goals include: maintaining his sobriety, securing employment, learning how to prepare healthy meals, and getting connected to mainstream and veteran specific benefits. Since achieving housing stability, Jim has been able to re-establish his relationship with his two children. He has reconnected with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and meets with his sponsor several times each week. Jim has also become actively involved in the community by joining a local church and volunteering at a nearby food pantry. “The Freedom Harbour Program has been a real life-saver for me in many ways. I have a home base now. I was living out of my car prior to coming to this program and I was feeling very lost. They have provided a nice apartment, furnishings and kitchen supplies. The case management has been spectacular and has assisted me with working toward completing my goals. They are helping me with my budget and I am learning to cook more and more each week. I am really grateful for this program and all it has done to help me.” -Jim

2015: A Year of Progress

D E H S LI P M O C C A

Mission

MARCH– We moved in to our new headquarters at 433 S. Carlton Avenue! Our administrative offices and the Freedom Commissary now have a new permanent home. Ownership of this property reduces MSHV’s annual operating expenses, allowing us to direct more funds to services to veterans.

JULY- We opened Freedom Harbour. This HUD funded scattered site Permanent Supportive Housing program for chronically homeless veterans operates from a housing first model. Veterans are housed in the community in one bedroom apartments and receive weekly home visits from our caring professional staff. We are also very grateful to the RoomPlace, who donated the furniture for all of the apartments!

AUGUST- We held our most successful annual golf event to date. Our 10th anniversary Golf Outing and Texas BBQ hosted 144 golfers and raised almost $33,000. Thanks to our participants and loyal supporters, this is a 24% increase from 2014.

SEPTEMBER- We held an open house to reveal our beautiful new Veterans Healing Garden and Commemorative Brick Patio at the LCpl. Nicholas Larson transitional housing program. This garden was made possible entirely through the generosity of donors.

OCTOBER- We opened the door to our Tammy’s Trace affordable housing program for female veterans with the enrollment of our first resident. We are so thankful to all of our generous partners who graciously contributed to this project! MSHV leads the charge in the development and implementation of the DuPage Homeless Veterans Taskforce. The taskforce consists of homeless service providers, county and VA staff working together to end veteran homelessness in DuPage County. DECEMBER- The Freedom Commissary, our free thrift store for low-income veterans and their families ended the year having assisted 272 veterans, more than double the number assisted in 2014. This is thanks to the diligent outreach done on the part of our staff, who seek out veterans in need and the generosity of our donors who supply all of the items we distribute.

We’re Proud to Have Served in 2015! LCpl. Nicholas Larson Home- Transitional Housing Housing Capacity– 5 Newly Enrolled in 2015– 5 Total Served– 10 Exited Program– 7 Exited to Permanent Housing– 7 Military Service of those served: Army– 5 Navy– 3 Air Force– 1 Marines– 1

SSgt. Robert Miller Home– Affordable Housing Housing Capacity– 6 Newly Enrolled in 2015– 4 Total Served– 9 Exited Program– 4 Exited to Permanent Housing– 4 Military Service of those served: Army– 4 Navy– 2 Air Force– 2 Marines– 1

Tammy’s Trace– Affordable Housing for Women Veterans Housing Capacity– 4 Total Served– 2

Supportive Services for Veteran Families– Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Total HP Households Served– 23 Individuals Served by HP– 72 Children Served by HP– 36 Total RR Households Served– 77 Individuals Served by RR– 117 Children Served by RR– 29

Freedom Harbour– Permanent Supportive Housing for Chronically Homeless Veterans Housing Capacity– 4 Total Served– 4

Veteran Employment Program Total Individuals Enrolled– 60 Total Jobs Obtained– 44 Job Placement Rate– 73%

Capt. Kevin C. Landeck Freedom CommissaryFree clothing, household/basic needs items Total New Households in 2015– 111 Total Households Served 2015– 272* *Up from 100 in 2014

A special thank you to our partners who helped to make our Mission Possible in 2015! HONOR CLUB Individuals: Dan and Lisa Barry Michael Cahill Ivan Ellis Michael L. Kelly Donald Westlake

Dianne Batzkall Ronald Chez S.F. and Kimberly Hutcherson Donna Levigne Jack and Barbara Matosian Daniel and Eileen Moll

LIFETIME HONOR CLUB Individuals: Robert and Laura Lee Adams Douglas and Margaret Colbeth Paul Herbert Daniel and Heidi Rooney Brian Snodgrass Ted and Jane Wynn William “Bill” Schumann

Organizations: American Torch Tip Lisle Savings Bank Carson Family Foundation Morgan Stanley Couture Landscape Construction, Inc. Republic Bank of Chicago Key Club of Wheaton North H.S. Norix Furniture Knights of Columbus, Wheaton #2601 Wheaton Meat Co. Northern Trust Charitable Giving at Chicago Community Trust Organizations: American Legion Post 556 Cantigny Cantigny Foundation Crossfit Tri-Cities, LLC Greer Foundation Good Charity, LLC King Family Foundation Military Order of the Purple Heart, Ch. 144 Doyle Family Fund of DuPage Foundation Ursula Ann Gahlberg Revocable Trust Roselle American Legion Charitable Foundation

MSHV Board of Directors:

Advisory Board:

Robert Adams President Brigid Duffield Vice President Randall Ytterbeg Secretary David Maines Treasurer

Mark Berger, M.D. Linda Chapa LaVia Daniel Devine John Doll, J.D. Dick Lockhart Terry Owens

Michael Cahill Marvin Donelson Tom Fogerty Paul Herbert Bobby Kaye AJ Leane Jack Matosian Michael Sullivan

Become part of the Mission: Volunteer, Donate, Collaborate 630.871.VETS www.helpaveteran.org

Invesco McMaster-Carr Supply Co. Lisle Rotary Charities Rolling Thunder IL Chapter One The Ivy Restaurant Group The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust The Room Place Victor Sign

433 S Carlton Ave. Wheaton, IL 60187

MSHV 433 S. Carlton Avenue Wheaton, IL 60187

Fiscal Year Ending 12/31/15 ASSETS Current Assets Cash Accounts Receivable Prepaid Expenses & Other

MSHV 2015 REVENUE 3%

$ 575,620 $ 64,128 $ 12,375 $652,123 $2,623,974 $ 236,611 $2,387,363 $3,039,486 $ 42,753 $ 344,097 $ 386,850 $1,142,247 $1,510,389 $2,652,636 $3,039,486

Voluntary Contributions - $545,862.00 Grants - $892,515

37% 60%

Total Current Assets Property & Equipment Less Accum. Depreciation Property & Equipment, Net Total Assets LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS Current Liabilities Long-Term Liabilities Total Liabilities Net Assets Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted Total Net Assets Total Liabilities & Assets

0%

Program Revenue $41,098 Other - $3,234