Glen Ellyn Garden Walk helps programs for homeless
The way the economy has been, it's fairly easy to picture yourself as one of Bridge Communities' clients.
Maybe you wouldn't arrive at the agency's Glen Ellyn doorstep with the same baggage as many of its clients, who often are rebuilding their lives after leaving an abusive relationship or suffering some other personal devastation.
But it isn't hard to see yourself out of work with little savings, big debt and few prospects.
Bridge Communities Inc. helps individuals and families get back on their feet with a program that teaches adults finance skills, guides them through continuing education and eases them into independent homeownership.
It offers emergency assistance, tutoring for children and youth and a car to get to work, school and day care. Car owners who donate their vehicles to Bridge may claim a tax deduction, and often it's higher than donating to a charity that sells cars for cash.
Helping to support Bridge Communities programs, the 2009 Glen Ellyn Garden Walk features seven private gardens open for viewing Saturday, June 20. Visitors can buy tickets to tour the gardens, then dine at one of several Glen Ellyn restaurants that will donate a portion of their proceeds to the agency.
Margo Matthew, director of grants, discusses how Bridge Communities helps families at-risk become self-sufficient.
Q. What is your mission?
A. Since 1988, Bridge has been a dynamic, grass roots, nonprofit organization committed to transforming the lives of homeless families in DuPage County through partnering with talented, resourceful individuals and groups in our community. Our program of transitional housing, mentoring and supportive services empowers the families to increase life skills and earning power to promote self-sufficiency, sustain permanent housing and to break the cycle of poverty within the family unit.
Our mission is to inspire and effect change by advocating for homeless families. We provide services and opportunities that connect families to a better future.
We collaborate with faith-based partners, community groups and businesses to leverage resources and create long-term solutions. We lead by example through our innovative programs and grass roots involvement. We strive for personal integrity in all interactions. We encourage collaborative decision-making while valuing individual initiative. We value diverse perspectives. We consciously sustain an environment of caring, support and personal growth for our staff and others with whom we work.
Q. How do you work toward those ideals?
A. The problems Bridge Communities addresses are homelessness, underemployment, unemployment, skill deficiencies, lack of education, parenting issues and debt management. The objectives of the Bridge program are:
• Secure an improved employment status and therefore increase earned income;
• Reduce debt and improve credit rating;
• Teach clients how to better utilize resources through life skills mentoring;
• Improve the client's and their children's educational opportunities;
• Secure permanent housing upon completion of the program.
Bridge Communities' Transitional Housing program is focused on change. There are short- and long-term goals that the client family works to achieve. Our program staff tracks client family income change, employment, education, debt reduction and other indicators used to measure the client family's movement toward self sufficiency. This is a challenging process and requires continual teamwork between the client family, Bridge case manager and the volunteer mentors to ensure the success of the family.
Q. Who do you serve?
A. At-risk and homeless families residing in DuPage County.
Q. When and why did Bridge Communities start? How has it grown?
A. Bridge Communities began more than 20 years ago when co-founders Mark Milligan and Bob Wahlgren saw a need within their community to help a homeless family get back on their feet. They formed an all-volunteer, grass roots service group of members from a local church. The group started with just one family and grew as the resources and demand for services increased. During the first eight years, Bridge grew to serve approximately 20 families annually.
In 1996, Bridge began to hire program and development staff, and began to build and purchase property to house client families. At the same time, partnerships with other local churches began and more client families were served.
During the next 10 years, Bridge Communities expanded quickly and grew to serve nearly 100 families annually. Presently, Bridge serves 110 families annually, owns 14 apartment buildings that serve our Transitional Housing Program and three condominium buildings that serve our Shared-Equity Homeownership Program, partners with 43 local faith-based organizations and community action groups, works with more than 300 volunteers, and collaborates with more than a dozen for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Q. What kind of successes have you had?
A. After four months in the program, Sheila has paid off her consumer debt. Another client graduates from college this month with a degree in education. In addition, Bridge Communities was honored as a Four Star-rated charity on Charity Navigator for the fourth year. This is a very prestigious standing, as only 8 percent of U.S. charities consistently receive a Four-Star rating.
Q. What challenges does Bridge face?
A. The state of the economy is making it far more difficult for our adult clients to not only keep their employment, but to find employment and income advancement opportunities. We are evaluating how this will impact the time the client family spends in our Transitional Housing Program. Traditionally, our program is a two-year program, but we are committed to helping the families become financially stable and meet their program goals upon their program graduation.
The lack of affordable housing options for our client graduates continues to be a very difficult issue to overcome. We continue to work with Community Housing Association of DuPage and other affordable housing providers to best meet the needs of client graduates and provide them with further housing options.
Q. What do you wish the community at large knew about Bridge?
A. We have a small but mighty staff that works alongside our amazing volunteer mentors and program partner organizations. We are unique and innovative in finding solutions to meet our clients' needs. In 2006, we began a Condo Equity Sharing Homeownership Program that allowed Bridge program graduates to purchase a shared equity in a Bridge-owned condominium. Without this opportunity, many clients might not ever be able to experience homeownership. In 1996, we started our own after-school tutoring to provide the children and youth the extra support they need to achieve in school.
Q. How can readers get involved?
A. Our program model is made up of volunteer Program Partner Transitional Housing teams from 43 churches and community organizations around DuPage County. These teams are comprised of four to 10 men and women who serve as mentors or administrative roles, working with client families on their budgeting, debt-reduction and life skills. In addition to the Program Partner teams, we use volunteers through our board of directors and board committees, special event committees, learning resource centers, tutors and our auxiliary group, The Bridge Builders.
Also, our signature annual event - Sleep Out Saturday for the Homeless - is Nov. 7. The theme is "Give us Hope." Sleep Out Saturday stays true to our mission of neighbors helping neighbors. It is an annual event in which participants sleep outside in tents, cardboard boxes and cars to learn just how difficult it would be to be homeless.
This signature event raises awareness and funds for families living in our Transitional Housing Program. For details or to participate in the 2009 Sleep Out Saturday, visit bridgecommunities.org.
Vital stats
Requests for help per year: Bridge Communities receives more than 1,100 calls annually from people experiencing some type of housing crisis and has helped hundreds of families since 1988
Annual budget: $1.93 million
Funding sources: Individuals, foundation and corporate grants, government grants, community organizations and churches, program partner support, special events and rental income; administrative and fundraising costs account for 12 percent of the total budget
Employees: 10 full-time, three part-time
Volunteers: More than 300
Wish list: Monetary donations, store and gas gift cards for families, cars to give to families
To donate
General donations: Margo Matthew at (630) 545-0610, ext. 12
Auto donations: Mark Milligan at (630) 545-0610, ext. 10
Drop-off or mail-in: Bridge Communities Inc., 505 Crescent Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
To volunteer
Certified teachers needed to tutor children and youth; call Barbara Trczinski, education coordinator, (630) 247-5636
Phone: (630) 545-0610, ext. 22
E-mail: Barbara.trczinski@bridgecommunities.org
Info
Phone: (630) 545-0610
E-mail: margo.matthew@bridgecommunities.org
<p class="News"><b>What:</b> <i><b>2009 Glen Ellyn Garden Walk</b></i></p> <p class="News"><b>Why:</b> Proceeds fund Bridge Communities' Transitional Housing Program</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 20</p> <p class="News"><b>Details:</b> Seven private gardens in Glen Ellyn; master gardeners from the University of Illinois Extension Office will answer questions at some gardens; Glen Ellyn restaurants including Bells N'Whistles Snackery, Tap House Grill, European Market, Danby's Station, Shannon's Irish Pub, Santa Fe Mexican Restaurant, and Honey Café will donate 10 percent of purchases to Bridge Communities</p> <p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $25</p> <p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> Available online, by phone or at Glen Ellyn businesses McChesney & Miller Grocery, 460 Crescent Blvd.; Harris Bank, 405 Pennsylvania Ave.; and The Book Store, 288 Main St.; available on the day of the walk at each house </p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> <a href="http://bridgecommunities.org" target="new">bridgecommunities.org</a> or (630) 545-0610, ext. 12</p>