Services provided by Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care


	What Are We Doing Now?
	Among the services offered by the Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care/ Opportunity, Inc. and its participating agencies are:
	Role of the Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care, Opportunity, Inc. The Continuum of Care provides a monthly forum in which community stakeholders, homeless persons and formerly homeless persons can collaborate on needed services and request ideas and help from participating agencies. The Continuum of Care applies for federal and state funding, which it distributes to service providers based on results from a request for proposal process. Once funds are awarded, the Continuum of Care monitors expenditures and program delivery, and reports back to the appropriate government agencies. The Continuum of Care receives some funds for direct services, which are used to support collective programs, such as health clinics, provision of bicycles, and other essential needs beyond the capacity of individual members. In 2010, the Continuum of Care made successful applications for $600,000 in federal grants and $655,600 in state grants which were distributed to community service providers. These grants helped establish the homeless management information system, provided permanent supported housing to 70 chronically homeless men and women, built transition housing for youth aging out of foster care at Children in Crisis (Opportunity Home), and subsidized cold night shelters, soup kitchens, social services and small construction projects for homeless service providers. Opportunity Place In July, 2009, the Continuum of Care/ Opportunity, Inc. opened Opportunity Place, a program-rich emergency shelter for women and families that has assisted over 85% of its clients in moving off the streets and into permanent housing and full employment. Check the front page of the website for further information, or call 659-3190 and arrange for a tour. Homeless Prevention/ Rapid Rehousing In October, 2009, Opportunity, Inc. received $731,559 in stimulus dollars to assist families and individuals who are either in imminent danger of homelessness or have lost their housing and are already homeless. As of October, 2010, $470,000 has been used to assist 300 families, providing rent, rent deposits, utilities, utility deposits, moving costs and occasionally legal assistance. Along with funds, Continuum of Care staff offer case management, financial counseling, help with job and housing placement, and linkage to other resources as necessary. More details can be found on the front page of the website. Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program A brand new program, started in September, 2010, offers female veterans and veterans with families a chance to get education and vocational training necessary for sustained employment at a living wage, plus linkage to housing, child care, transportation, and other critical services. The Workforce Development Board serves as a partner to Opportunity, Inc. in making this program a success for participants. Call 659-3190 for further details. Serving Crestview and Walton County Opportunity Inc. has offices in Crestview and DeFuniak Springs, creating easy access for homeless and near-homeless clients throughout Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The Walton County Case Manager travels to Bruce and Freeport on a regular basis to assist clients living in the central and southern parts of Walton County. For assistance in Crestview, please call 850-409-3085. For assistance in Walton County, please call 850-240-1103. The case managers at these offices are familiar with the multitude of other resources available in north Okaloosa and Walton Counties, and can make appropriate referrals should Opportunity, Inc. not offer the necessary services. Restoring Families and Individuals to Self-Sufficiency The Continuum of Care employs a resource and referral manager to assist families and individuals looks to regain shelter and financial independence. Adults receive assistance with finding affordable housing, suitable employment, training, literacy education, links to mainstream benefits, work clothes and shoes. When possible, the Continuum provides financial assistance with utility and rent deposits and emergency needs. Cold Night Shelter A collaborative effort, spearheaded by the local churches to provide a safe haven when the temperature drops to 40 degrees or below. Volunteers provide a hot dinner and breakfast, shower facilities, and a place to lie down. Some churches also offer haircuts, laundry facilities, and transportation to work sites. Click here for a listing of the churches. Meal Programs Food is provided at a variety of venues, from hot breakfast Sunday morning, to a hot lunch on Thursdays, Saturday and Sundays, to brown bag meals on weekdays, to groceries offered through monthly giveaways at non-profits, churches, and faith-based organizations. A listing of when and where food is available can be found on the calendar link. Personal Hygiene There are limited opportunities for homeless individuals to take showers and get haircuts. The Continuum sponsors a laundry program every Sunday morning, in which each participating client can wash a single load of clothes. Two to three times a year, the Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties provides personal care bags, including soap, washcloths, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, shampoo, and other items as available. Health Care Opportunity, Inc. sponsors a flu shot clinic each fall, in which homeless individuals and volunteers serving the homeless can get free flu shots administered by a registered nurse. In 2007, over 200 homeless persons received shots courtesy of Dr. James P. Wilson, M.D. Homeless persons needing prescription medications are served through one-time vouchers through the Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties, and Trinity Methodist Church. Non-profits and faith-based agencies providing food and shelter coordinate as needed to sterilize bedding, blankets and clothing, and to provide homeless persons with head lice shampoo and soap to guard against lice infestations. The Okaloosa Department of Health provides training instruction and manuals to direct service providers to assist in disease prevention and the spread of infection. Assisting Chronically Homeless Bridgeway Center, Inc. provides assistance to those who have been homeless for at least a year, or homeless four times in the last three years, and who have chronic mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders. Case managers link clients to housing, employment, benefits, and mental health and/or substance abuse treatment. Shelter Two participating agencies provide a limited number of shelter beds. The Shelter House provides a safe haven for women, children and men in imminent danger of domestic violence. FRESH Start has ten units of transitional housing for women and families. Both agencies receive funding from the Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care/ Opportunity, Inc. Special Events Participating members sponsor special events for homeless clients, with the support of Opportunity, Inc. These include Christmas parties, one for adults and one for children; school supply distribution; and occasional bar-b-cues and picnics. Participating churches have also held memorial services for homeless persons who have died due to malnutrition, exposure, and other hazards of homelessness. Advocacy The Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care advocates for the homeless through community awareness campaigns; presentations at county and municipal bodies; appearances on radio and TV; and through hosting fundraising events. Participating agencies also advocate for the homeless on an individual level, connecting homeless families and individuals with essential services. Resource Directory Opportunity, Inc., maintains a resource directory of all services offered to homeless clients within Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The 2009 directory is available by clicking here. Homeless Management Information System The Continuum is developing a web-based system of tracking services provided and the numbers of persons. A pilot program is being implemented and evaluated at the 7th Day Adventist Church. Homeless persons are issued cards that can be scanned at any point of service delivery. Eventually the system will be used to coordinate care and match individual needs to available services throughout the two-county region.
	What Else Can We Do?
	Becoming homeless is not difficult. A broken leg, a lost job, or a divorce can make the difference between housed or homeless. The hard part is finding your way back. Transitioning back to self-sufficiency requires, at minimum:
	Temporary emergency shelter Storage for personal belongings Easier access to health care Financial counseling, bank accounts Job skills training Resource center for receiving mail, phone messages, looking for jobs Expanded funding for subsidized child care Affordable housing


Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum Care / Opportunity, Inc.
Opportunity, Inc. (Admin Office) 203 Cloverdale Boulevard, Suite B Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 Phone: (850) 409-3070 Fax: (850) 409-3071 info@okaloosawaltonhomeless.org	Opportunity Place 305 Lovejoy Road Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Phone: (850) 659-3190 Fax: (850) 659-3191