Spotlight

Our spotlight this week is on Faith Mission. We asked Sue Villilo, Executive Director, to go more in depth about Faith Mission and what all they have to offer.

What is the goal of Faith Mission?
Faith Mission has two primary goals. The first is to provide emergency shelter and services to adults experiencing homelessness that will promote a rapid return to housing with built in support to maintain their housing. The second is to offer three meals a day, every day of the year to anyone in need in the community

What types of services does Faith Mission provide?
Faith Mission operates three emergency shelters for adults experiencing homelessness. Residents of the shelters are provided with an array of services, Case Management, employment and benefit assistance, housing resources, and medical care including dental and vision services, to meet their immediate needs and establish linkage with community services. Our Community Kitchen offers three nutritious meals each day, every day of the year to anyone in the community.

Can you tell us more about your Case Management Services?
Every person staying in a Faith Mission shelter works with a Case Manager to create an individualized goal plan. The purpose of the service is to quickly move the person back into permanent housing and to assist them with creating supports in the community that will enable them to maintain housing. Faith Mission is participating in a National Research Project funded by the National Institute for Mental Health to pilot a new case management model with our shelter residents. The pilot model will allow Faith Mission Case Managers to continue working with people for about four months after they exit shelter.

Who is eligible to use Faith Mission’s programs and services?
Our shelter services are for adults, age 18 and over who are currently in Franklin Co. and do not have any other place to live. Adults must be able and willing to follow the shelter rules and be self caring. Our Community Kitchen is open to anyone in need of a meal.

How many meals do you typically serve in one week? How many nights of safe accommodation have been provided?
We average about 970 meals per month. This is up about 17% over a year ago. We have a shelter capacity for 247 individuals and are consistently full. That is about 7,600 nights of shelter each month.

Can you tell us about the Freshbox Catering program?

Freshbox is a Social Enterprise that employs residents of Faith Mission to staff a box lunch catering business. The goal of Freshbox is to operate a self sustaining small business that teaches shelter residents employment skills and prepares them for employment in the food services industry.

You have a Wish List of the most important items needed at Faith Mission. How important is this to the residents and how can the community contribute?
We could not provide the material assistance to clients: toiletries, clothing and household items at move out, if it were not for the contributions of the community. Our Wish List includes the most basic necessities that people would have to go without if it weren’t for the generosity of the Central Ohio community.

What types of volunteer opportunities are available?
Our largest need for volunteers is in the Community Kitchen. Because we serve three meals every day, we are always in need of people who are able to volunteer to serve. Our Employment Resource Center and Free Clinic also rely on volunteers to support the exiting staff.

Who is the main contact for more information at Faith Mission?

Sue Villilo at SVillilo@lssco.org or 224-6617 ext. 2172

For volunteering please contact Julian Simmons at JSimmons@lssco.org or 224-6617 ext. 2171