Offering a hand to those in need

Offering a hand to those in need

Mission CHUM is people of faith working together to provide basic necessities, foster stable lives and organize for a just and compassionate community. Reaching out, working with people in need Within the Duluth community, thousands of our lowest income neighbors face real needs. CHUM is a vehicle for hope and grace to these neighbors. We operate the CHUM Center, food shelf and emergency shelters for adults and families. Increasingly, these are the doorways by which people access more stable and meaningful lives. CHUM s assistance comes without judgment but with expectations, because people who want to help themselves are motivated to succeed. And as these neighbors take their place in the broader community and become contributors to the common good, we all benefit. Working together we become the community we are called to be. A history of helping others CHUM started in 1973 as a response to a regional recession that caused those in need to go from church to church asking for help. Ten inner-city churches pooled their discretionary resources to help alleviate pressure on both the congregations and those in need. Over the years our services have evolved reflecting the changing needs of the community. Today, CHUM is a partnership of 40 congregations dedicated to helping low- and no-income neighbors, many living with addictions or mental illness, meet their needs for shelter, food and stability while working for economic and social justice. Rita s* story *name has been changed Rita, a single mother of three and pregnant with her fourth, arrived at CHUM with nothing but her children and a few plastic bags stuffed with clothes. CHUM s Family Stabilization Advocate began working with Rita by first reviewing a contract that explains CHUM s expectations for behavior and conduct in exchange for assistance. After agreeing to the contract, Rita and her children moved into the Family Emergency Shelter, which gave them a space of their own for 30 days. They received clothing, towels, toiletries and other basic necessities. Rita also accessed the Food Shelf. With immediate needs met, the CHUM Advocate worked with Rita to stabilize her family: ensuring her children remained in school, setting up a phone line with voice mail so Rita could work on finding permanent housing, and setting up a savings plan CHUM requires participants to turn over 75 percent of their income to be saved for when they re ready to move out on their own. The Advocate also helped Rita assess and address barriers that kept her from finding housing, such as heath, criminal, financial and rental history issues. Rita then met with the Income Services Coordinator who, after determining she had no disabilities for which she should receive benefits, referred her to CHUM s Employment Program. Rita and her children now have permanent housing and Rita works at a local medical facility.

Supporting friends from crisis to stability A snapshot of need CHUM s Duluth Emergency Food Shelf serves more than 2,000 households each year. 37% of Food Shelf recipients are children. CHUM s Nurse advocates for health care access and refers more than 400 people each year to receive necessary health care. CHUM s Emergency Shelter houses more than 800 people in a year, 15% of whom are children. Families and individuals walk through CHUM s doors in the midst of crisis. They may be homeless, lack food, need medical attention, suffer from addictions or mental illness or be without income. They often struggle in isolation, afraid and alone. CHUM is the community s hand of support, held out to those experiencing despair. CHUM provides shelter, food, medical care and direction to those struggling to survive. Most importantly, it provides affirmation and hope. And on this foundation, through these services that help individuals and families to survive, clients build relationships that will sustain them as they build more stable lives. CHUM s programs work together with the goal of uplifting people to stand on their own and no longer need our assistance. Stabilization Services focus on housing assistance, employment or income assistance, health care and case management through the CHUM Center. Distributive Services include Duluth s Emergency Food Shelf and a household supplies program, providing items ranging from household goods to children s backpacks. Outreach Services target both our member congregations and the community as a whole, educating people about the needs of and advocating on behalf of our neighbors. Through outreach, we offer CHUM Church and other inclusive ministries, plus emergency financial assistance when unique or emergency needs arise. Blessed are the pure in heart Among our outreach services, CHUM Church recognizes the dignity of each person and affirms individual capabilities, strengths and goals. Believing that everyone has gifts to offer, the church provides opportunities for spiritual growth and nurturing, leadership, choir membership and socialization through worship. DON S* story *name has been changed Don first arrived at the CHUM Center looking for a meal. He d lost his job and income due to a knee injury, and was living in a rented storage garage. A CHUM Housing Stabilization Advocate worked with Don, trying to build a relationship and get him to seek help. The first victory came when Don agreed to move into the emergency shelter. Next, the Nurses Clinic provided a referral for Don to get medical care for his knee. CHUM then worked with him to find more permanent housing through the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Unfortunately, a housing background check found that Don had an outstanding fine in another county for an old DWI. The CHUM advocate negotiated that if Don paid half, the Gabriel Fund would pay the other half. This cleared the way for Don to move into an apartment. When Don indicated he dreamed of attending college, CHUM directed him to a local university s financial aid office, and assisted with bus tokens for transportation. Having cleared barriers that once seemed insurmountable, including basic needs for food and shelter, medical and legal issues, Don is now successfully pursuing a college degree in computer science. He has recently begun volunteering with CHUM s Community Organizing Staff to advocate for others who are living in poverty.

Help us help others to help themselves Giving makes a difference When you give to CHUM, you can be confident your gift will have a direct impact on the lives of our neighbors. Eighty percent of our income goes directly to programs. CHUM is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. To fulfill our mission, CHUM welcomes and indeed depends on the donations of time and talent from the members of CHUM congregations and the greater Duluth community. Live out your faith through service to others by getting involved as a volunteer in specific programs, through committee work, or joining in congregational outreach and community organizing and advocacy work. Hundreds of dedicated volunteers provide thousands of hours of time and talent each year, but we still need you. Visit our Web site chumduluth.org to find other volunteer opportunities. You can also help by providing financial support for CHUM s work. We offer a variety of options to meet the donor s specific interests and resources: We welcome cash gifts, either designated for a specific program or to be used where needed most. Gifts may be made as a one time donation, a monthly automatic deduction or pledges over several months or years. Tribute Gifts honoring a loved one or a special occasion. Planned Gifts. For more information, please call 720-6521, or visit chumduluth.org for online giving. Providing direction CHUM is owned by its member congregations and is governed by delegates representing each faith community. A Board of Directors meets monthly to provide direction and to advocate for community involvement. Each year, hundreds of volunteers donate their time and expertise in many capacities to CHUM s committees and direct service programs. Mark and Beth s* story *names have been changed Mark and Beth were a homeless couple, both active alcoholics. They often were turned away from the CHUM Center for showing up drunk. Mark had a criminal background, which prevented him from finding housing, and because Beth wanted to be with him, she, too, ended up living on the streets. A CHUM Street Outreach Worker began working with the couple, going to them on the street and slowly building a relationship of trust. She convinced the couple, during sober times, to visit CHUM s Nurses Clinic, and helped them access the Food Shelf. On occasion, she gave them gift certificates to a neighborhood grocery store. The Street Outreach Worker continued to encourage and guide them, and ultimately helped them find housing. When the San Marco facility opened, offering specialized housing with assistance for chronic alcoholics, Mark and Beth found permanent homes. Living at San Marco, they voluntarily turn over their incomes as payment for participating in the program, which includes meals. Neither Mark nor Beth, who d both prompted numerous police calls and trips to the detox center while living on the street, have caused a single incident since moving into San Marco.

CHUM s sponsoring congregations Asbury United Methodist Calvary Baptist Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Center City Catholic (St. Mary s Star of the Sea, St. Peter s and Our Lady of Mercy) Chester Park United Methodist Concordia Lutheran Duluth Congregational Duluth-Superior Friends Meeting Eastridge Community Elim Lutheran Family of God Lutheran First Lutheran First United Methodist French River Lutheran Glen Avon Presbyterian Gloria Dei Lutheran Hillside United Methodist Holy Cross Lutheran Holy Family Parish Hope United Methodist Kenwood Lutheran Lakeside Presbyterian Lester Park United Methodist Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Our Savior s Lutheran Peace United Church of Christ Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ St. Andrew by the Lake Episcopal St. Benedict Catholic St. John s Catholic St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal St. Michael s Catholic St. Paul s Episcopal St. Scholastica Monastery Salem Lutheran Trinity Lutheran Unitarian Universalists of Duluth United Baptist Christian Churches United in Ministry 102 West Second Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802-2017 Tel: (218) 720-6521 Fax: (218) 722-6042 www.chumduluth.org Cover photo courtesy of Rolf Hagberg, all other photos courtesy of Kim Randolph