Why The Firehouse Shelter is Unique

The Firehouse Shelter is the area’s only homeless men's emergency shelter that does not have a specific time limit on the length of the stay. This means two things: first, the clients served by The Firehouse Shelter are the more chronically homeless; and second, The Firehouse Shelter is able to establish a deeper involvement with clients. This involvement leads to a level of trust that allows us to help each client discover the problems that are the root of their homelessness. This in turn helps clients begin the process of overcoming their situation. We achieve success by placing specific expectations on each individual client, including:

• Meeting regularly with a case manager to determine what caused their homelessness. The Firehouse Shelter then networks with local service providers to bringing all available community resources to assist the individual in ending their homelessness.
  
  
• Following a life plan established with the case manager, that has as its ultimate goal to live as independent as possible.
  
  
• Working with The Firehouse Shelter to access community resources.
  
  
• Abiding by the Shelter’s rules and policies.
  
  
• Making to the Shelter each night on time.

Guests meet regularly with the case manager to determine their needs. From these meetings, an individualized plan is developed to meet those needs. The meetings are designed to assist them in discovering why they became homeless. Then they are used to guide them in a direction that will allow them to successfully overcome their situation. The Firehouse Shelter networks with area service providers, homeless and general, to bring all together available community resources to end their homeless episode.