COMMUNITY SERVICE ALLIANCE

2024 AND THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025 HAVE BEEN EXCITING TIMES FOR CSA AND OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO ASSIST THE MEN WE SERVE TO MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION TO INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. IN EARLY 2024, THE AGENCY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ENGAGED IN A STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT THAT NOT ONLY ENHANCED OUR MISSION, VISION AND VALUES, BUT ALSO RESULTED IN A STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. MUCH OF OUR EFFORTS SINCE HAVE FOCUSED ON THE FIVE STRATEGIC GOALS RESULTING FROM THAT RETREAT: BOARD DEVELOPMENT; ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATIVE CAPABILITIES; GROWTH AND DIVERSIFICATION OF FUND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS; A STRONG CONTINUUM OF SERVICES TO RESIDENTS; AND BRAND AWARENESS AND STRENGTHENING. SOME OF THE SPECIFIC SUCCESSES WE'VE SEEN INCLUDE: INCREASED BOARD ENGAGEMENT AND BOARD RECRUITMENT; A SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED BOARD COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND BOARD MEMBER INVOLVEMENT IN THOSE EFFORTS; CREATION OF A FUND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WHICH IS WORKING WITH STAFF TO COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE FUNDING PLAN TO ENSURE A HEALTHY MIX OF FUNDING INTO THE FUTURE; EARLY PLANNING TO IMPLEMENT A STREAMLINED INTAKE PROCESS THAT WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR IMPROVED OUTCOME MEASUREMENT AND IMPACT ANALYSIS; AND A WELL-ORGANIZED AND EXPANDED SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING PROGRAM TO BUILD BETTER AWARENESS OF CSA AND OUR IMPACT. WE ALSO HAD A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL AND SEAMLESS TRANSITION IN STAFFING FROM OUR LONG-TERM PROGRAM MANAGER WHO RETIRED IN JUNE, TO A NEW PROGRAM MANAGER WHO HAS TAKEN THE REINS WITH NO INTERRUPTION OR IMPACT ON THE SERVICES WE DELIVER TO OUR RESIDENTS. WITHIN OUR HOUSING PROGRAM, THIS PAST YEAR SAW OCCUPANCY RATES AT ALL FOUR OF OUR HOUSING SITES HIT PEAK LEVELS, VERY RARELY DROPPING BELOW 98%-100% OCCUPANCY. BEYOND THE NUMBERS, WE'VE ALSO SEEN A MUCH GREATER INVOLVEMENT AND COMMITMENT IN OUR RESIDENTS THAN WE'VE FOUND IN THE PAST. THERE IS A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF BELONGING, CONNECTION AND GRATEFULNESS AMONG THE MEN WE SERVE, PRIMARILY AS A RESULT OF THE ENHANCED PROGRAMMING AND SUPPORT WE'VE ACTIVELY PUT IN PLACE THROUGH ADDITIONAL BIG BOOK STUDIES, BIBLE STUDIES, GROUP MEALS, AND GROUP SERVICE PROJECTS WITH PILGRIM UCC, WESTLAKE PORTER PUBLIC LIBRARY, GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK, AND OTHERS THAT PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, OUR HOMEWARD PROGRAM HAS CONTINUED TO ASSIST RESIDENTS WHO ARE PREPARED TO MOVE ON FROM CSA TO MORE EASILY SETTLE INTO THEIR NEW HOMES WITH FURNITURE AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. AND OUR JOB ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO SHOW UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS IN THE ABILITY TO HELP SECURE PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR MEN. OVER THE YEAR, THE RATE OF EMPLOYMENT OF CSA RESIDENTS HAS ALSO CONSISTENTLY HIT 95%-100% LEVELS. FINALLY, WE BEGAN THE EARLY STAGES OF EXPANSION OF OUR MISSION IN THE CLARK-FULTON COMMUNITY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER AND THE CONCURRENT EXPANSION OF FULTON HOUSE TO ADD FIVE ADDITIONAL RESIDENT ROOMS TO SERVE MORE MEN IN NEED OF HOUSING. OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE OUR OWN HOUSING CAPABILITY AND CAPACITY, BETTER SERVE CSA RESIDENTS AND ALUMNI, AND ENGAGE WITH THE GREATER CLARK-FULTON NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE EXCITED BY THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST TO USE 2025 TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE AND BUILD UPON THE SUCCESSES OF THE PAST YEAR.