Verus Community

HOUSING: The organization owns a six bedroom house in Golden Valley, MN. It also rents a five-bedroom house in Roseville, MN. During the current year, the Organization provided transitional housing for a total of nineteen men at said "Verus Community Homes." Most of the men who lived at Verus Community Homes during the year were graduates of the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Minneapolis, MN. The others were either from Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge or from another sober living facility. Up to eleven men at a time may reside at Verus Community Homes. There is no set time limit on their residency.The Executive Director has the option of randomly testing the residents for drug and alcohol use and is also responsible for monitoring the activities of all residents. He works directly with the Chairman of Verus Community for the purpose of directing the activities of the house and collecting monthly rent on the first of each month ($500-$550) per month per resident). The residents all have jobs. Each man has assigned chores and all are responsible for caring for the physical upkeep of the the house and its property. There is a 'zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol' policy effec-tive in the house. Four of the residents of the Verus Community Homes relapsed in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.EMPLOYMENT:The Organization assists members of Verus Community Homes in finding employment including helping residents in the preparation of job resumes and applications, and the development of a finan-cial plan for the future. Verus uses its connections with various organizations and employers to help its residents secure employ-ment.MENTORING, TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:Once each week the Executive Director meets with the men at each Verus Community Home for a meal and to openly discuss how the residents are doing in their recovery and in moving towards their goals for the future. In addition, the vice-chairman of the Verus board of directors conducts an AA meeting weekly in each home. Outside speakers are regularly invited into the weekly 'house meetings' to share their areas of expertise with the men. In ad-dition, each resident of Verus Community Homes is required to meet regularly with a mentor/sponsor, attend Alcohol Anonymous meetings, participate in various service opportunities, and par-ticipate in a local church congregation.The Organization, works closely with Salvation Army Adult Reha-bilitation Center, a long-term residential mens' treatment facil-ity in Minneapolis. Verus Community personnel and its volunteers conduct a Monday evening class for all residents of the ARC. One Monday evening per month approximately fifteen volunteers assist the Executive Director in developing an exit plan for each of the ARC residents who are in their final two months of treatment. In addition various members and volunteers of Verus Community and members of Verus Community Homes regularly, facilitate small groups and sponsor as well as provide one-on-one mentoring for residents of the Salvation Army ARC.The organization makes funds available to the men of Verus House for the purposes of professional counseling, spiritual direction, job training and further education.SERVING:The residents of Verus Community House are required to serve in various volunteer capacities. During the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the residents of Verus Com-munity Homes engaged in the sponsoring and mentoring of men still in treatment for drug and alcohol addiction in the ARC. In addition, the residents of Verus Homes regularly share their recovery story with the men of the Salvation Army ARC in the Monday night meeting. The men of the house periodically host afternoon/evening barbe-cue and fellowship events on the Verus Community Homes proper-ties for men in treatment at the ARC and Verus volunteers. Each month the staff of Verus Community and the men of Verus Community Homes assist in the feeding of lower income people and the homeless in the North Minneapolis area at New Bethel Baptist Church through a partnership with an organization called Loaves And Fishes. The Verus Community Homes men also assist the staff in organiz-ing and hosting the annual Verus Community Golf Challenge, the Organization's primary annual fund-raising event. On weekends the men of Verus Homes who are graduates from the Salvation Army ARC include residents of the ARC in various recreational activities. The residents of the Verus Homes host AA meetings at the houses and provide refreshments for those who attend. The staff and other Verus Community volunteers also routinely visit men in various prisons and jails, appear at court hear-ings, assist with a variety of legal and financial issues, pro-vide transportation for men who have no driver's license and assist men in getting their drivers license re-instated. The Executive Director of Verus Community conducts a monthly team meeting with roughly 16 volunteers as well as monthly 're-covery and reentry' breakfast with friends and supporters of Verus. RECREATION:The staff and volunteers have provided recreational activities for the men of Verus Community House and residents of the ARC, including picnics, trips to the BWCA, fishing, golfing, bowling, attending sporting events, and more.