CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF WINONA-ROCHESTER

EMERGENCY SHELTERS & SUPPORTIVE HOUSINGEMERGENCY SHELTERSCATHOLIC CHARITIES OPERATED 3 EMERGENCY SHELTERS FOR ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE WINONA COMMUNITY WARMING CENTER (WCWC) IS AN OVERNIGHT SEASONAL SHELTER SERVING APPROXIMATELY 70 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS EACH SEASON AND PROVIDING 1300 NIGHTS OF SHELTER. THE WCWC IS OPEN NOVEMBER 1ST-MARCH 31ST FROM 9PM-7AM. THE WINONA COMMUNITY DAY CENTER (WCDC) IS A DROP-IN EMERGENCY DAY SHELTER. THE WCDC PROVIDES SHELTER, MEALS, LAUNDRY, SHOWERS, AND CONNECTIONS TO MAINSTREAM RESOURCES FOR ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE ROCHESTER COMMUNITY WARMING CENTER (RCWC) IS YEAR-ROUND, LOW BARRIER, NIGHT-BY-NIGHT SHELTER SERVING ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS 8PM-8AM. THE RCWC SERVED 650 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDED OVER 21,000 NIGHTS OF SHELTER. WE PROVIDE TWO LIGHT MEALS, BREAKFAST AND DINNER, LAUNDRY, SHOWERS, AND REFERRALS TO COUNTY HOUSING PROGRAMS. SUPPORTIVE HOUSINGCATHOLIC CHARITIES WORKS IN AN AGREEMENT WITH OLMSTED COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE STAFFING AT TWO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BUILDINGS AND ONE 90-DAY EMERGENCY SHELTER IN ROCHESTER. THE CREEK IS AN ALTERNATIVE STAY 90 DAY EMERGENCY SHELTER, PROVIDING RESIDENTS WITH INDIVIDUAL ROOMS, CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT TO MAKE PROGRESS ON A HOUSING PLAN. THE CREEK HOUSES UP TO 12 INDIVIDUALS USING A LOW BARRIER, HOUSING FIRST, AND HARM REDUCTION MODEL. THE 105 AND THE FRANCIS ARE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS, SERVING ADULTS WITH HIGH BARRIERS TO MARKETPLACE HOUSING. CC'S TEAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE RESIDENTS TO ASSIST IN MAINTAINING HOUSING AS WELL AS IN MAKING PROGRESS ON THEIR PERSON-CENTERED PLANS. THE TWO BUILDINGS HOUSE 18-19 INDIVIDUALS IN A HOUSING FIRST, HARM REDUCTION MODEL.

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENTCATHOLIC CHARITIES REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM (CCRRP) HAS A RICH HISTORY OF SERVING PRIMARY REFUGEES IN OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1975. THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM MEETS THE REGIONAL NEEDS OF THE REFUGEES DESIGNATED TO RESETTLE HERE, EITHER THROUGH FAMILY REUNIFICATION OR AS "FREE CASES" ASSIGNED TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. NEW REFUGEES ARE AT THEIR MOST VULNERABLE AS THEY ENTER THE UNITED STATES. AS THE ONLY RESETTLEMENT AGENCY IN SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, CCRRP SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS OF ALL NEW REFUGEES SUCH AS ACCESS TO SHELTER, FOOD, CLOTHING, INCOME, MEDICAL CARE, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT. OPERATING UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS/ MIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES (USCCB/MRS) IN COLLABORATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF STATE/BUREAU OF POPULATION, REFUGEES, AND MIGRATION (DOS/PRM), CCRRP CARRIES OUT REFUGEE SERVICES TO ADDRESS NEEDS BY PROVIDING DIRECT CASE MANAGEMENT AND NETWORKING WITH THE INTENTION OF BUILDING FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY IS ACHIEVED THROUGH ACQUIRING SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING, ASSET BUILDING, FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING, AND BASIC EMPLOYMENT SOFT SKILLS TRAINING WHICH ASSISTS REFUGEES IN GAINING THE ABILITY TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT, A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. WE ALSO PROVIDE CULTURAL, TRANSPORTATION, SHOPPING AND BUDGETING ORIENTATIONS. WE WELCOMED 200 INDIVIDUALS IN FISCAL YEAR 2024. REFUGEE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WE CARED FOR CAME FROM BURMA (MYANMAR), DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, GUATEMALA, ETHIOPIA, AFGHANISTAN, SYRIA, SUDAN, SOUTH SUDAN AND SOMALIA. WE SAW CASES CONSISTING OF ONE INDIVIDUAL TO CASES COMPRISED OF TWO TO EIGHT. AS A PROGRAM, OUR GREATEST STRENGTH IS OUR INTENSIVE CLIENT-CENTERED CASE MANAGEMENT. GOALS ESTABLISHED FOR REFUGEES ARE INTENDED TO: ADDRESS IMMEDIATE SOCIAL/EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, ATTAIN A STABLE ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOP SKILLS FOR EMPLOYMENT, UNDERSTAND BASIC FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES, AND PROMOTE SEAMLESS INTEGRATION. THE PROCESS WE UTILIZE ENTAILS AN INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT, GOAL DEVELOPMENT, INTERVENTION, REFERRALS, MONITORING AND REASSESSING THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE PERIOD AND TRANSITIONING SERVICES SEAMLESSLY TO OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS AT THE END OF THE 90-DAY RESETTLEMENT PERIOD. THE GOAL OF RESETTLEMENT IS EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT WILL ASSIST THEM ON THE ROAD TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. REFUGEES WANT WHAT MANY AMERICANS WANT: TO FEEL A PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY, GAIN EMPLOYMENT, AND ULTIMATELY FIND A PLACE TO CALL "HOME."