TRUE NORTH OF COLUMBIA INC

OTHE TRUE NORTH EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVED 262 RESIDENTS (168 WOMEN, 87 CHILDREN, 3 MEN, AND 4 TRANSGENDER) IN 2023, PROVIDING OVER 6,454 NIGHTS OF EMERGENCY SHELTER AND 9,410 HOURS OF SUPPORTIVE ADVOCACY SERVICES. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR FAMILIES IN 2023 WAS 24.63 DAYS. SERVICES INCLUDED COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/SEXUAL ASSAULT EDUCATION, SAFETY PLANNING, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, COURT AND HOSPITAL ADVOCACY, PARENTING SESSIONS, INDIVIDUAL CHILD SESSIONS, ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING EX PARTE ORDERS OF PROTECTION, SUPPORT GROUP SERVICES (INCLUDING LIFE SKILLS SESSIONS), AND VICTIM ADVOCACY. TRUE NORTH SHELTER OUTCOMES: THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE TRUE NORTH EMERGENCY SHELTER IS TO KEEP VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SAFE BY PROVIDING A SECURE AND CONFIDENTIAL RESIDENCE FOR VICTIMS FLEEING DANGEROUS (AND SOMETIMES LETHAL) SITUATIONS AND ENSURE THAT EVERY VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT LEAVES OUR PROGRAM SAFER THAN WHEN HE/SHE ARRIVED. RESIDENT DESTINATIONS OFTEN SERVE AS ONE INDICATOR OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. IN 2023, 25.52% OF THOSE EXITING THE EMERGENCY SHELTER LEFT THE PROGRAM FOR SAFE, PERMANENT (OR EXTENDED TRANSITIONAL - 2+ YEARS) HOUSING. 50.34% MOVED TO SAFE, TEMPORARY LOCATIONS. 6.94% MOVED BACK INTO AN UNSAFE SITUATION. OF THOSE LEAVING THE PROGRAM AND COMPLETING EXIT INTERVIEWS AND SURVEYS, THE FOLLOWING REPORTED THEY HAD MET OR MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON THE FOLLOWING GOALS: SAFETY - 81.03%; HOUSING - 54.91%; LEGAL - 46.67%; SUPPORT SYSTEM - 66.67%; AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES - 70.46%. 95.95% ALSO REPORTED THEY WERE MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE AND 90.48% REPORTED THEIR CHILDREN NOW HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT HOME.

THE AGENCY PROVIDED SCATTERED SITE TRANSITIONAL LIVING SERVICES IN 2023 FOR 17 FAMILIES (16 WOMEN, 1 MAN, AND 14 CHILDREN), PROVIDING 8,217 NIGHTS OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND 581 HOURS OF TRANSITIONAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDING INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, COUNSELING, INDIVIDUAL CHILD SESSIONS, COURT-RELATED ASSISTANCE, SUPPORT GROUPS AND LIFE SKILLS CLASSES. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR FAMILIES IN 2023 WAS 265.06 DAYS. TRANSITIONAL LIVING OUTCOMES: THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM (TLP) IS TO FOSTER SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT. IN 2023, 6 PARTICIPANTS (AND 9 CHILDREN) EXITED THE PROGRAM THREE TRANSITIONED IN PLACE (50%) AND THREE SECURED PERMANENT HOUSING ELSEWHERE (50%) AFTER EXITING. ALL 6 FAMILIES SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM HAVING MET AT LEAST 75% OF THEIR GOALS. 5 NEW PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE WELCOMED TO THE PROGRAM IN 2023 AND WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN SAFE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH RENT SUBSIDIZED THROUGH THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM. EACH RECEIVED ASSISTANCE WITH SECURITY DEPOSITS. PARTICIPANTS WERE ALSO OFFERED COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT GROUPS, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, AND OTHER TRUE NORTH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. ALL 17 ADULT PARTICIPANTS OPTED TO RECEIVE ON-GOING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND TRUE NORTH PROVIDED CRISIS INTERVENTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES TO 15 ADULT PARTICIPANTS. WE CONTINUE TO BE BOTH AMAZED AND HUMBLED BY THOSE SURVIVORS WHO TRULY THRIVE IN OUR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM DESPITE HAVING EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT PAST TRAUMA AND STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME HUGE BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY. WE CONTINUE TO SEE POSITIVE CHANGES IN SELF-ESTEEM AND RESILIENCY IN ALL OUR PARTICIPANTS. OF THOSE LEAVING THE PROGRAM, 83% OF THOSE EXITING REMAINED STABLY HOURSED FOR OVER 1 YEAR AFTER EXIT. 100% OF THOSE EXITING HAD MET 75% OF THEIR GOALS AT EXIT. 50% HAD MET 95% OR MORE OF THEIR GOALS AT EXIT.