Erie United Methodist Alliance

Rapid Re-housing (RRH) / My Way Home Program - EUMA staff work with any population through an Erie County contract called My Way Home. Through these grants and a $197,879 match provided by private donors, EUMA staff find housing, pay for housing and help those experiencing a housing crisis stay in their housing. EUMA does this by providing first month's rent and deposit, short to mid-term rental subsidy based on need and case managment services to help keep the newly housed in their home. EUMA's My Way Home program housed 143 households that included 261 individuals. Of those individuals 96 were children and 43 were chronically homeless.

Our Neighbors Place (ONP) - EUMA provides support to a corps of faith-based volunteers who operate a seasonal overflow shelter that moves approximately every two-weeks between November and April between City of Erie area churches including Church of the Nativity Old Russian Orthodox, First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, and a partner agency, Mental Health Association. Open 119 nights, EUMA welcomed 246 unduplicated guests. 185 men and 61 women were sheltered over the course of the season. Our Neighbors' Place accumulated 4,362 bed nights-the total accumulated number of people in a cot each night while the seasonal shelter was open. EUMA also operated an emergency hotel shelter and COVID isolation program for Erie County beginning in November 2021. For the season, EUMA provided the coordination and funding to provide 1,512 bed nights (1,166 emergency shelter and 346 COVID isolation). When all traditional shelter beds and EUMA's Our Neighbors' Place seasonal overflow shelter beds are full and/or someone(s) in the homeless shelter continuum of care tested positive for COVID, EUMA coordinated and supported their stay in a local hotel. 271 households totaling 407 individuals used the emergency hotel/COVID isolation resource.

The Refuge - EUMA welcomes homeless families with children and youth to our 34 bed emergency shelter. We welcome all families as they come to us and are proud to keep Dads in the same room with their families. Once at The Refuge, families are moved from homeless to home quickly. All residents are provided case management that works to help them access permanent housing and the social services, employment and other community supports needed to remain permanently housed. EUMA's The Refuge sheltered 75 families. Of the 254 individuals, 153 or 61% were children. Additionally, 60% of those welcomed were female, 35 self-reported that domestic violence contributed to or was the cause of their homelessness and 60 adults reported mental illness, substance use or another disabling condition contributed to or was the cause of their homelessness.