PorchLight / Congregations for the Homeless

Shelter: the emergency mens shelter (ems) provides a safe, welcoming, resource-rich environment 24 hours a day every day of the year for men experiencing homelessness to rebuild their lives and obtain stable income and housing. Men in the enhanced shelter have access to safe sleeping accommodations, three nutritious meals a day, showers and laundry, storage, mail, haircuts, computers, etc. This low-barrier program serves 100 men experiencing homelessness on the eastside each day, and between 700-900 men each year. In addition to limited case management services, cfh offers on-site housing navigation, employment navigation, medical care, and professional mental health and addiction supportive services. the day center provides the same services from 5am to 11pm daily. Cfh's hotel program is an extension of the ems: its goal is to provide a healthier environment for men, who for any number of reasons, cannot do well in a congregate shelter. Cfh rents rooms within an eastgate area hotel, which serve up to 19 men. Men staying with us also must follow specific behavioral requirements. Clients in the hotel are provided meals and have access to all of our supportive services, including housing navigation and case management. the rotating shelter (rs) is night shelter operating from 7pm - 7am for 30 men at a given time experiencing homelessness. the rs provides a vibrant healthy community within host congregation spaces where men can rest, recover, and rejuvenate. In addition to accessing case management supports, the men are able to obtain three meals a day, washers, dryers, showers, and haircuts.

Program support: the cfh navigation program provides access to housing for men who would otherwise be sleeping outdoors or in places that are not meant for human habitation. We do this through customized staff support in navigating an incredibly complex service and housing system, coupled with one-time direct financial assistance as needed to remove housing access barriers. Our case management program is key to a successful transition from homelessness to permanent housing. Our professional case managers provide one-on-one assistance, advocacy in obtaining necessary resources, encouragement in setting goals, and other support as needed to move men into stable living. Case managers work with each man to create a unique, personalized strategy for helping him to move out of homelessness. Through our behavioral health program, a licensed social worker provides one-on-one and group support to our clients as they navigate the traumatic stress of homelessness and deal with other mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress. Our addiction support program provides men with the space and support they need to heal from addiction. This program includes daily aa style meetings, weekly classes on subjects related to addiction, and group sessions led by a mental health professional. Individuals also have access to a library of addiction/recovery resources.

Housing: the cfh housing program provides 80 units of permanent housing with supportive services in single-family residences on the eastside for single men transitioning from homelessness to stable living. Men pay rent equal to 30% of their income. Each man is connected to our community of supports through case managers, house managers, agency partners and other cfh staff. In 2023, our housing program had a 95% success rate of keeping men housed for two years or longer or graduating them to other permanent housing. the cfh on and up housing program consists of one single family residence for up to three men who are pursuing a clean and sober living environment. It is a privately funded program that looks to fill the gap between housing first, which strives to house the most vulnerable in our society, and the client who has been priced out of the market due to the high cost of housing in the puget sound area. the rent is capped at 600 as a mechanism for clients to stabilize, increase their earning potential, address addiction or mental health issues while saving money to move out to market rate housing after they leave the program. the program is time limited to 3 years to encourage clients to work towards the ultimate goal of leaving the program and never returning to being unhoused.