The Father Mckenna Center

Day program for men struggling with homelessnessthe largest program of The Father Mckenna Center is The day program for men experiencing homelessness. The day program is a drop-in" program that welcomes guests into The Center to meet their immediate physical needs while providing case management and other support to assist them in identifying The obstacles they face and to develop strategies to overcome those obstacles and reclaim their lives. Open monday through friday from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm, with special programs in The afternoon, The day program provides a safe and secure environment in which men who struggle with homelessness can develop The personal strategies and skills they need to move toward stability, productivity and meaning in their lives. During fy2023 The Center provided 27,056 meals during 21,631 separate visits, an annual increase of 152% in meals served. One additional way in which The Father Mckenna Center honors its commitment to respect The dignity of each of our homeless guests is by making showers available both during The day program and in The evening as part of The hypothermia program. During fy2023 The Center provided approximately 6,760 showers. The Center also provides The men with a daily laundry service, and during The past year laundered nearly 2,000 loads of clothing. Additionally, The Center makes available a "clothing closet" that during fy2023 provided 1157 men with 11,381 items of clothing valued at $59,578. The most important work of The fmc is achieved through case management, which is guided by "The better life pyramid." This developmental plan, when followed diligently and with support, has proven to lead men out of homelessness to a life of independence, stability, and meaning. The case management team (cmt) provides this support along with referral services to help our guests recognize their full potential. The cmt held over 6,716 consultations during fy 2023, a 75% increase over The previous year. The case managers listen carefully to each guest and formulate an individual plan to guide him on The journey to a better life. Frequently this includes a referral to one of our partner organizations for additional services, such as housing, rehabilitation from addiction, job training, and mental or physical health, or simply to obtain an id or social security card. Additional support for men who face homelessness is provided in daily support group meetings, bi-monthly peace building assemblies, restorative justice circles, and spirituality/faith sharing group, and weekly peace circle meetings. On a regular basis The director of programs and services facilitates a recidivism prevention workshop. These programs offer a specialized opportunity for men to move forward to stability, productivity and meaning in life.

Hypothermia/transition program The hypothermia/transition program offers up to 15 men a warm, safe and secure place to sleep out of The cold, a quality evening meal provided and served by gonzaga college high school families, and targeted case management services with The goal to help men further advance toward stability, employment, and finding a permanent place to live. The program opens on november 1 and continues every night through march 31 each year.

Food pantrythe food pantry at The fmc serves low-income families in The fmc neighborhood and beyond with fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, milk, eggs, meat, and a variety of shelf-stable items. We are in partnership with The capital area food bank and for The past six years have been designated a "wellness partner" because we purchase and provide healthy items that are low in sodium and high in fiber. As noted in line 4b, The food pantry has experienced a substantial increase in guests. During fy2023 The pantry served 775 unique households representing 1,746 individuals, including both shoppers and their families, and there were 4,153 individual shopping visits to The food pantry.

Other programs (includes immersion service/learning program, The Mckenna academy and volunteer program)the immersion service/learning program was reinstated in march of 2022. We have gradually been able to offer The immersion experience to The students at gonzaga college high school and several colleges and universities. The Father Mckenna Center welcomes student groups from across The country for a week of service and learning. Students volunteer in The Center, prepare meals, meet our guests, help in The food pantry and support other services that we offer. The Center offers reflections and meets with The students to challenge them to see people who face poverty and hunger in new ways. "when i arrived, i thought of The homeless as a 'demographic.' Now i know that they are individuals like me," wrote one student. As of may 2022, The Center launched The Mckenna academy ("The academy") as a pilot program. Consistent with The better life pyramid, The academy represents a significant step toward helping The men we serve break The cycle of poverty, addiction, and homelessness. Its initial cohort of 14 men are enrolled in a comprehensive program offering life skills, financial literacy, digital instruction, career counseling and other related services. The participants commit to a five-day week, full-day program that extends for six months. The goal is to provide training and support for men who are ready to take The next step toward meaningful employment and stable housing. The program has been enhanced by partnerships with other agencies that serve our population. To facilitate The program, we serve two meals a day, and we have hired a part-time driver to provide transportation for those who need it.volunteers are The lifeblood of The Father Mckenna Center. They provide The hearts and hands that make The services and programs at The Center possible. From serving breakfast or lunch, to distributing mail, volunteers touch The lives of The people we serve. Both our food pantry and our clothing distribution programs are staffed substantially by volunteers. During fiscal year 2023, 661 individuals volunteered at The Father Mckenna Center. Volunteers provided over 10,577 hours of service to people in need and to The upkeep of our Center. This is The hour equivalent of 5.1 full-time employees, and it has a substantial impact on The Center's ability to provide programs and services.