San Diego, California, United States "Downtown Fellowship Fall Appeal letter" for Thursday, 23 October 2014
Dear friends,
Thank you for all your support in the past year. Together, we have made progress in realizing our vision for the spiritual and social renewal of Downtown San Diego through the church and community in partnership. Our primary focus has been strengthening our collaborative impact while addressing homelessness in our city.
Here are a few highlights from 2014:
Monthly meetings provide a venue for fellowship, prayer, networking, information sharing for coordination and education, and general strengthening of our work together on behalf of our city. Guest speakers have included Council Member Todd Gloria, Michael McConnell and Tom Theisen for the 25 Cities Campaign, Bahija Hamraz of Downtown Partnership Clean & Safe, and James Robins from the Personal Development Institute.
Downtown Fellowship raises $15,000 for the Transitional Storage Center
In January 2014, guest speaker, Council Member Todd Gloria, provided an update on the concerns of the city regarding homelessness and specifically mentioned the importance of the Transitional Storage Center managed by Girls Think Tank (GTT). Todd highlighted a funding shortfall for this project, the Downtown Fellowship began a campaign, and members responded quickly raising a total of $15,000 for the center by March 2014. The Transitional Storage Center continues with a significant outreach and practical assistance for the homeless as they struggle to take positive steps around housing and work.
Downtown Fellowship ministries bear fruit at the Connections Housing (CH) permanent supportive housing project
In collaboration with PATH, ALPHA Project, and other service providers, the Downtown Fellowship leadership teams lead weekly Bible studies, a Celebrate Recovery program, a life skills class, and provide transportation assistance related to job search. 10 Downtown Fellowship member volunteers serve a minimum of 146 hours each month at CH. At least 50 people benefit monthly from the above programs.
“Doing It Better Together”- responsible street outreach to the homeless
In February 2013 Downtown Fellowship organized a new initiative to encourage responsible street outreach. Following several community meetings a regular forum of more than 15 homeless outreach service providers (HOSPs) has been established. This working group focuses on sharing best practices which contribute to holistic relational street outreach and a full service approach which helps people navigate transitional steps to get off the streets. Although many challenges remain, Downtown Fellowship observes significant positive progress on the streets, in the community, and among providers. This initiative continues with renewed focus on more coordination among providers, more communication of the policy approach which emphasizes full service relational outreach, and more dialogue between all community members.
Doing it Better Together has lead to some wonderful coordination opportunities. Simply by knowing each other and the unique capacities of organizations, Downtown Fellowship and her members are able to efficiently connect new resources to effective existing outreaches, strengthening these outreaches and maximizing impact of donations.
Downtown Fellowship is an active participant in the San Diego Campaign to End Homelessness Leadership Team and the recently launched 25 Cities 100 Day Campaign.
The first 100 Day Campaign goal: “By September 17th, 2014, we, the San Diego Community Design Team, will design and test a system that assesses all downtown homeless and effectively matches, houses, and retains 150 veterans and 100 chronic homeless individuals in the first 100 days.” We are working together as a city and learning how to work better together. Results from this campaign can be found atsddowntownfellowship.com and at housingsd.org. A second 100 day campaign launches in November with the goal of “working with dedicated housing navigators to get 150 high acuity veterans and chronically homeless individuals ready for housing in the CAHP (Coordinated Assessment and Housing Placement) system; of that number 100 will be permanently housed successfully by March 3, 2015”.
Companionship Program- being a companion to the homeless and ensuring a successful transition into housing
In October, Downtown Fellowship, in partnership with UPLIFT and PATH, launched a pilot companionship program. We will recruit about 10 companions to be friends to people who receive support for moving from homelessness to permanent housing. Volunteer companions will accompany new residents as they stabilize in housing and become part of new communities.
The Downtown Fellowship has grown to 42 members, including 11 downtown churches, 4 regional churches, 17 ministries and service providers, 5 individuals, and 5 community partners. Our commitment to work together for collective impact is strong.
In order to strengthen our fellowship and maintain momentum with the above activities, the Downtown Fellowship has established a back bone structure which includes a part time executive director, a newly formed board of directors, and several volunteer action groups. To date in 2014, DF has received contributions totaling $35,000. In 2015 DF seeks to raise $100,000 for staff and operations costs. Additional project funding of $25,000 is also projected. Funding sources will include individuals, churches, ministries, foundations, businesses, and local government.
Here’s how you can help:
- Please pray for the Downtown Fellowship and the San Diego downtown community. That God would continue to strengthen partnerships of the churches, ministries and community for the spiritual and social renewal of downtown.
- Please consider becoming a monthly supporter of the Downtown Fellowship. A donation of $10 per month or $100 per year would go a long way toward helping the Downtown Fellowship to strengthen this outreach and work of renewal in our city.
- Please give as you are able.
- A special year end gift will also be an important push as we begin 2015.
Thanks again for your support and prayers. We look forward to a new year of working together for the spiritual and social renewal of our city!
Ben Montoya Bruce Menser
Chairman Executive Director
PS: Contributions for DF can be sent to SD Downtown Fellowship, 320 Date Street, San Diego, CA, 92101. Checks should be made out to “SD Downtown Fellowship”. Online giving is available at www.sddowntownfellowship.com. For banking transfer details contact Jackie Vance at 619-699-5950.
Note: Downtown Fellowship is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with complete tax exempt status from the IRS.
For a summary document click here.
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