programs & services
Housing Placement & Supportive Case Management for Persons Experiencing Homelessness
OCP has case managers and a housing specialist who focus on identifying vulnerable homeless persons in need of permanent housing. We assist them through the public housing application process and advocate for their placement. We assist them obtaining vouchers that cover the majority of housing costs (a federal HUD program that subsidizes the cost of housing so low income persons who are elderly or disabled will have a place to live). We also work with property owners to identify landlords who will work with us to place people with or without vouchers into their units. Once placed, OCP case managers provide ongoing follow-up support to help people maintain their housing by mediating problems between tenants and landlords, helping to resolve conflicts with neighbors, helping tenant through temporary rent payment challenges, and much more.
Housed Support Group and Financial Literacy Class
Finding housing for people with histories of chronic homelessness is difficult enough. But if OCP doesn’t provide support beyond that, then people are in danger of losing their housing. People often struggle with how to manage financial crises, how to budget their monthly income, how to resolve conflicts with neighbors or a landlord, understanding their rights and responsibilities as tenants, health needs, and much more. OCP started a support group for people we have housed, our “Housed Support Group” where people learn all these skills. The Financial Literacy Class is a key part–learning how to set aside rent payments, how to manage a personal budget, how to avoid scams and inappropriate loan offers, and so on.
Day Shelter and Community Center Activities
OCP is open 5 days a week to act as a shelter for people who are homeless during the day. On very cold winter days, we also provide day shelter on weekends. OCP provides over 20,000 hot meals to those in need each year, access to bathrooms, hygiene products, showers, laundry, internet, and computers to apply online for jobs. OCP has case managers available to help with short term needs like applying for food stamps or getting an ID, and long terms needs like employment, disability income, and Medicaid insurance. Finally, OCP’s biggest goal is getting people off the streets and into housing. Our housing specialist develops relationships with landlords who may be willing to house our clients (community members). OCP bought a small apartment building in 2021 and is housing some of our more difficult-to-house folks in that location.
Emergency Housing Assistance Fund
While Mercy House runs the local Prevention and Rapid Rehousing programs with federal HUD funds, not everyone qualifies. OCP solicits from donors and sponsors extra funds that we can use in emergencies to either place people into housing, or keep them in housing. We also spend time providing financial education, counseling, rep payee, and other financial services to people with disabilities to help them obtain or maintain their long-term housing.
Organizational Representative Payee Services
The Social Security Administration can approve an individual or organization to legally act on behalf of clients to manage their SSA benefits, whether retirement or disability income. OCP acts as an organizational rep payee for about a dozen individuals who have histories of proven inability to manage personal finances, and which has resulted in them being homeless. All funds must to the client, and OCP offers the services at no cost. The SSA audits our ledgers for clients on an annual basis. We assist people with intellectual disability, severe alcoholism, severe mental illness, and other challenges that have resulted in homelessness, to 1) get them back into housing and pay their rent on time each month; 2) pay their utilities and phone costs; 3) save money, if needed, for future needs; 4) distribute the remaining funds in weekly or monthly disbursements to each client so they can buy food, clothing, pay for transportation and other needs.While many people are angry when they first are provided a rep payee to manage their funds, over time they see the benefit of OCP’s involvement: stability of housing; having funds available throughout the month (instead of it getting spent up at the beginning of the month); and developing a relationship with a case manager who can assist them in making wise financial decisions.
Morning Empowerment
Monday – Wednesday = 9:30am
This time includes devotionals, centering and breathing, chair yoga, topical discussions, nature movies, shared reading/stories, art classes, art projects and much more.
Community Meals
All are welcome!
Before every meal at OCP, the community circles up, holds hands, and takes turns saying names and one thing to be thankful for. No one is required to circle up but everyone is strongly encouraged to join in this celebration.
Monday & Wednesday = Noon
Tuesday Volunteer Work Day
All are welcome… BUT, all participants must sign in by 10am and attend the morning planning session to participate in the day and lunch. The building is closed to anyone who chooses not to volunteer.
Community Center Activities: Game Days, Art therapy, field trips, and more!
Uno, Spades, Scrabble, Chess, Pictionary – you name it!!! Come on down from 10am to Noon and join in on the fun Mondays and Wednesday. Sometime volunteers come in to provide art therapy. Quarterly we take folks on field trips to brighten their days, provide a change of pace and location, and to just plain have fun! Mini-golf, swimming at Todd Lake, Skyline Drive picnics and hikes, Ruby’s Arcade day, and much more!
Thursday Night Entertainment
Currently unavailable.
In 2023, we hope to return to our Thursday evening activities, including a rotation of Movie Nights, Live Music, Third Thursday Karaoke, Family Game Nights, and special presentations and forums.
Lockers
For $3/month rent (or 1 volunteer star), community members can rent an outdoor locker. Each locker is padlocked with a customizable, 4-digit combination.
Laundry
We now have TWO washers and dryers!!! We also provide laundry detergent to community members free of charge.
Showers
A shower is available to community members. Towels, washcloths, soap and shampoo are provided!
Telephone and Wi-Fi
A telephone is available for community members and is located at the front desk. All calls are free. Please be courteous and keep conversations brief. Wi-fi is available in the building as well. We also have 2 computers for use in job search, ordering birth certificates, and other needs.
Advocacy and Volunteer Opportunities
We encourage community members (clients) to become involved in advocacy for the homeless, and we provide speakers and opportunities for self-advocacy to happen. OCP also provides many many many opportunities for community members to give back through volunteerism–washing dishes, prepping food for meals, mowing the lawn, setting tables, waiting tables at Friday Lunch Restaurant, helping another community member apply for a job, leading an UNO game to engage others, and much more! People who give back, get more in return! That’s also how we build community and relationships of support and love.
Free Table
The Free Table has different items on different days ranging from food to books and clothing. Everything on it is free to take. Do not place personal items on the Free Table. VOLUNTEERS: please take clothing donations to clothes closets at local churches or local thrift stores; OCP does NOT accept donations of clothing or shoes. We do accept donations of tents, sleeping bags and backpacks.
Stars
Stars can be earned by participating in our Tuesday Volunteer Work Days, Friday Lunch Restaurant, and/or our Night Out fundraisers. Stars can be used to pay for lockers or to “buy” OCP merchandise and other fun items.