The mission of CityHeart is to meet urgent needs and enable long term solutions.We are a small organization in comparison to larger nonprofits, agencies, and programs in Dayton serving a similar clientele. We are pleased that some of these organizations are receiving large grants and special funding to serve vulnerable populations. They are placing community outreach workers and case managers in the most logical places to be accessible to individuals and families in need, such as schools and community centers. Since CityHeart helps to fill the gaps, we see this as a win-win for everyone! 

In our experience, “it takes a village” to resolve the complex situations experienced by many of our clients. CityHeart often receives inquiries and direct requests from representatives of these larger organizations on behalf of those families. Oftentimes, the case managers are new to their work, and benefit from the combined knowledge and experience of CityHeart staff and volunteers. We consider each situation, the available resources and give pertinent referrals.

Today’s mission moment is such an example, when we were contacted by a representative from Dayton Children’s Hospital who is placed in the Dayton Public Schools. She was referred to CityHeart by another organization and felt as if they were passing her along without any offer of assistance because the family was over their threshold of qualification.

The case manager called us in reference to this homeless family. She did not disclose the family name, but told us their story. They had been in a stable rental property for 7-8 years. The landlord was not making necessary repairs and in November there was no source of heat in the home. This family ended up being evicted. We assume they quit paying rent because the landlord was not keeping up on maintenance and repairs. First, they went to a hotel, and then they got into a short-term Airbnb rental. They need to be out by the end of the month and they need permanent housing for a family of five. The case manager says they just need a place and they got some money. Both adults in the household are working, good for them!

We explained the most common type of housing requests received by CityHeart are people who actually need funds for back rent or late rent and are about to be evicted. We don’t have any direct connection to actual housing units. We explained that depending on income, they might qualify for subsidized housing through Greater Dayton Premier Management’s Section 8 Program, but there is a wait list and then they will need to find a landlord who will accept the voucher. Certainly, this an option, but not realistic for the stated timeframe.

We recommended that she try to help them find something suitable on their own, if possible, since they do have some money. We also gave referrals for a couple organizations who manage and develop rental properties in the city. CityHeart believes this family will be ok and told the case manager to call us back if they need additional funds once they have located a rental unit. Under normal circumstances CityHeart’s financial assistance policy is to prevent eviction, but for homeless families, we might be able to offer some help on a case by case basis working with our collaborative partners. 

Most importantly, we provided the case manager with critical information on potential resources to help prevent evictions. The Dayton Mediation Center works to resolve tenant-landlord issues and the Rent Escrow program of the City of Dayton, is a program where tenants can pay their rent until the property meets building code, avoiding eviction for non-payment of rent. 

The case manager was very appreciative of the time and effort CityHeart took to make sure that she can help this one family and is much better prepared to give advice to the next family before they end up homeless. 

This story is great example of CityHeart’s mission to meet urgent needs and enable long-term solutions!

CITYHEART WELCOMES OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS BY OFFERING HOSPITALITY, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES FOR OUR WALK-IN VISITORS.
TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE CITYHEART CONTINUES TO MONITOR COVID 19 LEVELS IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH MAY AFFECT OCCUPANCY RATE FOR VISITORS.

FOR THOSE WITH GREATER NEEDS, CITYHEART RECEIVES REQUESTS FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PRIMARILY BY TELEPHONE AND EMAIL.
TELEPHONE (937-223-2489) EMAIL (INFO@nullDAYTONCITYHEART.ORG).

DUE TO THE LARGE VOLUME OF REQUESTS FOR UTILITY AND RENT HELP, A LIMITED NUMBER OF INTAKE REQUESTS ARE RECEIVED EACH MORNING MONDAY-FRIDAY BEGINNING AT 10:00 AM. A WALK-IN VISITOR MAY COMPLETE AN INTAKE FORM AND BE PLACED IN A CALL BACK LIST BASED ON DAILY QUOTA. CITYHEART STAFF AND VOLUNTEER RESOURCE SPECIALISTS MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS IN A TIMLEY MANNER, USUALLY WITHIN 1-2 BUSINESS DAYS.

CITYHEART IS A SMALL ORGANIZATION AND WE ASK FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE DO OUR BEST TO HELP ADDRESS YOUR NEEDS WITH THE CARE AND COMPASSION THAT ARE THE HALLMARKS OF OUR MISSION. WE STRIVE TO BE THE HEART OF THE CITY AND BRING HOPE TO OUR COMMUNITY!

THANK YOU,
KRIS SEXTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2021 CITYHEART, HAS NOW REOPENED TO WALK-IN VISITORS.
WE WANT TO WELCOME OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS BY OFFERING HOSPITALITY, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES FOR OUR WALK-IN VISITORS. TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND COMPLY WITH OUR REVISED COVID-19 PROTOCOLS, MASKS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL, OCCUPANCY AND TIME LIMITS APPLY, AND SERVICES MAY BE LIMITED.

CITYHEART CONTINUES TO RECEIVE REQUESTS FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
BY TELEPHONE AND EMAIL ONLY.
TELEPHONE (937-223-2489) EMAIL (INFO@nullDAYTONCITYHEART.ORG).

DUE TO THE LARGE VOLUME OF REQUESTS FOR UTILITY AND RENT HELP, A LIMITED NUMBER OF INTAKE REQUESTS ARE RECEIVED EACH MORNING MONDAY-FRIDAY BEGINNING AT 10:00 AM. OUR VOLUNTEER RESOURCE SPECIALISTS MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO RESPOND TO THOSE REQUESTS IN A TIMELY MANNER, USUALLY WITHIN 1 – 2 BUSINESS DAYS.

CITYHEART IS A SMALL ORGANIZATION AND WE ASK FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE DO OUR BEST TO HELP ADDRESS YOUR NEEDS WITH THE CARE AND COMPASSION THAT ARE THE HALLMARKS OF OUR MINISTRY. WE STRIVE TO BE THE HEART OF THE CITY AND BRING HOPE TO OUR COMMUNITY!

THANK YOU,
KRIS SEXTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Meeting urgent needs . . . enabling long term solutions.

This tag line, “meeting urgent needs . . . enabling long term solutions,” is used to succinctly describe our mission of responding to immediate needs by providing information, referral services, emergency assistance and hope to those living on the margins of our society.

The following story of one person’s real-life situation brings our mission into perspective.

Meeting Urgent Needs: A recent client, let’s call her “Linda” called CityHeart in asking for help with her water bill. She was referred to CityHeart by a health care social worker whose assignment was ending and would be unable to continue services. We learned that both Linda and her long-time companion, we’ll call him “Eddie,” both had Covid.

Eddie died from Covid complications in February leaving Linda grief stricken and in financial hardship. Once a two-income household, she is now struggling to pay all the bills that they had previously shared. The water usage is billed through the property management company on a monthly basis, a “third party” utility arrangement that is actually added to the monthly rent. Both Eddie and Linda were listed on the lease for their apartment, but the rent is just too high for her alone. Linda refuses to move because she doesn’t want to give up her pets.

Linda has never used a computer, doesn’t have a smartphone, and is therefore limited in methods of communication and access to resources for assistance. She was not at immediate risk of losing water service, but the landlord was getting very anxious as the total accumulated. CityHeart spent many hours on numerous interactions with the client, social worker, property manager and other organizations. CityHeart is the only organization in the regular network of utility providers that would help with third party water service because it is considered rent and they only help with utilities. In May, Linda paid her normal rent and CityHeart paid toward the past due water so that she would not be at risk of being evicted from her home. As we so often do, CityHeart filled the gap in services.

Enabling Long Term Solutions: In the course of working with Linda and assessing her overall needs, it became increasingly apparent that she would not be able to sustain her current living situation with just one income. She was still distraught at the loss of her partner and was feeling hopeless.

With the care and compassion that CityHeart is known for, we tactfully discussed more affordable housing options and other services that she might be eligible to receive. We reached out to a local provider of case management services for Seniors and made the connection for Linda to be admitted to the program. She will receive one-on-one services from a caring case manager that will walk alongside her during these difficult life transitions. CityHeart helped to build a bridge that will ease her process.

Experience and evidence show that meeting urgent needs must take place first before any individual or family can move forward to long term solutions for their problems. Linda is working with her new case manager and they have identified a subsidized housing property in her neighborhood that will accept dogs. They are working on other applications that will make both food and utilities affordable for her income level. Linda is grateful for the help and hope!

How can you help us fill the gaps? We invite you to join CityHeart in our mission of meeting urgent needs and enabling long term solutions for clients like Linda.

Please consider donating or becoming a volunteer today!

CityHeart received of one of six grants awarded by the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation in partnership with Advisor Group. Grants were available to nonprofits in need of funding for specific projects and programs. A CityHeart Board Member applied for the grant to support CityHeart’s Program Services for clients impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Invest in Others Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting and empowering financial professionals who give back to their communities with overwhelming generosity. Since its founding in 2006, Invest in Others has amplified these efforts by providing a platform for financial advisors and other financial professionals to increase awareness, visibility, and funding to their favorite nonprofits. We are grateful to our Board Member for their leadership and their work that brought this opportunity for CityHeart to invest in others!

The impact of COVID-19 has disproportionately affected many people in our target population; low-income, working families who have been sick with Covid-19, lost jobs, been laid off, or have experienced reduced work hours due to the pandemic. They regularly live from paycheck to paycheck with little or no personal safety net and are now under threat of utility disconnections and rental evictions. CityHeart plans to use the funds from the Invest in Others grant to stabilize these households and help keep families from falling into poverty or becoming homeless when facing temporary crisis.

CityHeart – Heart of the City, Hope of the Community December 2021

As we end the year 2021, we are grateful, thankful and blessed.

Grateful for the ability to be able to serve the community during the ongoing pandemic. With proper protocols in place, we were determined to remain open and accessible to people in need. Many new clients impacted by COVID-19 sought help for the first time in their lives. We helped to stabilize these families by assisting a total of 1495 households, serving the needs of 3523 people, 1530 of those were children. This is representative of pre-pandemic numbers.

We have fulfilled our mission as a ministry of presence in the heart of downtown Dayton to the needy, transient, and homeless population of the city and surrounding communities. We strive to improve their lives by listening with compassion and care, responding appropriately to immediate and emergency needs and connection people with other community resources for long term solutions.

Thankful for the strengthened relationships and new partnerships forged during the year to provide even more resources to a population struggling to remain healthy, make ends meet and overcome the economic instability of lost and reduced employment. 

After being closed to walk-in visitors for 18 months during the pandemic, we were thankful to reopen to these clients in September of 2021. In doing so, we will re-establish ourselves as a place of welcome and hospitality in downtown for all who seek refuge, respite, care and compassion. Many of our walk-n visitors are homeless, and we will once again offer them comfort and hope in their troubles and help to make the connections that will bring stability to their lives.

Blessed to have loyal donors, dedicated volunteers, extremely competent staff and a highly engaged board of directors.

We were also blessed to receive new grant funding which allowed us to increase our financial assistance by 60% in 2021. 

A full 2021 Annual Report with more details will be distributed in March by mail and email.

With Much Gratitude,

Kris Sexton

Executive Director

CityHeart Mission Moments – July 6, 2021

As the Executive Director of CityHeart, I wear many hats: operations manager, program services coordinator, administrator, staff and volunteer supervisor, board member, you get the idea! When our programs services staff assistant is away on vacation, I spend my day working directly with our neighbors in need. The volunteer Resource Specialist of the day works on incoming requests for help. I work with our clients who are following up on pledges of assistance that CityHeart has offered to resolve their immediate needs.

Here is a recap of my day, with names changed to maintain confidentiality:

Client #1 – Karen lost her job during the pandemic and was then diagnosed with cancer. She had surgery and will not be able to return to work in the foreseeable future. She applied for disability, which ended her unemployment benefits. In the interim she is struggling to pay her July rent of $974. CityHeart offered $150 and St. Vincent offered $100. Karen was able to pay the balance of $723 and we mailed our check to the rental office today. She has worked hard all her life and hopes that she will not need to move due to these circumstances, the cancer has turned her life upside-down. We pray she will find some stability and were very happy to help!

Client #2 – Jerry and Paula were forced to move during the pandemic. The landlord allowed them to move in, but now they need $806 to transfer their DP&L service. When they called CityHeart they had NO electric service. Jerry has multiple sclerosis and also had COVID, so he is now on long term disability. Paula works part time but extra health expenses have made it hard for them to pay this bill.  Sometimes, “it takes a village,” so in addition to a pledge of $150 from CityHeart, this couple is receiving help from three other organizations to restore their service today. They were very grateful for a caring community!

Client #3 – Natasha has recently graduated from a local university. She was required to have an internship as part of her program, which was very difficult to find during the pandemic. Her first placement was a paid position, but the opportunity was lost due to COVID shut down of the company. She then secured another internship that unfortunately was unpaid. She is now working but fell behind on her rent, needing just $250 to pay the past due amount. CityHeart paid $150 and she got another $100 from a referral we gave her, problem solved today for this determined young woman.  

Client #4 – Terri is a young working mother of two who was laid off her job due to the pandemic. She set up a payment plan to stretch the total of her natural gas bill over a few months so she can get caught up again before the winter heating season. Due to changes in the unemployment system, she experienced a brief gap of income and she needs just $222 for the payment. She paid some, CityHeart paid some and the problem was solved. Her unemployment was reinstated and she hopes to be back to work soon.

Client #5 – Melody is a senior citizen; her only income is her social security retirement. She qualifies for a low-income payment arrangement at $48 a month for her utilities but she is currently in default and must pay nearly $400 to recertify for the plan. Melody admitted she spent too much money on things she normally doesn’t purchase, but really needed during COVID, “So I got me some Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer, and cleaning products,” she explained. We are very glad that Melody stayed healthy! Once again, CityHeart pooled together resources to help with her bill and remain on the plan. We are relieved to know that her son will help her to prioritize spending and manage the bills moving forward.

It was a busy and rewarding day in the life of CityHeart. We are thankful to be able to offer this response to many people impacted by COVID. I welcome these days that keep me grounded in our mission to serve the needy throughout our community, and I am humbled to share these stories.

We could not accomplish this without the wonderful support from our donors, thank you and thanks be to God!

Kris Sexton, CityHeart Executive Director

The most successful impact story we have recently experienced is to assist our clientele in making application to the local Community Action Agency for CARES Act funds. Our Program Services Assistant, Anthony, was involved in assisting three neighbors to apply. These three neighbors all had the same landlord. They were all delinquent in their rent for 2-3 months due to loss of employment from the pandemic. They were challenged by the online application process. Anthony helped to submit the three applications. When the clients were contacted by representatives from the CAP program, they were told that their landlord would need to submit paperwork, with social security number and w-9 form. They reported back to CityHeart that their out-of-state landlord was refusing to comply with the request. They were distraught on how to proceed. We agreed to advocate on their behalf with the landlord, because apparently, she didn’t want to give out her personal information and most likely didn’t trust her tenants. After two or three phone conversations between CityHeart and the landlord, we convinced her that this was a legitimate program, the funding was being provided by the CARES Act, and that the money would come directly to her, not her tenants. In order to process the applications, she must comply and provide her social security number, her tax ID number for the IRS, so that the Community Action Agency could distribute the money for the rent owed by her tenants. In the end, we secured the housing for all three of these clients, and their landlord received a few thousand dollars in rent payment. Finally, after she understood how much the program would benefit both her and her tenants, this landlord began referring her other tenants to apply directly for the CARES funds or to call CityHeart if they needed help. Often it just takes the right approach and the proper language to bring clarity to a situation. This is a perfect example of how CityHeart can advocate in this type of situation to help our neighbors and give them hope. We continue to assist financially with utilities and will leverage the government funds for rent until they are depleted. The current deadline is December 31 for applications, so please pray with us that more funding is approved soon to aid these families in crisis. 

CityHeart moved back into our office space on June 15 just in time for the influx of requests that have come as a result of the restrictions being lifted for evictions and water bills. CityHeart is ready to assist and be part of the solution for these friends and neighbors. The photo below shows the client Intake forms that have been processed for the last three months, and the pile for July is only half the month!

The following stories are just examples of people we helped within a 10-day period. A lot of water!

Thelma is almost 3 months behind on her monthly utility payment of $46 for DP&L.  She receives Social Security retirement income of $763 monthly, and usually supplements that with part time work but has not been able to get any work due to COVID-19. She has been paying on a small bank loan that caused her to fall behind on other bills. When we talked to her on June 17 she was referred to the local Community Action Agency, but they are overwhelmed and she has not heard back from them. She is very concerned. CityHeart offered to pay half of the $138 past due amount, and St. Vincent at Our Lady of Mercy paid the other half, the situation was resolved in a timely manner to get her caught up!

Larry lives in the Northridge area and has been juggling bills for utilities and rent since he lost his job as a result of the tornado last May. The volunteers at Queen of Martyrs church know his story all too well and have tried to help stabilize his life circumstances. It sounds like he may have some ongoing obstacles to employment and may never find work again, certainly not during a pandemic. We helped with his rent last summer and were happy to respond to his request to help pay his rent again for July. The St. Vincent volunteers assured us that they will continue to monitor his situation.

Angel has received a notice from the water department. She was unable to pay her water bill because she has recently helped two of her sisters that lost their jobs due to the pandemic. She now needs help herself! She had calls in to various agencies, but in the end, Angel was denied by all other assisting organizations because the bill was through a 3rd party supplier. We paid $100 to keep her water service on, and she was very grateful that we were responsive to coordinating with a 3rd party. It was all easily verified with the utility company and we’re not sure why no one else would help, but CityHeart did!

Mary lives at the YWCA. She has an income but needs help with July rent of $231.00. Her purse was stolen and she will not have enough money until next month. The rental office is very understanding but they need something paid on her account this month. CityHeart paid a portion and gave her a referral, between the two of us, she will have $150 paid for July and the YWCA will set up a payment plan for the balance. She says she will keep a better watch on her belongings and get caught up in the next month.

Aileen is on a fixed monthly income and is searching for more affordable housing. She took in her grandson who is only working part time and had no place to live. She is sometimes set back on her budget by the quarterly water bill. She paid $100 toward the bill last month, but needs some help to pay the balance to avoid disconnection. CityHeart and St. Vincent partnered to assist with the remainder. 

Laura was recently diagnosed with cancer and is in chemotherapy. The increased medical bills are becoming a burden for her and her husband. They recently had a very large unpaid bill. She received some help from CareSource, St. Vincent, Salvation Army and CityHeart – all contributing to resolve the issue. The CareSource case manager will continue to work with them. Sometimes, it just takes a village! 

Linda is the only adult in the household, raising her three grandchildren alone. She has been keeping up on most of her bills during this time, but her son who normally helps financially has lost his job due to the pandemic. He is unable to help with the amount she needs at this time. The water bill is only $135 but she just doesn’t have it right now. Once again, with one other partner, we paid the same day, and her problem is solved for now. We gave her additional resources as necessary moving forward.

On June 15, CityHeart staff and volunteers returned to working on-site from our offices, beginning Phase 1 of our return to “normal” operations in this time of an unprecedented pandemic. We were successful in working remotely by phone and email through the months of March, April and May to provide emergency assistance for our clients, but this mode of operation became difficult to sustain. In May, a Reentry Task Force was created to consider short term plans for CityHeart, using a Phase 1/Phase 2 strategy. We held weekly zoom meetings to formulate the Phase 1 plan which applies only to staff and volunteers. 

We are currently following CDC guidelines and the Ohio Dept. of Health Restart Guide for Office Environments and have put proper safety measures in place to protect all staff and volunteers. There is a detailed sign-in procedure to screen for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure. Social distancing is accomplished by having only one individual per office to provide a safe personal space. Masks are mandatory in all common spaces. A process for the cleaning and disinfecting of workstations and commons areas has been established and supplies are readily available for this purpose. 

As anticipated, some of our friends are becoming aware that we are on-site and have begun to knock at the door and follow signage that directs them to call from the outside entry area. We are speaking with them over the phone, and have handed a few bus passes and sack lunches out the door. No client has entered the building, and we are thankful that the fair weather allows us to provide this contactless form of hospitality at this time. 

Once we have become accustomed to the new procedures, the Task Force will begin to develop our Phase 2 plan to determine how and when we can safely accommodate walk-in guests to our program. Concurrently, our Board of Directors has established the COVID-19 Strategic Plan Response Team to consider the mid to long term impact on our organization. 

Our goal is always to keep our mission of being responsive to the needs of our community in the forefront of our decisions. Please pray for all of the vulnerable people in our community, and for our staff and volunteers who continue to serve and provide for the needs of these neighbors. 

Please contact Kris Sexton at director@nulldaytoncityheart.org or 937-223-2489 if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Thank You.

The City of Dayton and Montgomery County are being crushed by the economic hardships that the business community and our citizens are experiencing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We know that we are stronger together in difficult times, and CityHeart is committed to being part of the solution!

It has been somewhat difficult to operate under these circumstances. Some local organizations are not taking requests for assistance at this time, possibly due to requirements for in-person appointments. CityHeart was able to quickly shift to working from home, and we already had normal procedures in place for working with clients over the phone. We always verify status on rent and utility situations with the rental offices and utility companies, and no funds are ever distributed directly to a client. We continue to serve with compassion every day!

GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK!

CityHeart assisted on rent payments for two ladies living at the YWCA who were directed to CH by their case managers. They were very relieved for the help! 

CityHeart assisted on rent payment for a client living in subsidized housing. We worked directly with the GDPM Legal Department, resulting in a great collaborative effort to get this tenant caught up and avoid future eviction!

CityHeart had five new clients yesterday, referred by our partners at St. Vincent DePaul. They never needed our help before. Together our two organizations were able to provide a level of assistance that will help to pay past due bills and prevent the risk of evictions and disconnections when the current bans are lifted!

Meeting urgent needs . . . enabling long term solutions.

CityHeart Response During COVID-19 – We Are OPEN to HELP!

CityHeart is a critical link in the local network for emergency assistance on rent and utility situations for low income individuals and working families, accounting for 70% of our services in 2019.
While we are unfortunately closed to walk-in clients during the COVID-19 Crisis and State of Ohio Stay at Home order, CityHeart immediately set up to receive all of our requests for emergency assistance by phone and email. Staff members are working daily, Monday through Friday, to respond to our neighbors in need and assist in making rent and utility payments on their behalf. Here is a sample of the stories we are encountering and posting on our Facebook page. 

Today’s Good News! COVID-19 Response – March 21

This very sad story of a single woman undergoing chemotherapy, whose surgery was delayed due to COVID-19 outbreak, who can’t work and currently has no income. She is waiting on Social Security Disability to be processed and can’t afford to pay all of her rent. She is getting as much help from her family as they can afford.  This client is hoping to work with the local Community Action Agency but they are now closed for in-person appointments. CityHeart was available to address her situation over the phone, talking with her and contacting her landlord in New Jersey to verify the situation. Combined with what she can pay and what CityHeart has just paid on her behalf, it will be enough to keep the out-of-state landlord satisfied for now! We pray that her application for rental assistance will be processed soon, that her Social Security Disability gets approved, and hopefully some stimulus funds may come her way to assist when the rent becomes due again. God Bless!

Today’s Good News! COVID-19 Response – March 25

In this family of three, normally able to pay their bills, both adults have lost wages due to COVID-19. They were under a shut-off notice from Vectren for their heating bill which has now been temporarily suspended. The minimum amount due is about $150.00. They received a pledge from one of our St. Vincent DePaul partners, and they were able to pay a small portion. CityHeart agreed to pay the balance due at this time to stop the risk of disconnection when the suspension is lifted. As we move into Spring temperatures the heating usage should go down, and they hope to be receiving unemployment at that time, possibly some federal aid as well. But those funds are not coming fast enough and they were very worried. CityHeart was happy to resolve the issue before we get slammed with similar requests, and hope this family will be eligible for assistance to get through a season of uncertainty.

Today’s Good News! COVID-19 Friday, March 27

This homeless couple has been staying at a local Motel 6 because putting together enough money for a full month’s rent and deposit is just unmanageable for them. Both have lost wages, sent home due to the Coronavirus. They just used their last money to pay for their room for tonight. They will have some funds coming on Monday but they’ll need to get through the weekend. CityHeart generally does NOT pay for a motel, but we agreed to pay for Saturday and we negotiated with the manager who offered them a FREE night for Sunday. They will pay on Monday and both have job interviews coming up, we wished them good luck on that! Thanks to Motel 6 for partnering with us to help!   

To get help please call 937-223-2489 or email info@nulldaytoncityheart.org

We are currently applying for emergency funding through some grant opportunities and invite everyone who shares our mission to respond as you are able to help us help our neighbors.

Donations to CityHeart can be made via PayPal on our website www.daytoncityheart.org

On our Facebook page, and by regular mail to:

CityHeart

20 W. First St.

Dayton, OH 45402

The Memorial Day tornadoes that ripped through the Dayton area left a trail of damage and destruction to homes and property, certainly an unprecedented event that has brought a generous community response toward relief efforts. On behalf of the recipients of your generosity to CityHeart, I would like to give a hearty thanks to our donors, to members of the Episcopal Churches, and all those who have made a special donation to CityHeart during this time of disaster. 

As promised in our appeal, we have increased our financial assistance per household to meet the immediate needs of many people directly and indirectly affected. As we anticipated, these situations are the stories being repeated from all our neighbors throughout the affected areas. I would like to share a few of these storm stories, the stories of the consequences impacting the lives of these victims. (Names have been changed for confidentiality.) 

Joey came to CityHeart one afternoon just days after the storm to tell of the scary night he and his wife spent in a rental home that sustained damage. They were alright and went to spend a couple nights in a hotel, but when he went home to pick up some items the neighbors alerted him that their neighborhood was being looted. Joey then stayed at the house to protect his personal belongings and his landlords’ property. He was emphatic they did not need any more water, everyone was bringing water! He ask for much, he has work and can live in the home, so we gave him some bus passes to get back and forth to work, something to help.

Chandra is a single mother of two young children who works full time as a home health aid making $1500 a month. When the storm hit she was near enough to lose power in her apartment and was displaced for several days. The business that she works for was directly affected and closed for period of time. Two of Chandra’s clients were directly impacted and displaced from their homes. One client in Trotwood and one in Northridge, both unharmed but under alternative care, not needing her services. No work, no pay. The tornado caused Chandra temporary loss of home, food and employment. She incurred unforeseen and immediate expenses due to this hardship. She came to CityHeart asking for help with rent. Chandra has applied for FEMA aid and will qualify, but that won’t help for July. Her monthly rent is $650, which she is normally able to pay. Her landlord is giving her time to get it together, a month after the disaster and things are just getting back to “normal” for Chandra has work again now. With $100 from CityHeart added to what Chandra could pay has satisfied the landlord, allowing her more time to prevent eviction and potential homelessness. (The city certainly doesn’t need any more homeless tornado victims.) Chandra was very grateful for our help! 

Stephen called CityHeart looking for food and hunger resources to feed his family of five. After losing food in the storm he was directed by one our Resource Specialists to area relief sites that were offering food and Kroger gift cards. He was not aware of those resources. He said that would help for the short term, so we also made sure he knew how to apply for replacement food stamps, and where to access his local food pantry until they were stabilized. 

Annette was in a neighborhood on the edge of direct damage. Her home was spared, she lost power and food, but her biggest set back was a surge that destroyed her refrigerator and microwave. She works full time and has done her best to keep up on her normal bills, but the quarterly water bill arrived just after she paid out of pocket to replace both appliances. She was not in immediate risk of shut-off, but we agreed to help pay the bill because Annette knew she didn’t have enough money. Annette had one previous interaction with CityHeart over three years ago, but she has not needed help since that time and is confident she will be back on track when the next bill comes in three months. This was definitely a temporary circumstance and we were happy to help!

Rodney and Norma are senior citizens living on a fixed income. They were not directly affected by the storms, but their daughter and family lost their home in Trotwood. As any parent would do, they took in this family of four, quickly increasing the size of the household from two to six people. They were referred to CityHeart by one of the Trotwood churches that had set up to help victims. Rodney and Norma admitted that it may have been a poor decision to spend all of their own money on the immediate needs of the larger family, not worrying about their own upcoming expenses. But that is what families do, they take care of each other. Now they need help themselves. We paid $100 toward their DP&L bill and solved the problem the same day. Their daughter and her family will also be eligible for the FEMA assistance once it comes through. 

Narita was also distraught that she could not pay her utility bill because she had helped her son who lived in the Northridge area of Harrison township. He lost both his home and his car that were directly hit by the tornado. Another example of doing what she could to do in the moment to help him without regard to herself. People just numbly responding in the first days after the storm, when everyone was still in shock, not yet aware of available resources. We helped to pay $100 to keep her service on and she was so thankful for our help.

So many people live from paycheck to paycheck and don’t have emergency funds. CityHeart has cared for these families with the compassion that we show all our visitors, and we don’t expect to hear from them again anytime soon. This is just a sampling of the “storm stories” we have encountered in the past few weeks. Many more every day.  We assisted 65 families in June, dispersing $4915.79 to help alleviate the immediate impact to the lives of ordinary people living in extraordinary circumstances. 

Thanks again to all who have contributed to fund CityHeart’s relief efforts, and thanks be to God for being with our neighbors who have endured trauma and are overcoming each day, we are Dayton Strong!

By Kris Sexton, Executive Director

July 2019

On May 27, 2019 Dayton and Montgomery County Ohio were hit by an outbreak of tornadoes. CityHeart is a small but critical link in the emergency assistance network in this area. We regularly partner with other assisting organizations to meet the immediate and emergency needs of our neighbors. We are responding to this disaster by increasing the financial assistance normally provided per household. This will be a long recovery and many of the national relief organizations will leave the area and the burden will fall on those who are here for the long term.

CityHeart is working with individuals who are directly and indirectly affected by the storms. Areas in the direct path of the storms are also some of Dayton’s most impoverished neighborhoods. Many of those affected are low income, people on fixed incomes and working families who live paycheck to paycheck. Many people that we are talking with have been unable to work because the businesses have been affected. Some people are incurring moving costs that may be reimbursed at a much later date, but are struggling to meet expenses in the short term. Others are incurring the added expense of replacing food lost to wide spread power outages across large portions of the area, even those that did not take a direct hit. CityHeart is here for them in the short term and will be here for the long term as well, working with our community partners to help people move forward and regain stability.

Working in collaboration with our community partners we will help to keep people from becoming homeless by assisting with rents and utilities and transportation. We will also help to provide up-front costs of moving such as utility & rental deposits which according to our policy is not normally considered an emergency situation. Much of our normal assistance involves referrals to community partners, and together we meet financial needs. CityHeart has a monthly budget for direct assistance that will be greatly impacted for 2019 due to this disaster. We are currently offering 2-3 times our normal assistance per household for short term help to resolve problems in a smooth and timely manner. We have already distributed the equivalent one month’s budget in the first week after the storms.

Donations toward our efforts can be made on our How You Can Help/Donate page via PayPal or by check payable to CityHeart, 20 W. First St. Dayton Oh 45402. We thank everyone who has contributed to help CityHeart assist the people of Dayton in this time of need!

Trisa came to the church office well after CityHeart had closed one afternoon. There was no one in the front office at the time, the staff were on a conference call and Trisa had wandered into the building and was in the front hallway looking for someone to talk to . . . I had come up from the CityHeart office to get documents from the printer and found her there. She signed in and then sat down to wait for some attention. Simultaneously a member from Eternal Joy passed through the front hall and asked if she needed help. I overheard the brief exchange as Trisa was asking to talk to “the pastor,” and I went over to see how I could assist.

Most visitors to the church office asking for “the pastor” usually end up at CityHeart, at this ministry we established long ago to connect with just such visitors, it’s why we’re here and it’s our mission to help!

Trisa spoke very quickly and was telling a story about her 91 year old aunt who had just died, and her cousin who was coming up from Florida for the funeral. She made it very clear that she was NOT asking for money. Then she started talking about Hurricane Michael, which had just ripped through Florida, and about the victims down there, and about taking up a collection of items for the victims. Again, she repeated she was not asking for cash, but more times than not, these stories usually end up in a need for a cash donation.

Trisa was really rambling on, not very clearly, she was emotional but seemed VERY sincere. I patiently listened and it was more than a few minutes before I was finally able to piece her story together. Aunt Wanda died in Florida and was being brought back to Dayton. Cousin Candi, who lives in Florida, will be in town for the funeral, and then will go back to Florida. Candi had come up with a memorial idea, in lieu of flowers, to collect feminine products and personal toiletry items for hurricane victims. She asked that they be placed into a women’s purse and brought to the funeral home, to be taken back for victims in her area.

Trisa says that it’s all in the obituary for Aunt Wanda, and we can check in the newspaper if we doubt her story. It was not really clear if she was asking the church for help because she couldn’t afford to put a donation together herself, or if she was just trying to get more donations for the collection . . . but she kept saying to check the obit, and even in this unlikely circumstance, I truly believed her story.

It really DID seem like a great idea, so I went down to the CityHeart office where we keep such things, and put together a bag full of toiletry items for her to take. When I came back up and handed her the bag, she was very happy with the donation! She was sure to have me include a business card for CityHeart and my own name, for the purpose of an acknowledgement. Very thoughtful.

But as is usually the case at CityHeart, we really don’t need or expect any acknowledgment other than the smile on her face, the hug we shared, and the understanding that God sees all, and rewards are in heaven!

Final note – a few days later I did remember to check the newspaper, and “bring a purse filled with items for hurricane victims” was noted just as she had said. God Bless Trisa, God Bless Candi, and their desire to honor Wanda’s life in this way, their reward is already in Heaven!

By Kris Sexton, Executive Director

October 2018

A CityHeart Moment | Helping Children at Risk

Late on a Thursday afternoon the Intake person for CityHeart received a call from an elementary school counselor who was calling to see if we could help a family whose water had been turned OFF!

The school official explained that they had just become aware of the situation, and if not resolved right away, the school would be forced to report the situation to the Montgomery County Children’s Services. This action would put the children at risk of being removed from the home, and potentially cause the parent to lose her support for the housing.

CityHeart‘s growth has necessitated our normal response time to be within 24-48 hours, but our keen Intake volunteer recognized that this was an extreme case and immediately brought it to the attention of the Executive Director. With school dismissed and most organizations closed for the day, we promised to give the situation our full attention on Friday morning. The case was assigned to the Resource Specialist of the day who first spoke with the mother, then made a few phone calls, and quickly negotiated the payment of $142.00 to restore the water service to this household with six children before the end of day!

We learned that the financial problems started because an abusive relationship had existed there and the woman quit her job to stay home and protect her children from an ex-husband. We were very happy to know that someone in the school was aware of CityHeart services and that they reached out to call us just in time to avoid getting things caught up in a larger, more problematic scenario.

Once we had the immediate crisis under control, we realized that attention should also be given to the root cause of the emergency. CityHeart, working in collaboration, has ensured that the family will receive continued care from Catholic Social Services who specializes in this type of situation. Their “Neighbors helping Neighbors” program will work with the mother and children to secure the best possible resources for their emotional healing and long term stability.

Kris Sexton, September 2018

Meet CityHeart’s Resolution Specialist – Anthony & friend

Denise was referred to CityHeart by volunteers at the Dayton Episcopal Food and Clothing Pantries. She lived in the neighborhood and had also visited St. Andrew’s for worship services. Denise came to Dayton to live in a home with her son and daughter-in-law but unfortunately the living situation was not working out. Denise is a senior citizen living on a fixed income and she wanted to search for other housing but was uncertain that she could afford to live alone. A major hurdle to the search process was Denise’s two cats. She is an animal lover and was concerned that she couldn’t have them in an apartment. She was adamant that she keep her cats.

Anthony was new to his position as Resolution Specialist at CityHeart. A position that was created to designate a volunteer who could take extra time in building trusted relationships with our clients presenting difficult circumstances and requiring follow up care. He was determined to find the best resolution for Denise.

Anthony met with Denise and began regular contact with her in the search for appropriate permanent housing. Our best referral was a nearby subsidized location for seniors that allowed the tenants to have one pet. Initially Denise found this option less than desirable, but reluctantly put her name on the waiting list. She didn’t know how she could choose between her two cats. Anthony persisted in his efforts and made contact with a local animal shelter that would take one of her cats, assuring her that it was a no-kill facility. This was a realistic solution that would meet her budget for housing. It was a stressful time for Denise and she struggled to make a decision when her name came to the top of the list for the next available apartment. With the care and compassion shown by Anthony, Denise was convinced that this apartment was the best choice for her to be independent. In the end, unable to choose, she made the decision to give up both cats, confident they would be placed into loving homes.

After moving to her new place, Denise became a neighbor to CityHeart and was very happy in her new home and surroundings. She was grateful for the attention and support she received from our ministry.

Kris Sexton    June 2018

New Funding! New Leadership! New Opportunities!

New Funding – $20,500 Grant from 100+ Women

CityHeart was VERY PLEASED to be the January 2018 recipient of a $20,500 Grant from the organization 100+ Women Who Care. CityHeart was well represented by Christ Church parishioners, a CityHeart board member, and other friends who are members of the Dayton chapter of this generous group of philanthropic women. The grant awarded will help to meet our increased demand for emergency assistance, engage in consultation for organizational strategic planning, purchase equipment, and begin Phase II office renovations. CityHeart has also partnered with “Party With A Purpose,” to hold our first happy hour fundraiser at the Dayton Beer Company on June 26, from 6-8 pm. Mark your calendars and bring a friend as we try to reach new people and bring awareness to the important work of CityHeart in our community. Follow this link for more information!

New Leadership 

At our Annual Meeting in March, the board elected Jane McGee-Rafal as our new board chair to replace The Rev. John Paddock. Jane has served on the CityHeart board since 2015, she is retired from a career in education, once serving as Superintendent of Dayton Public Schools. Jane is a resident of downtown Dayton, has served as a leader on many area boards, and is a long-time Episcopalian who worships at St. George’s Episcopal Church, one of CityHeart’s partner churches. Jane and Kris will work closely together, along with the full board to strategically plan for CityHeart’s future.

New Volunteer Position & Upcoming New Staff Position

CityHeart continues to grow in the number of client services we provide. Year-to-year statistics indicate we are experiencing 30-40% annual growth rate, resulting in a strain on CityHeart’s human resources.

Our Hospitality and Resource Specialists are at capacity each day working to meet immediate and emergency needs. The result has been less time available to address the comprehensive needs of our clients, many of which are the root causes of their emergencies. To ensure that we are fulfilling our mission to assist in connecting people to long-term solutions, we have added a new volunteer position, Resolution Specialist, filled by Christ Church parishioner Anthony Ehresmann. One full day each week Anthony does follow-up work with clients who have already received emergency assistance – working closely with them to identify next steps, making appropriate referrals to other organizations, and encouraging greater participation toward self-sufficiency in resolving their ongoing problems.

Later this summer, CityHeart will hire a part-time staff position for a Program Services Assistant. We have operated with just one staff person for many years, but as the organization has grown, the administrative demands of the Executive Director have gone beyond capacity. Although we have a tremendous volunteer staff, we require more continuity in front office operations. The added staff position will provide greater efficiency in the flow of daily program services as we strive towards our vision of being a primary center of hospitality in downtown Dayton.

New things and new times involve CHANGE! Please keep CityHeart in your prayers as we enter into a new phase of our organizational life and ministry in service to our neighbors in need.

Thanks for your support!  Kris Sexton, Executive Director                                                              (June 2018)

When were you there? You are HERE now, touching lives, and we thank you!

When did I?  Welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, quench the thirsty, clothe the naked, give rest to the weary, visit a prisoner, or sooth the suffering?

YOU have served “the least of these” if you have said a prayer, brought a gift, had a good thought, been a volunteer, or given to the financial support of CityHeart, directly or indirectly through your support of Christ Church.

YOU welcome the stranger and the “other” every day as we open our doors to our neighbors in the community.

YOU quench the thirst of many lonely souls like John and Robert, with a simple cup of coffee or water served with a smile.

YOU feed the hungry like David and Tina with fresh fruit and a granola bar, a sack lunch, or a bus token to get to the nearest hot meal site or food pantry.

YOU clothe the naked like Anthony and Clayton who received coats in early October during a cold snap, or the many who will be thankful for hats, gloves and socks this holiday season and winter.

YOU give rest to the weary when folks on the fringe like Dorothy and Leland need a place to seek respite from the streets – to use the restroom & phone, to receive some referrals, or just to engage in conversation.

YOU visit with the prisoner when we assist the homebound and disabled over the phone, or speak with the mentally ill, imprisoned in their own bodies.

YOU soothe the suffering each time we listen with a caring heart and  compassionate response with emergency help for those in crisis, like Robyn, Keith and the Johnson family.

CityHeart is YOUR ministry! In this season of giving, those of us who serve day to day as your hands and feet and HEART in this world, are especially thankful for all that YOU give.

TOGETHER we touch the lives of hundreds of people each month who might not otherwise know or experience the Love of God. THANK YOU!

Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

May the spirit of the season – Peace, Love, Joy and HOPE be with you always!

Alan first came to CityHeart during the cold winter months. Like many others, he most likely came in just to get out of the cold for a little while. A hot cup of coffee, a friendly greeting and a healthy snack certainly go a long way toward making lasting friends here at CityHeart.

At first we weren’t sure if he was housed or unsheltered. Many people living on the streets don’t really like to talk about their situations, and so we often wait for the right timing to open up that conversation. Alan initially indicated that he was not homeless, but after days turned into weeks and the frequency of his visits increased, he acknowledged that he was sleeping in an abandoned garage.

We talked about using the St. Vincent Gateway shelter for men. He was clear about the fact that he did not want to go there. Many men don’t like the shelter but will go when it gets really cold outside. So we also talked about other options that could hopefully get him out of a garage, a place unfit for habitation. The PATH program of Miami Valley Housing Opportunities was probably his best option. They work with street homeless, usually suffering from mental illness and/or substance abuse. Alan was very hesitant of what would be required of him if he were to meet with one of their outreach workers.

Alan was a shy and gentle young man, soft spoken and very respectful of all of our volunteers and other visitors. Someone had raised him right and taught him some manners. But you could sense there was something just under the surface, causing him great inner struggle. A condition that eventually, many months later, he named as schizophrenia. It is quite sad to see young people like this who don’t understand what is happening to their own bodies and minds. Undiagnosed and untreated. Unable to function in a shelter, in a job or in other stressful environments.

With CityHeart’s help and encouragement he began working with the folks at PATH. As they built a trusted relationship, he was compliant with their requests and in agreement with the goals of his plan of treatment and action.

The chill of winter gave way to the warmer months of spring and then summer, and finally after a long time on the wait list, Alan came in and proudly told us he was getting off the streets. He would be signing the lease for his new apartment and moving to a supportive housing program. He wanted to report his “new” address and thank us for all we had done to help him along this journey. How happy we were to hear Alan’s good news and know he will be off the street for the upcoming winter.

We are now entering the time of year when CityHeart gives special attention to some of our new friends that may be unsheltered. We will attempt to begin the difficult conversations around housing and mental health. Please be mindful of these neighbors – for courage to explore their options, for strength to overcome their obstacles, and for patience to those who will care for them.

We recently received a desperate call from a father “Bob,” who was calling on behalf of his son, “Jake.” He asked how to find the CityHeart office. They were downtown and had just been referred to us by Goodwill Easter Seals. They arrived shortly thereafter.

Jake is a homeless young man in his mid-twenties, who has been living on the streets for years. His dad, Bob, is trying to help Jake find housing resources today. The situation between father and son seemed very tense. In talking with them, I learned that Jake has been out of the family home for years and was permanently banned from the Gateway Men’s Homeless Shelter. This was due to an incident that occurred back in 2015. He has been homeless “on the street” ever since.

Our first option when talking with the “street homeless” is to explore the potential reasons for why they are not staying at the shelter. There are a few main reasons; they are banned, they are convicted sex offender, they are mentally ill or they simply do not want to abide by shelter policies. The first two of these reasons are imposed by the shelter system and therefore these individuals are not eligible to stay or receive services. The most common reasons people do not choose to access the homeless shelters and the services they provide are those who suffer from mental illness who either cannot function in this large institutional environment, or struggle to abide by shelter policies because they are not receiving proper treatment for their illness.

The alternative is to work with the PATH program of Miami Valley Housing Opportunities whose mission it is to work with the population of “street homeless.” They work to get people with drug, alcohol, and mental illness into treatment, under case management and back into permanent housing

I cautiously talked Bob and Jake about the MVHO program PATH, and explained a little about this street outreach program.  I indicated the type of homeless folks they specialize in working with, such as people struggling with mental health and substance abuse, particularly chronically homeless individuals.

Bob acknowledged that the program is probably just what his son Jake needs, although Jake emphatically stated he is not abusing drugs. Unfortunately Jake has worn out his welcome at home and is not allowed to stay there. I explained that CityHeart helps to connect the street homeless with the PATH representatives, and they could meet with him here, possibly still that day. When I offered to make the call Jake hesitated but his dad Bob was very interested in trying to make an immediate connection.  We agreed that if Jake is WILLING to talk with them, it might be VERY helpful to do that while his dad is here, and the people from PATH will know that there is some level of family support. Jake agreed that he was willing to have the conversation.

I made the call to PATH and they sent a representative to CityHeart to meet with father and son. While we waited, Jake stepped outside and Bob shared that his son has been non-compliant with medication for a long time. He says he doesn’t go back on the psyche meds.  I tried to ease the situation by telling a story of another young man who had lived in a garage most of this past winter. He met with PATH here at CityHeart a couple of months ago. After much deliberation that young man finally made the decision to work with the organization to change his situation and his life. I’m not sure if the story made Jake feel any better in the moment, but I do know that Bob certainly appreciated there IS HOPE for his son.

When the outreach worker from PATH arrived I left them in our private office, where they talked for about 30 minutes. Upon their departure I shook Jake’s hand, let him know he is welcome here and invited him to come back anytime for coffee and snacks, to get information or referrals, or simply to talk. I gave Bob a CityHeart brochure and my business card. Bob called back the next day to say how much he appreciated the care and concern that we showed for their situation, and he is very hopeful things will work out!

by Kris Sexton

One of our volunteers, Nancy Diggs, recently interviewed some of the people who have received help from CityHeart to get their feedback on our program and services.  Over the course of the next few weeks, I would like to share their stories. The first one comes from Daryl, a kind and gentle soul, who visits us frequently and has a smile that brightens every day. He agreed to share his story which starts following a rough period in his life, just after he spent time in a behavioral health facility . . .

How did you learn about CityHeart?

“Through my case manager.”

Why did you come to CityHeart….?

“I had just been released from Cincinnati’s summit program. My case manager was with me, and I didn’t have any funds.  I didn’t have anything, I was homeless and he called Kris and they said they would give me money [a check to purchase] my birth certificate.”

Were you greeted with kindness…..?

“Yes, I was . . . and then I asked Kris did they have a meeting? I had walked past this church for quite some time and she said ‘Yes, they have AA meetings next door.’ And she told me what time they start and what time to get there, and I’ve been coming ever since.”

So CityHeart was able to help you with what you needed…..Did that work out OK for you then?

Yes, ma’am. I was taken care of very well. I’m very appreciative—to make a long story short, it kind of like saved me from being homeless again. When I got the birth certificate I went on and got my I.D. and I’ve been coming back for coffee every morning. There’s always somebody here to greet you and ask you what you need. And I come back two times for the meeting—I call it working my program. Without (CityHeart) telling me about the AA, I would probably be homeless by now, yes I would, yes I would ‘cause I’m an alcoholic. I’ve got four years in and I’ve been coming to CityHeart and I haven’t had no problems since then . . . and anything I needed like some gloves or a hat to keep me warm, they supplied me with that.

We try to reflect the spirit of Jesus… Do you think we did that?

Yes, I do. I get here earlier in the morning, and there’s always somebody here, and as a matter of fact, I asked them to pray for my health, and I went to the doctor yesterday. I see two different doctors about my arthritis and I was also diagnosed as a paranoid-schizophrenic, and the good Lord – and I asked Kris if she would pray for me, and I had no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, and I’m going to try to stop smoking. I keep coming back!

I think if they didn’t have a spiritual (component to the) program that it would defeat the whole purpose. A guy came into the meeting—he had to be about 79 or 80 years old and didn’t nobody catch on, but I did, and he said the whole point of Alcoholics Anonymous is that it leads you back to God. I seen people come in here that they (CityHeart) helped and they didn’t have no place left to go. One guy I know was a little bit out of it—and I asked prayers for him, and I seen a spiritual improvement with him.”

What impressed you most…?  “The hospitality.”

Would you feel welcome to return…?   “Anytime, yes, ma’am.

Any other comments…?   “Keep the program going, keep it going.”

Final Note: The AA Meeting takes place across the hall from the CityHeart office each weekday at noon. CityHeart closes for lunch and leaves the area to respect the anonymity of those we don’t already know. When CityHeart staff returns to our offices after lunch each day, we often hear the final moments of the AA meeting, the recital of The Lord’s Prayer followed by the mantra, “Keep coming back, it works, if you work it!  God bless Daryl for “working it” now for four years!

January 2017 – by Kris Sexton

As the holiday season comes to an end we are encouraged by the coming of a New Year. Beginning at Thanksgiving and continuing through Christmas many of us reflect on how we have been blessed, and remember the people who give meaning to our lives. As the world moves from one tragedy to another – social media, Christmas cards and letters remind us to “hug our loved ones a little tighter” and to be present in the moments of each and every day. For both the world and the bible tell us “you do not know what tomorrow will bring.” (James 4:14)

This is true for MANY of our CityHeart clients whose circumstances can often change overnight. CityHeart is much more than a place for the homeless men and street people that you immediately think of when you consider the folks who visit CityHeart. Many hard working people living relatively “normal” lives are one situation away from crisis on any given day. This is true of two families that recently found help and hope at CityHeart. Both are single working mothers in their twenties. Both have two children they are caring for and raising alone. Both faced emergency utility situations during the Arctic blast that came through the area in December.

Jodie lives on the east side of Dayton and worked at the Red Robin restaurant in Beavercreek that had a fire in November and closed down during renovation. Although they tried to place some of the employees at other locations, the hours were few and Jodie’s bills were piling up. Her family is helping as much as possible. She has never before asked for any public assistance but under these circumstances has been forced to apply for unemployment, food stamps and cash assistance. The applications were in process but help would not come before the bills were due to be paid. CityHeart was able to offer half of what was owed to Vectren to keep the heat on in her apartment. CityHeart is one of three emergency assistance organizations, but due to strict zip code requirements and availability of funds, Jodie could not get help from other organizations. She called back to CityHeart two days later and reported that after calling 19 other churches, she finally got help to pay the other half of her bill. We successfully averted her disconnection of service and kept Jodie from falling through the cracks of the system.

Unfortunately, Karen who lives and works in Trotwood was not so lucky. She struggles from paycheck to paycheck, and lives in an apartment paying market rate rent. Completely unaware of any resources for emergency assistance, her heat and electric were turned off before she considered that help might be available. She paid the rent but spent two nights in the cold with her children before calling CityHeart. Karen works at a local day care center, earning only $8.50 an hour. She has no benefits, no health insurance, no sick leave, and no paid time off of any kind. Because she was the last person hired, when the attendance is down at the center, she is the first employee sent home. When you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Karen does work hard and tries to make ends meet, but these circumstances are very common and make life difficult for low income workers. Once she decided to ask around for help, she learned of CityHeart as a resource, and with our help she was connected to both the Salvation Army and St. Vincent DePaul for help as well. It took all three organizations but we quickly had her heat back on and her electric service restored.

You do not know what tomorrow will bring . . . freezing temperatures, loss of employment, health problems, accidents, car repair, household emergency, unforeseen crisis . . . these stories could be about you, or me, or our loved ones, or our neighbors. We all have a story, and we need to be mindful and present to those around us who are struggling.

Whatever tomorrow brings – CityHeart will be here doing our best to provide hospitality, information, referral services, emergency assistance and HOPE to people in need.

We couldn’t do it without your help. Thanks to all of our supporters who enable this mission to continue day by day, week by week, and year by year.

From the staff, volunteers, board and friends of CityHeart, Have a Blessed and Happy New Year!

“Surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”                                                                               Jeremiah 29:10

Sad stories abound at CityHeart. Our desire is to give help and hope in unfortunate circumstances. In fact, we serve so many hurting people, that sometimes just when we think we simply cannot bear to hear another sad story, along comes a glorious encounter that restores the soul. Such was the recent encounter with a spirit-filled man named Joe Glorioso!

Yes, that is his real name and he is a man who faces real challenges. The day Joe came to CityHeart he was inquiring about the 12-step meeting that Christ Episcopal hosts across the hall from the CityHeart offices. Joe and I began a conversation in which he shared that he came to Dayton to participate in an addiction recovery program at the Adult Rehabilitation Center of the Salvation Army. I told him that I was well aware of the program, a long-term 9-12 month, faith-based residential program that helps individuals overcome the obstacles to their recovery.

Our conversation ensued during which I shared a life story of my own to ease his comfort level and he was forthcoming in acknowledging his struggle with addiction. I expressed that I was genuinely glad to hear that he was taking responsibility to turn his own life around. Without going into details, I can say that we were clearly making a connection. We both knew instinctively that Joe had come to the right place at the right time and it was no accident.

Joe attended the 12-step meeting and came back to our office afterwards. He had questions about the Dayton area and how to get around. We showed him a map of the city and how the RTA routes worked. We gave him a bus token to get back to the rehab center because he had walked a long way on a bad leg. He was so surprised at the warm welcome and unconditional attention that he received at CityHeart. He ever so graciously spoke from the scripture about the idea of “entertaining angels unknowingly,” and he was referring to CityHeart as the angels. But then I countered his assessment and pronounced that he was the real angel, with such a positive attitude on his road to recovery. He was full of hope; a true inspiration to us at CityHeart, this man named Joe Glorioso, who crossed our path one Friday noon. The light in his eyes and playful smile exuded a joyfulness that was glorious!

We agreed that what we had experienced was a glorious encounter. One that was beyond the control of either of us, an encounter that for believers, was not really so surprising after all. This reminded me of a song by the Christian artist, Steven Curtis Chapman, called “The Glorious Unfolding.” The song affirms that God has plans for all people and desires to keep the promise of the glory that will be revealed to us – that for now “we see dimly in a mirror, and then we will see face to face.”

I believe that if we allow our eyes and our hearts and our minds to be open to these revelations, we can clearly see “face to face” right now and experience a glorious unfolding, just when we need it the most. When we are down or weary, hurting or afraid, let’s be mindful to look for the glory in the ordinary.

“Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”                                                                                                                 Isaiah 40:5

In early March CityHeart prepared for implementation of a new database system that had been a long-time coming. With Christ Church parishioner Tom Cruse acting as volunteer liaison, we purchased an affordable product, contracted a local developer and designed a system that is customized for use at CityHeart. As exciting as the advantages of this new system are, by mid-month we began the daunting process of learning all the nuances of using a different system after ten years. The process is slow and deliberate as we work to ensure that our client information is complete and accurate.

During this time there seemed to be a decrease in demand for CityHeart services, walk-ins and calls were fewer than normal and we wondered why? There was no explanation . . . but in hindsight, it was the calm before the storm! When activity picked up later in March we were fully in the throes of change and client intake forms have been piling up ever since. But that mound of paperwork represents the people who have been faithfully served by CityHeart. Late this week, after spending nearly two hours with one visitor, I was reminded that it is the people we are here to serve that are the priority at CityHeart. The storms of life descend particularly on the most vulnerable. As I write this article on a snowy April morning I recall this week’s  storms.

Danny has been in and out of the homeless shelter for many years. He currently lives in a run-down apartment house on the fringe of downtown that will accept any tenant who can pay the rent, no questions asked. He has suffered medical issues as long as we have known him and receives a modest Social Security income. Unfortunately he was robbed of his rent money when taking cash from a walk-up ATM after dark. We are working with another downtown church to negotiate with the landlord to see what amount will be accepted to keep him from being evicted this month.

Melinda also lives downtown. Her relationship has become abusive and she desires to move into a separate apartment from her boyfriend. The rental office of this large property has a unit available for her but even though she has lived there for eight years, she must pay a nominal deposit in addition to the rent. Although we don’t normally help with deposits, we offered a pledge under these circumstances and the rental office agreed to accept that amount.

Ken has multiple needs that flowed out over the course of our conversation. He describes himself as “stuck” and talked about being depressed since his dad died. He lost his work with a temp agency because his van is broken down – no money, no repair. There are no utilities on at the house he inherited from his dad. We will do what we can to work with him one step at a time, one goal at a time, to set his life back on track. First things first, apply for his birth certificate from Nevada. Then see if we can help him get “un-stuck” by exploring mental healthcare options, housing, and utilities.

Elaine called on behalf of her sister who is a victim of elder abuse. Her son steals and threatens and she refuses to press charges or get a restraining order. After all, this is her own son. Elaine is moving her sister to a new, secure apartment building where she works as a home health aide to many tenants. She will be able to check-in on her sister daily. Since the son stole money from her April retirement benefits, Elaine is trying to put together enough for the move. CityHeart offered to help and also referred her to another resource.

Richard has recently been put out of the homeless shelter. This occured due to some form of non-compliance with the rules. This is not Richard’s first round of homelessness. He was a resident of the shelter when we first met. He is an alcoholic who frequents both CityHeart and the AA 12-Step meeting hosted here six days a week. He falls into the category that the Montgomery County’s Homeless Solutions board would qualify as chronically homeless. We offer him hospitality, respite, and encouragement to stay clean while he sleeps on couches and waits to re-enter the shelter.

Tammy is in need of help with her DP&L bill to keep service on for herself and her three children. She lost her job due to illness and hospitalization. She will be starting a new job this week. We pledged support for her DP&L and offered other emergency assistance resources that help to accommodate the total she needs to stop the disconnection.

These examples are a continual reminder that real people are uprooted from the calm of their routine to the storm of instability. They face real challenges that cause temporary hardships. These are the people we are called to serve with extreme hospitality. All people are welcome. All people are worthy. All people have a place at CityHeart.    

BY KRIS SEXTON / NOVEMBER 2015
This story represents that as CityHeart expands our volunteer base, we also expand the combined skills, knowledge and expertise of our ministry.

We are pleased to have welcomed our parish nurse as a CityHeart volunteer a few months ago and we are keeping an open mind on how her skills might impact the ministry. We have discussed the possibility of health screenings at CityHeart, but getting to know the daily operations and the people we serve is a critical first step in the process. In the short term, individual visitors are benefiting from Nancy’s presence and skill as the following example demonstrates the invaluable gift of time and sharing of resources.

Ryan came to CityHeart on a recent Monday morning and asked if we could help with a prescription. CityHeart can and will help to purchase a prescription or offer to help with co-pay if needed. But this situation would prove to be a great learning experience for our newer volunteer who is training to be a Resource Specialist. We begin by verifying if the client can be served by an existing local program. We know of at least two possible resource options for people who are homeless and/or un-insured needing health and pharmaceutical care in Dayton.

In listening to Ryan’s story, we learned he was just released from Miami Valley Hospital and has a blood clot, and was given a written prescription for a blood thinner. He quietly stated that he is homeless and has no money to pay for the medicine. He indicated he is staying at the Gateway homeless shelter.

First we asked if he had ever used the Samaritan Homeless Clinic and Ryan replied that he can’t go there because he doesn’t have a case manager. This was an incorrect assumption, but Ryan was confused, possibly developmentally delayed, and is not fully aware of his options. It is uncanny how so many people like Ryan who are confused or mentally ill – who have difficulty knowing what to do or where to turn for help – find their way to CityHeart tucked away in the basement of Christ Church. We believe it’s a God thing!
So we explained that the Samaritan clinic provides ongoing treatment for homeless persons and can usually prepare their prescriptions on-site, with transportation from the shelter provided. We also suggested that he could possibly have the prescription filled at the Reach-Out Pharmacy that offers both a clinic and prescription assistance for low-income and un-insured persons. Ryan agreed that we could make some contacts on his behalf.

Our health-minded volunteer confidently jumped into action and began checking the resource information we have on-hand in our office. Next she verified information on the respective clinic websites in attempting to determine the best course of action for Ryan. After making some phone calls, she confirmed that his prescription was unfortunately not on the formulary at Reach-Out Pharmacy. A new and different prescription would need to be written for them to serve Ryan. Since he came from the ER this did not seem like the best option.

In speaking with the people at Samaritan Homeless Clinic, the CityHeart volunteer found they were very interested in serving Ryan and asked if he could come in that afternoon. We verified he did not need a case manager to receive services. The CityHeart volunteer then carefully explained to Ryan what she had found out and he agreed to go. She gave him directions and a bus token to get to the clinic. She explained that a transport van makes two round-trips daily between the Gateway shelter and the homeless clinic. Samaritan would be able to fill his prescription and provide follow-up care as necessary. Ryan would get a ride back to the shelter in the late afternoon. Ryan was very appreciative for our help, happy to have a plan, and grateful that someone who took the time to care.

By capably and compassionately responding to Ryan’s immediate need, this new volunteer learned first-hand some of the resources that are available in the community. This type of on-the-job “training” that a Resource Specialist volunteer receives at CityHeart occurs on a daily basis. The situations may be different but the same lesson applies. We simply learn by doing and then we share what we have learned with those who need our help.

If you have compassion for others, a willingness to learn, and the aptitude to search potential resources, you too can become a CityHeart Resource Specialist! Step out in faith and use your talents to serve others through CityHeart.

For more information on volunteering as a Resource Specialist or greeting visitors as a hospitality and Intake Specialist, please email CityHeart .directorg