Statements
Mission
Our mission is to 'lead our community's efforts to house, support, empower and advocate for families experiencing homelessness.'
Background
Safe Haven Family Shelter has served the Middle Tennessee community as the premier shelter-to-housing program that accommodates families experiencing homelessness for 40 years. Safe Haven was originally founded in St. Patrick's Church, known as St. Patrick's Shelter in 1984. The ever-growing need to serve families experiencing homelessness took the founders in the direction of building the organization out into a new facility that could house 5 families. In October 2003, Safe Haven Family Shelter merged with Nashville Family Shelter to form Nashville Safe Haven Family Shelter. This merger created an organization with over 40 years of combined community service and strengthened the organization's ability to better serve families by expanding resources and combining programs. Safe Haven can now house over 150 families at a time between through our shelter and housing programs. In the Housing Program, residents receive: intensive case management from licensed social workers, financial literacy, workforce development, children's programs and assistance in obtaining affordable housing. .Our programs employ evidence-based practices and highly trained staff. Using a housing first model and philosophy, we know that families can only become stable while in their own home and services are wrapped around them as we journey with each family to build community. Safe Haven also plays a leadership role in the community as we advocate for collaborative approaches toward reducing and ending family homelessness.
Impact
1. In 2023 Safe Haven Family Shelter (SHFS) served 332 families, comprised of 443 adults and 758 children, and maintained an 90 percent success rate of families remaining stable in housing. Safe Haven was able to house 141 families. 2. Safe Haven Family Shelter and The Family Collective of United Way of Greater Nashville, in collaboration with the national organization Community Solutions, joined forces with 30 community organizations and government offices, including the Office of Homeless Services. Together, they successfully housed over 100 families experiencing homelessness in 100 days. This collaborative effort surpassed its initial goal, and ongoing reflections have identified areas for improvement as the collective remains dedicated to solving family homelessness. 123 families were housed through the coordinated entry (CE) list. Partners also housed 39 families outside of the CE process. The 100 Day Challenge was just the beginning. Our coalition of community and government partners are working on a community-wide FAMILY PLAN that is in alignment with the Continuum of Care strategic plan and outlines specific annual goals to reach functional zero. The Family Plan will outline data-driven approaches to coordinate prevention and housing placements with the goal of reaching Functional Zero for family homelessness. Functional Zero means there are enough resources and support systems in place that homelessness is a rare, brief and non-recurring experience.
SYSTEM PROCESSES IMPROVED:
1. Improved Coordinated Entry (CE) process for families to expedite housing placements.
2. Enhanced data systems for the By Name List (BNL) to better measure inflow/outflow.
3. Facilitated information sharing among frontline staff to accelerate document readiness for families.
4. Shared resource information across provider agencies.
5. Established a flexible funding source to expedite the housing process.
IDENTIFIED GAPS:
In order to be successful, we anticipate needing:
1. An efficient evaluation of resources, including addressing a shortage of shelter options and local investments in areas such as low-income and affordable housing, childcare, transportation and landlord incentives.
2. A focus on prevention services, rapid rehousing, housing access, and comprehensive wraparound services with improved data mechanisms to monitor progress and identify necessary course corrections in a timely manner.
3. . Our top goals for 2024: 1. To obtain affordable housing for families experiencing homelessness. 2. To expand supportive services such as children's programs and workforce development to meet the demand of serving more families annually. 3. To maintain increased capacity in service from 2023 to 2024, and implement plans to sustain the community wide 100 Day Challenge effort in housing 123 families in 100 days.
Needs
1. Continuous operational funding to ensure that SHFS can continue to meet the growing need in our community to serve families experiencing homelessness. 2. Landlords and property owners who are willing and able to provide affordable, safe, and permanent housing to the families we serve.3. More employers willing to work with Safe Haven and our workforce development program by providing entry level jobs to our adults with the possibility for advancement through training and support.4. Skilled volunteers to work with children experiencing homelessness, and hospitality volunteers to answer phones and the door during peak business hours.5. In-kind donations of paper goods (diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, etc.), new sheets, towels, pillows, and comforters (twin and double size) are always needed.
CEO Statement
Safe Haven Family Shelter continues its tradition of compassionate care and excellence as we keep abreast of environmental changes and new research about family homelessness. We continue to focus on staff development and embrace best and promising practices and innovative solutions that work to minimize homeless episodes for our clients. We will continue to develop community relationships with landlords willing to provide affordable housing for our families so that when they leave our programs they will have a permanent opportunity to remain financially stable. My vision for Safe Haven remains to increase our capacity to serve more families, increase the scope of services we provide for our families in transition, and institute a professional environment that also provides a unique culture of community and compassionate care. A researcher at the top research institute, The Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness recently claimed, 'Safe Haven is not just a shelter, but a home'. We our proud of our record of service, success, results, and compassionate care. Additionally, we have completed our capital campaign to improve and expand our facilities and services. We will continue to offer life changing opportunities that empower homeless families with children to overcome obstacles, reach their dreams, and sustain a stable community life.
Board Chair Statement
Safe Haven Family Shelter is a unique organization because it takes a programmatic approach in serving the homeless family population. The families are hard working individuals that deserve a second chance due to circumstances, many times, that are beyond their control. I believe in the mission of the organization, and what it does for the Middle Tennessee community. They are able to restore dignity to parents, while creating a brighter future for the children of the family. When I assumed the role of Board President, there were three key items that I wanted to focus on to improve upon the efficiency and operation of the organization: stabilization of funding, board involvement/support, and increased community awareness about the benefits of providing preventative education. In order to address these challenges, I have met with staff and board members to create a strategic plan which also aids in cohesion between the groups. I have participated in and will host a fundraiser later this year, in hopes to reach as many individuals as possible. The main challenge is that although Safe Haven has served our community for over 39 years, many people are unaware of the valuable service that it provides for society. It is my duty as Board chair to bridge the gap and educate as many as possible on the importance of Safe Haven. I am pleased to represent the organization, and am very optimistic about years to come.
Service Categories |
|
| Primary Category: | Housing, Shelter - Housing & Shelter NEC |
| Secondary Category: | Housing, Shelter - Housing Support |
| Tertiary Category: | Human Services - Homeless Services/Centers |
Areas Served
Safe Haven is the premier shelter-to-permanent housing program in Middle Tennessee that serves families experiencing homelessness. Safe Haven provides wraparound services through our shelter and housing programs that help families to depart with stable employment and secured housing, the keys to lasting stability. The organization serves Davidson County and other surrounding counties.
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
