Statements

Mission

Strategically working to end the revolving door of homelessness through outreach, advocacy, and resources support.

Background

Murfreesboro Cold Patrol was started in the winter of 2014 when volunteers at the emergency shelter realized that people experiencing homelessness did not realize that the shelter was open or did not have a way to get there. They realized the need for outreach volunteers and decided they would step up. We were a very small group of individuals just wanting to do what we could and that continued until 2017 when we received our non-profit status. In September of 2018 we won a State Farm Community Grant and hired our first Street Outreach Worker in January of 2019. We help connect people to the local resources for people experiencing homelessness, connect them to housing, mental health providers, primary care doctors, transitional housing, rehab facilities, and help with disability filing.

Impact

This past year we were able to assist 25 people to get into permanent housing, half of which were on some form of government assistance and needed income based housing. Most of them were chronically homeless and had been on the streets for up to thirty years before they were able to get into housing. We were also able to house twenty men throughout the year in our transitional houses who then were able to start working, improve their familial situations, get their kids back, start working on their mental health needs, and physical needs. We were also able to help 15 people get into treatment facilities for their addictions at no cost to them. This year we are aiming to house at least another 25 individuals experiencing homelessness, continue to house individuals in our transitional house, and increase our income so we can hire another street outreach worker to increase our effectiveness when it comes to housing individuals and providing immediate assistance.

Needs

1.Volunteers that are willing to go out to encampments and meet individuals where they are and help assess their needs and then connect them to the street outreach worker.
2. Monthly donors that can help us with our monetary needs for things like transportation to treatment, items needed when moving into permanent housing, necessary medications, employee, etc.
3. A part time transitional house manager who would be able to keep up with the guys in the house to make sure they are paying rent, working, and passing their drug screens. This position would cost about $28,000
4. $40,000 in order to hire another street outreach worker

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Homeless Services/Centers
Secondary Category:	-
Tertiary Category:	-

Areas Served

TN - Rutherford