Fifth Street Renaissance/SARA Center

g quarters and comprehensive services to enable them to become independent, productive members of society. Clients are required to work with the case manager to identify and address barriers to independent living. Issues addressed include, but are not limited to, substance abuse, violence, life skills, budgeting and financial responsibility, mental and physical health, employment, education, and developing a healthy support network. Residents may participate in transitional housing for up to 18 months before moving to permanent housing. SPRING ST. VETERANS RENAISSANCE – A transitional housing program for veterans who are homeless and/or disabled. SSVR is a 15 bed facility which provides shelter and supportive services for up to 24 months and addresses all barriers to independent living. HOUSING ADVOCACY SERVICE (NORMAN PROGRAM) – This program is contracted through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. A housing specialist works with families, who are at risk of losing custody of their children due to homelessness or near homelessness, to find safe, affordable housing and keep the family unit intact. Supportive services are provided to help the family address the issues that brought them to this crisis and to help to stabilize them before, during and after housing placement. YOUTH SERVICE PROGRAM (YIC) – This program is also contracted through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The program assists youth (17-21 years old) who are former wards of the state to prevent them from becoming homeless or assist with issues of homelessness which are a result of being released from the states foster care system. REINTEGRATION PROJECT – The HIV Reintegration Project assists individuals, who have been released from the Illinois Department of Corrections, Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities or County/City Jails and are HIV+. The program works to identify and secure housing, health and social service in “downstate” Illinois. A main goal of the Project is to prevent the spread of HIV to the infected person’s significant other/s and to enable them to lead more productive lives. Another goal of the Project is to develop a “continuity of care” service and referral system for the clients. ISHOP – This program is to assist HIV+ individuals with housing referrals, rent, deposit, mortgage and utility assistance. The program encompasses both long term and short term assistance and is offered in 64 central and southern counties. OUTREACH SERVICE PROGRAM – This program offers advocacy and referrals to walk in individuals who are experiencing crisis but do not need or are not eligible for rent/utility assistance or other assistance programs. HIV/AIDS TESTING, OUTREACH AND EDUCATION –On-site HIV/AIDS education, counseling and testing is offered, free of charge, from 9am-3pm, Monday through Friday or by appointment at the administrative offices and weekly at St. Johns Breadline, Poplar Place, Helping Hands, Salvation Army as well as Macon County locations including the Macon County Jail, Oasis Day Center, Good Samaritan and Salvation Army in Decatur. These services are also offered at various outreach events and satellite locations; and upon request. LIFESKILLS PROGRAM – This program is a holistic approach to changing unhealthy lifestyles, addressing issues that have caused chronic homelessness and preventing recidivism to crisis intervention. The program uses group, one-on-one, referral and follow-up contact to address all barriers to healthy, independent living. These barriers include domestic violence, mental and physical health, substance abuse, parenting, sexual health (HIV/AIDS/STD education and prevention, HIV testing and counseling services available on site), employment issues, literacy and educational advancement, budgeting and maintaining a household. FOOD, CLOTHING, AND HOUSEHOLD PANTRY – This program provides food, clothing and household items to clients who are in need. The pantry may be accessed each 30 days per client or household. HIV+ FOOD PANTRY – This pantry is more specific to the needs and appetite of HIV+ individuals and offers meat and personal selection of items. Nutritional supplements such as Boost and Ensure are also available to the client. PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAM – This program offers permanent housing to adult males and females living with a disabling condition (primarily HIV). Individuals living in permanent housing are afforded case management, advocacy and other supportive services. COMMUNITY BASED PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAM (PSH)– The same services as our site based permanent housing except apartments are located throughout the community and serve those who are homeless or chronically homeless. Two PSH programs offer housing to chronically homeless, HIV+ individuals and disabled individuals. NIGHTREACH PROGRAM – This program serves Springfield and all of Central/Southern Illinois. HIV, Hepatitis C, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia counseling and testing services, harm reduction; as well as a variety of other services to improve quality of life and reduce the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are offered to area residents. The program is offered during evening and late night hours (primarily 6pm-4am) in locations where high risk behavior (drug activity, sex activity, etc.) is known to occur and to our knowledge is the only program working these critical late night/early morning hours in the state of Illinois. CORRECTIONS INITIATIVE- Our newest program provides HIV and Hep C testing and counseling services and education in county jails in Central and Southern Illinois. The program currently serves Sangamon, Logan and Moultrie counties as well as the Sangamon County Juvenile Detention Center. Additional Facilities will soon be added as the program takes off. SSI/SSDI OUTREACH, ACCESS AND RECOVERY (SOAR) – SOAR is a nationally recognized advocacy and case management program designed to increase access to SSI/SSDI for eligible adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have a mental illness and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder or other medical impairments. The SSI/SSDI application process is complicated and difficult to navigate, particularly for people who are homeless or who are returning to the community from institutions (jails, prisons or hospitals). It can be an even greater challenge for individuals with a mental illness, substance use issues, or co-occurring disorders that impair cognition …yet accessing these income and health care benefits is often a critical first step on the road to recovery. CONTINUUM OF CARE ACTIVITIES- Fifth Street Renaissance is an active Board Member of the Heartland Continuum of Care and serves as the Treasurer, Homeless Prevention Chair and fiduciary agent; as well as acting as one of the Lead Agents for the groups DCEO Funding. COOK STREET RENAISSSANCE – A 19 unit apartment complex providing affordable housing to low and extremely low income individuals. The program also offers other support services to foster stability including case management, life skills groups, HIV awareness education, free safe sex kits, food and household pantry, transportation and access to other community services through the referral process.