Our Services
The Transitional Shelter
We provide:
· A fully furnished two bedroom apartment
· Security system
· Laundry facility
· Community and play area
· Housing assistance
· Case management services
· Life skills classes such as parenting, job readiness, money management, health & nutrition
· Referral/Linkage
· Activities & special events
· Exercise room
· Arts & crafts
Case Management
Gerard Place assigns a case manager to all families admitted into our program. Parents are required to meet with their case manager on a weekly basis for counseling and supportive services. Assessments, service plans and goals will be established with each parent. Through the service plan process the case manager will assist with referrals for services, linkage with resources in the community, and will work with the parent to identify and overcome barriers to goal achievement.
Activities/Events
Gerard Place offers a wide variety of activities throughout the year including an annual carnival in the summer, trips to Fantasy Island and Darien Lake, children’s birthday celebrations at Chuck E. Cheese, and trips to the Buffalo Zoo and Niagara Falls Aquarium. We celebrate holidays by hosting celebratory dinners, send families out for a movie and a meal and take in plays and musicals in local theaters. Our facility has a Health and Wellness clinic and fitness room, an after school room, community area and playground. We offer tutoring, computer training, yoga and dance classes.
Spirituality
The Family Enrichment Program builds a stronger sense of spirituality within that is transferred into daily life and the community. The program encourages relationship building, family planning, marriage, and teaching children spiritual principles in a 6 week program that includes motivational speakers, community guest speakers, prayer groups and Inner Faith Celebration dinners all centered on a stronger relationship with spiritual principles. The group will be encouraged to participate in group activities, pre/post testing, and homework.
Babysitting
Babysitting services are offered to parents when outside daycare cannot be attained. It is available for court, counseling, and DSS appointments, self-help groups and at the discretion of case managers.
After Care Program
The After Care program monitors and evaluates efforts directed toward strengthening and empowering client’s self-sufficiency in the community. All performance efforts related to this program are expected to result in (1) initiation of planning and After Care services to all families for up to six months post-discharge, (2) administer assessments, review and monitor Goal Plan for individual clients, (3) provide counseling support and referral/linkages, (4) establish system of contact with all post-discharge clients (e.g. home visits, telephone or mail correspondence), (5) ascertain post and exit After Care surveys, and (6) manage client files.
Gerard Place Transactional Shelter programs also encompass all of the following programs at the Community Education Center
Housing First
Gerard Place provides a housing first/permanent housing program to single parent homeless families. Families are placed within 30 days to scattered apartments in the community. Case managers and services are wrapped around to provide a permanent, stable and safe housing environment for the family.
Eligibility Requirements:
The single parent is at least 18 years old.
The parent has custody of minor child or is pregnant and in 3rd trimester.
If the parent has a drug/alcohol addiction he/she must be in recovery for at least 6 months and provide verification.
The parent agrees to follow all rules of Gerard Place and that of the Landlord.
The parent agrees to attend and participates in our supportive services program.
Must be a homeless, single parent and come from places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks and the following:
1. Abandoned buildings
2. An Emergency shelter
3. Transitional housing for the homeless
4. Can be a person who originally came from the streets or emergency shelter
The Community Education Center
We Provide:
· Learning for Life After School Program
· Boy Scouts of America
· Girl Scouts
· GED
· Life Skills Classes- Nutrition, Parenting, Budgeting, Housing etc.
· Computer Lab
· Job Readiness Training
Learning for Life After School
Funded by the Franciscan Sisters of St Joseph, The Learning for Life After School program is for youths between 8-14 years old, scheduled Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:30-5:00pm. Youth are required to make a commitment and bring homework to the Learning for Life Program. Learning for Life assists youth in Creative Problem Solving, Inter-Personal Relationships, and Communication in English/Language Arts as well as recreational activities.
Boy Scouts of America-Every Monday from 4:30-5:30 p.m., 1st through 5th Grade. Program runs in accordance to Buffalo Schools Schedule
GED-BOCES-Taught by certified teachers from BOCES I, and qualified volunteers our GED program is offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00am until 12:pm for individuals 17 and older.
Life Skill Classes
Gerard Place offers a variety of life skill classes twice per week to our parents and the community. Life skill classes include, but are not limited to, Parenting, Budgeting/Money Management, Nutrition, Job Readiness Training, and Spirituality and are offered to provide learning experiences and resources to parents to empower them to achieve greater self-sufficiency. Monthly tenant meetings are also provided to families to give them the opportunity to speak about concerns or issues they might have about the program.
Catholic Urban Outreach Network (COUN)- Provides referrals and case management services to the 14215 zip code within the Catholic Network. The major goals of the project is to build community within the 14215 zip code/neighborhood, help people in need, in the 14215 area, find assistance quicker and easier by being able to have referrers and case managers available to them right in this neighborhood, and offer people in need the preferential support of the CUON providers.
Job Readiness Training
Job Readiness Training (JRT) is designed for individuals to obtain a better understanding of aptitude, employment attainment, prolongation, career exploration, and customer service. Students learn JRT through testing, assignments, public speaking, role play activities and taped mock interviews. Assignments are given through handouts and the internet. Play money is used to buy supplies while exercising proper customer service and phone etiquette during role play. The student performs this by acting in a socio drama in front of the class in a makeshift store. Mock interviews are practiced for the duration of the module. The interview may be videotaped for the class to view and critique. Outcomes are measured through pre/post tests, participation and assignments. Participants that graduate from this class obtain a certificate for participation or completion.
For more information or with questions call Karen Kasperek at 716.897.9948
