Ecumenical Partnership for Housing (EPH) is a not for profit organization of churches working together to help homeless families.
EPH has been providing transitional housing since 1992. With the recent addition of another home, we now own or manage eleven family-size apartments in quiet neighborhoods close to local schools that serve as transitional housing for families in need. We maintain the units with volunteer help, and welcome each new family with a hot meal, pantry staples and a local group, called “Warmth From the Heart,” has been providing individual comforters for each new family member.
A Salvation Army social worker screens our families and places them in available apartments. Our families strive to succeed using a wide variety of programs. While parents pay off debts, acquire education, certifications, and find good employment, the children have a stable home.
EPH is run by an all volunteer board of directors with representatives from 10 churches. Through our Building Maintenance and Volunteer Coordination Committees, we take care of our houses as if they were our own. Our House Coordinators’ Committee, which is responsible for furniture, household goods, cleaning and welcoming, is composed of additional dedicated church volunteers.
In the past four years, we have replaced two older properties, added two more, and assumed management of one more, bringing the total to eleven apartments. Our second capital campaign ended successfully with the purchase of Martha House. All fundraising is conducted by the EPH Board. As a result of our 2007 strategic planning, EPH has established two new endowments, one for development and one for maintainance of the houses and has begun to transition the Jubilee House into a long term residency home to provide greater stability and opportunity for a family with longer-term needs. We have also increased our focus on providing support services to our families, such as transportation, childcare and mentoring.
More than 250 Brown County families have been served by EPH since 1992. These results are impressive because those families have been able to change their lives, halting a cycle of homelessness and poverty. The EPH Program, which receives no public financing, was able to let the family’s needs dictate the time spent in transitional housing. EPH is one of a handful of programs in Brown County that offer case-managed transitional housing. Our relationship with the Salvation Army is an essential element in providing this service to families in our community.
EPH has been providing transitional housing since 1992. With the recent addition of another home, we now own or manage eleven family-size apartments in quiet neighborhoods close to local schools that serve as transitional housing for families in need. We maintain the units with volunteer help, and welcome each new family with a hot meal, pantry staples and a local group, called “Warmth From the Heart,” has been providing individual comforters for each new family member.
EPH is run by an all volunteer board of directors with representatives from 10 churches. Through our Building Maintenance and Volunteer Coordination Committees, we take care of our houses as if they were our own. Our House Coordinators’ Committee, which is responsible for furniture, household goods, cleaning and welcoming, is composed of additional dedicated church volunteers.
More than 250 Brown County families have been served by EPH since 1992. These results are impressive because those families have been able to change their lives, halting a cycle of homelessness and poverty. The EPH Program, which receives no public financing, was able to let the family’s needs dictate the time spent in transitional housing. EPH is one of a handful of programs in Brown County that offer case-managed transitional housing. Our relationship with the Salvation Army is an essential element in providing this service to families in our community. 