Located
at 669 Indiana
Avenue
, Family House was established in 1985 by
the
African
American
ministers of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
(IMA). Known as
the Toledo
Community
Service Center
in
the early years of the organization, the ministers and their congregations
were
very actively involved in providing money for the annual budget,
obtaining furnishings
and remain-
ing in the shelter overnight with individuals sleeping
there. Over the years, much of that
involve-
ment shifted to staff and churches now support the shelter
through volunteer efforts, financial
support and donations to
families. Currently, one
founding minister sits on Family House's Board
of Directors.
When established, Family House
accepted single women as well as families. However, in 1998,
in
keeping with our mission statement, the decision was made by the
Board of Directors to focus
solely on the needs of families,
recognizing that there were other shelters in the
Lucas
County
community
that addressed the needs of single women. Thus, Family House became
dedicated to
preserving the family unit during a time of crisis.
Over the years, the Board and
staff recognized that many families were trapped in a cycle of
poverty
and that additional services were needed to successfully move families
from homeless-
ness to self-sufficiency. Comprehensive programs
and services were developed to
address the
root causes of
homelessness.
Family House provides
not only for the immediate needs of families, but gives these
families the
toolsto become self-sufficient. A
facilitator of alliances with other service providers, we dedicate
our efforts to creating an
environment that is compassionate,
valuing all individuals and treating
them with respect
regardless of the factors contributing to
their
homelessness.
