The mission of Shelter From The Storm (SFTS) is to provide
housing and support services for the homeless in the
southeast area of Cheshire County, including Jaffrey,
Rindge and surrounding towns.
SFTS was established in July, 2005. Since then, SFTS, has
expanded operations by adding two additional apartments
located near downtown Jaffrey. We currently have three
apartments serving homeless and at risk families who have
come to the end of their financial resources and are
without the skills necessary to become financially
independent. Support for these families of primarily
single mothers with small children has filled a continuing
and growing need in this area. The support services SFTS
provides, particularly in money management, have been
noted and appreciated by the Jaffrey and Rindge welfare
officers and County Community service providers as filling
an important educational gap.
Homelessness in Jaffrey and the surrounding area is known
to have increased steadily during recent years and the
cost of maintaining Jaffrey residents in homeless shelters
has put a strain on town funds. Last year the cost of
public welfare in Jaffrey reached $144,000, due in
significant part to the cost of shelter for local
residents. In addition to the economic cost of putting
people in homeless shelters in remote parts of the state,
there is also a negative impact on children when they are
uprooted from school and community. By providing local
transitional services, SFTS allows children to continue at
their own schools, without disruption. Currently there is
a single, one room emergency shelter in Jaffrey. This
shelter is located in a church basement and can serve a
maximum of two people for one week's time. Jaffrey has
also recently opened several apartment buildings for low
income families. However, during the past eighteen months,
the only transitional housing program in our area has been
provided by Shelter From The Storm.
SFTS’ goals for the future are: 1) to prevent homelessness
by providing financial assistance and stabilization
services to families in imminent danger of losing their
housing, including rent subsidies and access to support
services; 2) to rapidly re-house families who have
recently become homeless by helping them obtain rental
housing, providing rental subsidies and supporting them as
they develop plans to regain their self sufficiency ; 3)
to extend our outreach to populations we have not
previously served, including homeless veterans and victims
of domestic violence; 4) to offer a complete range of
supportive services to our clients, helping them to regain
their self sufficiency by supporting them and helping them
access other services they may need.
For more information you may contact the Administrator,
Linda Harris, at the SFTS office at 603-532-8222. |
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