In our last blog post, we shared 12 Fiction Books About Homelessness to Add to Your Summer Reading List. These fiction books are perfect for getting lost in a story on a sunny day at the beach. But others of you might prefer to read about real stories of homelessness. So we’re back today with …
One of the great things about our community here in Michigan City, La Porte County, and Northwest Indiana is how we’ve really come together to help disadvantaged populations. In fact, we have a strong network of organizations that offer various forms of support for our homeless guests, including housing, food assistance, counseling, health services, GED …
As the weather gets nicer here in Michigan City, you are likely to see more homeless people around town as you go about your daily routine. It’s not that homelessness is not an issue for our community year-round—our homeless shelter is full of guests every day of the year. But as the temperatures increase, our …
Fighting Back Against the Stigmas of Homelessness Read More »
April is National Volunteer Month, and we are so excited to celebrate this important holiday! As we mentioned in a past blog post, volunteering is what keeps our homeless shelter moving forward. Volunteers started the shelter back in 2002. Volunteers help us do the work today. And our future success also depends on the ongoing …
Volunteer Spotlight: Meet 12 Amazing ICPADS Volunteers! Read More »
April is National Volunteer month—30 days set aside to recognize the importance of volunteering and honor the contributions of volunteers. Here at Interfaith Community PADS, we couldn’t wait to jump into the celebration. After all, volunteering is embedded in our story. In this blog post, we’re going to talk a little about that and then …
Celebrating National Volunteer Month With 7 Reasons to Volunteer! Read More »
Here at Interfaith Community PADS, we provide warm meals and a safe place to stay each night for homeless guests in Michigan City and LaPorte County. This is important work and we are honored to do it.
But there is more to it than that, which is what we want to discuss today.
Most people are familiar with our work in providing meals and shelter–vital work that offers temporary solutions for homeless guests in need. What many people don’t understand is that we are also involved in helping our homeless guests find permanent solutions so they get the resources they need to rebuild their lives.
This is an organized process called coordinated access.
Since spring is the time of growth and renewal, we thought now would be a wonderful time to explain more about coordinated access in our community and ICPADS role in it. Answers come from an interview with our Director, Harrison Holtkamp. As you will come to understand after reading this article, coordinated access is the joint effort of many local agencies that give our homeless guests the chance to start again.
Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)
Spring is around the corner, and, love it or hate it, that means it’s time for the annual tradition of spring cleaning. According to Wikipedia, spring cleaning is “the practice of thoroughly cleaning a house in the springtime,” a practice which is “especially prevalent in climates with a cold winter.” Yup, that certainly includes northern …
5 Spring Cleaning Tips + Our Most-Used Cleaning Supplies! Read More »
Did you know that February is National Canned Food Month? It’s true! In fact, this obscure observance has been around since 1987, when the Canned Food Information Council established the holiday to break down myths that were swirling about canned foods. Here at Interfaith Community PADS, canned goods are a staple that allow us to …
Celebrating Canned Food Month + Our Top 5 Canned Goods! Read More »
It’s February, and love is in the air! This year, we encourage you to expand your expression of love beyond your spouse and family to your entire community. Why? Because Michigan City and La Porte County are pretty special! Our area is filled with amazing people, great businesses, worthy causes, and rich history. As individuals, …
Did you know that Interfaith Community PADS got a new board President in December 2021? Her name is Jessica Hoffmaster, and she has been a dedicated board member and volunteer for three years. We’d love for you to get to meet her, so recently we spoke to Jessica about her experiences with the ICPADS organization …
Board President Jessica Hoffmaster Shares Goals and Priorities for 2022 Read More »
