Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church

*Fact Sheet for 2009* Click Here

MISSION:

The Dignity Center helps people in poverty by:

• Providing a welcoming environment for everyone who walks through our doors.
• Meeting one to one to understand each individual’s unique situation
• Supporting each person’s stabilization goals through services that include information and referrals, resources, coaching and self-sufficiency skills training.

Transforming Lives of People in Need:

On any given night in Minnesota, an estimated 10,000 people go to bed hungry and 10,000 people are homeless. For those caught in a cycle of poverty and despair, there is hope.

The Dignity Center, an outreach ministry of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church is a program that brings support, opportunity and resources for people in transition as they regain stability and move toward self-sufficiency. Since it’s inception in 2002, the Dignity Center has made a difference in the lives of 12,000 people in the Twin Cities.

New Beginnings

Three mornings a week, Dignity Center clients visit a welcoming environment where trained volunteer advocates work with them individually to understand and address their unique needs. Advocates help clients achieve stability and greater self-sufficiency through a continuum of services that include:

• Referrals to community programs and services
• Ongoing support and problem solving
• Assistance for people in crisis
• Legal triage and financial education
• Resources such as bus passes, clothing vouchers and school supplies
• Coaching and life skills training for those seeking long-term self-sufficiency

Relationships Make a Difference

The Dignity Center follows a unique, comprehensive model that provides support to clients on their path to regain stability and self-sufficiency. The 12 key focus areas are as follows:

• Housing
• Education
• Criminal Record
• Family/Parenting
• Income/Financial
• Relationships
• Employment
• Basic Organizational Skills
• Health
• Legal Issues
• Medical
• Substance Abuse

Developing an ongoing supportive relationship with an advocate is the key to a client’s stability. Regular meetings with an assigned advocate help our clients regain confidence, build life skills, along with ensuring accountability and giving them hope and encouragement along the way.

From Stability to Greater Self-Sufficiency

After achieving stability, some clients choose to work on long-term goals aimed at greater self-sufficiency, such as returning to school for further education, repairing family relationships or managing; money by building savings and good credit. We offer two opportunities to help our clients achieve stability and then self-sufficiency.

• Individual Coaching Relationships: Those who want to work on long-term goals are encouraged to sign a formal coaching contract with their advocate-a mutual commitment to meet monthly to discuss progress.
• Abundant Life Group: A select group of 10 clients meets weekly for six months with co-leaders to learn new life skills that lead to productive self-sufficient lives.

Hours of Operation:

9-11:30a.m.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday

What our Clients Say about the Dignity Center Program

Each day, the Dignity Center sees people take steps to improve their lives. Client feedback speaks volumes about the important role the Dignity Center plays in that transformation.

• “Thank you for helping men help myself through accountability, hope and respect.”
• “I was treated like a person rather than someone who is down on their luck.”
• “You have been a blessing in my recovery to my normal life.”
• “This place is truly a refuge and a place of growth.”
• My advocates were well-informed, concerned and gave great advice.”
• I now have hope when I had none.

How You can Help:

The Dignity Center program is largely staffed by volunteers, with direction and support from a full time Director, a half-time Volunteer Coordinator and a quarter time Administrative Assistant. There’s a role at the Dignity Center for people with many different skills and different amounts of available time.

• Daily Program volunteers:People serve as advocates receptionists, office support staff, financial educators, legal assessment and referrals, and organizers of materials
• Abundant Life group program:In this program, there is a need for 2 group co-leaders; drivers, people to take turns preparing a meal for the group.
• Behind the Scenes volunteers: Other people serve as purchasers of food and other supplies; data entry, organizers of the handouts and brochures,
  Steering Committee:This is a group of people whose responsibility is to develop the vision and mission for the program and guide its development. The Steering Committee is responsible for developing strategies for funding the program.
  Time Limited Volunteer Opportunities: Each year, the Dignity Center has a major fundraising event for which people are needed to plan and implement. There are opportunities to organize a client Christmas party, or an open house to show off the center.

For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact volunteer coordinator Kristyn Ebert at 612-435-1305 or here.

Donate to the Dignity Center

The Dignity Center is making a difference in the lives of people who are living in poverty or in transition. Most of our annual operating budget comes directly from private donors. There are many ways you can help us help those in need - and take a stand against poverty and homelessness.

• Support the Dignity Center financially through tax-deductible individual donations, arrange for corporate sponsorships, gifts of stock or planned giving.
• Periodically make sandwiches or cookies and bring them into the center.
• Donate items that we give to clients such as toiletries, school supplies, hats/gloves/scarves.
• Donate cash to purchase bus passes, which is the largest single client need and yearly budget item.

Special On-going Needs

Sandwiches: The Dignity Center can use up to 50 sandwiches per day. (5 bags).  Meat, Cheese, no condiments, bagged individually labeled with date and type of sandwich.  Bring to church reception desk.  Thanks!

Hats and Gloves: It's that time of year again when Dignity Center Clients need warm hats and gloves.  Men prefer plain colored hats.  Ski type gloves preferred in large and extra large sizes (Best Price: :Menards) Put in "Dignity Center" Bins near central stairs or give to church receptionist.