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history
The Other Place (TOP) was founded in 1988 to provide homeless people
with an
“other place” to go after the night shelter in town closed each morning.
Twenty people came the first day. The basement of Christ Episcopal Church
was TOP's first home, and limited services were provided by volunteers.
Within a year, TOP began transforming from a drop-in shelter to a service
center, adding substance abuse counseling, children’s programs, literacy
training and limited case management.
By 1990, TOP received its first public funding from the City of
Dayton, allowing it to be open seven days per week. That year also saw the
inauguration of the concept of “membership,” which required that those who
wished to stay in the shelter participate in programs.
In 1992, the Samaritan Clinic for the homeless began operating at The
Other Place, and the two agencies moved together to 660 North Main Street.
In 1996, TOP and the Samaritan Clinic moved into a new 14,000-square-foot facility purchased by TOP through loans with KeyBank and Citywide
Development. The momentum for providing programs had built to include
funding from many private and public sources, both local and national.
In July of 2000, Operation Charlie -- a street outreach program that
also included major philosophical changes regarding the way in which
services were provided to the homeless -- was implemented. This project changed
the complexion of the shelter, and an explosion of people accessing services
resulted. The manner in which services were provided to clients at times differed
greatly from other providers, resulting in The Other Place being considered the advocate for the homeless and the issues surrounding their
circumstances. The finances, programs, staff and board of TOP had
evolved into strong elements of a successful operation. TOP created and
introduced a Homeless Awareness Curriculum to area schools, teachers and
students.
By early 2001, the board and
staff adopted a new vision and mission statement. Technology was now a vital
part of TOP operations, including a comprehensive Member Database to track
all client data and report outcomes. A new website, www.theotherplace.org, was successfully
launched as another method of communicating the vision and mission
of The Other Place. Also in 2001, TOP developed a working relationship with
the University of Dayton Law Clinic to provide legal services to clients and
to collaborate on “big picture” issues surrounding homeless civil rights.
In 2002, The Other Place served record numbers of people experiencing
homelessness. With dramatically increased numbers but stagnant funding, TOP began
to look at alternative sources of funding and staffing. Two AmeriCorps*VISTA
volunteers began a year of service working on special projects including the
creation of an affordable housing database and the development of a
volunteer program. TOP and Miami Valley
Housing Opportunities (MVHO) collaborated to allow TOP to provide supportive case management
at the Iowa Avenue project, a 34-unit single-room-occupancy (SRO) facility on the
VA grounds for formerly homeless
men.
In 2003, TOP began and completed an extensive renovation project
designed to better meet existing capacity at our daytime shelter. The project included enlarging
the shelter
space; increased locker, laundry, restroom and meal areas; and a separate
and secure family area.
In 2004, Montgomery County and the City of
Dayton committed to developing a 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
and Reduce Overall Homelessness. A Homeless Solutions Leadership Team was
appointed and co-chaired by the County Administrator and City Manager. TOP worked
internally on the same effort with staff and clients. TOP strategically
enhanced its shelter case management services to address the many and
diverse needs of its shelter client base. Emergency, Stabilization,
Transitional and Chronic homeless phases and services were implemented. TOP
implemented regional initiatives toward meeting its vision and mission.
Through networking and grass-roots community organizing, TOP began working
with surrounding counties to provide technical assistance in capacity
building, Continuum of Care organization, and program development. By the
end of 2004, TOP was actively working with Clark, Champaign, Logan and
Shelby counties.
In 2005, The Other Place was awarded two HUD
Permanent Supportive Housing grants to provide housing for 16 severely
mentally ill homeless adults in Champaign and Logan Counties.
Throughout the year, TOP staff members participated on various Homeless
Solutions Leadership Team workgroups. By the end of 2005 and the beginning
of 2006, TOP's board and staff had completed an extensive evaluation of all
programs and services that would lead to a new strategic plan.
In 2006, TOP Mental Health Services received Ohio
Department of Mental Health (ODMH) certification as well as accreditation by
the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). TOP's
new strategic plan proposed within a five-year period to redirect more of
the focus and resources of TOP toward providing housing and supportive
services. No longer was it acceptable to service the condition of
homelessness; we must direct our resources, programs and services toward
ending it. A new mission statement, "to work to end homelessness
by providing housing, services, advocacy and education," was adopted by
the board and staff in 2006.
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