Campaign aims to help homeless

SANDPOINT — For the past 24 years, Bonner Homeless Transitions has assisted single women, women with children and families in providing the stability they need to overcome homelessness.

To continue assisting clients with what they need on that journey to overcoming homelessness, BHT is once again participating in the Avenues for Hope campaign.

“The money raised will assist our clients with many unexpected expenses they incur, such as transportation and medical needs,” said Mary Jo Ambrosiani, BHT board president.

The Avenues for Hope campaign was started by the Home Partnership Foundation in 2011, during the economic downturn, said Ann Gehring, BHT board vice-president. Since that time, they have distributed $2.2 million to meet affordable housing needs. The goal of the campaign is to strengthen housing related nonprofits in Idaho by encouraging individual donations to prevent homelessness and improve affordable housing options.

Gehring said BHT is “quite” proud that 85 percent of clients are placed in permanent housing. In addition, 65 percent of the clients are children, and providing housing for children is most important, she said.

“It gives the kids stability, and they do better in school and it’s just a good thing for the children,” Gehring said.

BHT housing programs include assisting individuals and families with case management, food, clothing, medical assistance, transportation, counseling and skills classes such as budgeting, employment, parenting and nutrition. The annual Avenues for Hope campaign has helped the organization continue its mission of providing clients with the skills they need to move forward, Gehring said.

“We offer a hand up not a hand out,” she said.

After many years of renting the annex house next door to the Blue Haven home as part of the transitional housing program, BHT was given the opportunity to purchase it. The recent purchase of the annex will allow BHT to continue placing clients in permanent housing. A portion of the funds raised through the Avenues for Hope campaign will help the organization defray the debt on the annex house, as chipping away at that debt is a focus for BHT this year, Gehring said.

BHT would not be able to continue providing services to women, children and families without the help of the community, and Gehring said the BHT board feels the goal to move clients to permanent housing is a worthy cause.

“We are very grateful for the generosity of the people living in Sandpoint, but we need the continued support,” she said.

The campaign started Dec. 12 and runs through Dec. 31. BHT won an early-bird prize after receiving 12 donations in the first four hours, with similar incentives throughout the campaign.

For example, Gehring said, If BHT gets 12 “unique” donations from midnight on Friday through midnight on Sunday, they will earn a “Weekend Warrior” prize of $300. Donations of $25 with a credit card are considered a “unique” gift and will help in some of the different categories of the campaign.

To donate, visit the BHT website at bonnerhomelesstransitions.org.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.