• Allan's Story
• The History of Carpenter's Place
• Services to the Homeless
• CP Case Management Model
• Current Year Results
• CP History Timeline

Allan's Story

Allan Barsema, one of the co-founders of Carpenter's Place along with his wife Cathy, became interested in the life of people who lived on the street when, as a high school student, his photography job took him on a series of field trips to Chicago's poorer sections. Allan never thought he would live a life that resembled the ones he observed that day. Several years later, however, he found himself in a situation echoed by many of The Carpenter's Place (CP) Guests today. While in Alaska over 20 years ago, life had taken a turn for the worse. Allan had distanced himself from his family, grown dependent on alcohol to dull the pain of living, and became an isolationist living in a small abandoned trailer. At his lowest point, with intentions to carry out a plan determined to end the misery, he drove himself to a remote mountain drop-off …

Arriving at the mountain location, Allan paused to say his last prayer before pressing on the gas pedal and releasing the brake. He began to ask forgiveness for what his death would mean to his family and daughter. As he sat there, he began to become strangely aware of the beauty in the mountainous river valley in front of him, and began to ponder the design contained. God spoke to Allan at that crucial point. He thought “There must be a God … and He must have a better plan for my life than I do right now”. So Allan placed the car in reverse instead of forward, and eased off of the mountain, and eventually returned to ‘the states'. He returned home with a backpack, some boxes of books, and a poster that he cannot recall where it came from or who gave it to him. That poster is a view of a mountain with the end of a snow bank and the beginning of a small stream beginning to flow from under it through lush green grass. The caption reads:  “What Appears To Be The End, May Really Be A New Beginning”!

With his family's help, he started to rebuild his life and his career … a very long process. After eight years of recovery, Allan met his current wife, Cathy. Together they purchased and rehabilitated a run-down building on Railroad Avenue near 7th Street. Allan couldn't help noticing the people who were living on the street; while they had shelters and various services available to them, they would just wander the streets during the day. Twelve years later, seeing many of the same people on the street that entire time, Allan and his wife, Cathy, decided to try to help. They provided an open door that would welcome in the people on the street. This personal ministry to those who were homeless, taking to heart the lesson that “Jesus Was a Carpenter, A Shaper of Lives”, was the birth of the Carpenter's Place.

History of the Carpenter's Place

Carpenter’s Place (CP) was established in June 2000 to provide a central, day-time center for people who are homeless.  Located at 1149 Railroad Avenue in Rockford, the facility has a large Day Room with a home-style atmosphere, case management area, bathrooms, showers, storage for personal belongings, kitchen, classrooms, art room, laundry facility, donation room, and office space.

CP quickly grew beyond simply providing a safe environment away from the streets.  A current array of very practical and essential life services center around professional, holistic, and goal-oriented case management.  Effective service linkages, coupled with accountability, are provided for those caught in the downward spiral that has led to their living on the street.  The CP of today truly “Provides the tools for rebuilding lives”, as exampled below.

Services to the Homeless

Currently, an average of 95 homeless Guests come through our doors each day to access Carpenter’s Place on-site services, including:

• Day Room to eat, rest, enjoy positive socialization, and engage with CP case managers in a safe and welcoming environment

• Practical And Essential Life Services including bathroom facilities, shower, breakfast and lunch, clothing, laundry, storage of personal belongings, mail/message service, telephone, mailing address, etc.

• Case Management to assist each Guest in assessing 14 areas of life.  These are then prioritized according to their individual needs to create a Life Recovery Plan that serves as a roadmap to positive life changes

• Support And Educational Services including addiction recovery support groups, depression support groups, life skills classes, art classes, voluntary attendance at devotional groups / Bible study, and many others

• On-Site Community Services including Veteran’s Administration, Crusader Clinic’s Healthcare for Homeless Program, and others

• Job Readiness Services to provide assistance with resumes, interviewing skills, career assessments, job searches, and linkage to employment programs and training

• Linkage and Advocacy to community human service agencies and governmental programs

• Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC’s) for alcohol and drug screenings

• Mental Health Coordinator for the Homeless Mental Health Access Program, a four agency collaborative based at CP.  Funded by HUD

• Jail Alternative Program for discharge planning to male inmates who will be homeless upon release from jail.  Funded by Winnebago County.

• Supportive Transitional Housing for homeless men who have completed a residential substance abuse treatment program.  Funded by HUD

• Women's Housing Program for homeless women that have demonstrated a commitment to positive life changes

• Permanent Supportive Housing Program for chronically homeless adults.  Funded by HUD

A Unique Case Management Model

Each Guest, with the help of a Case Manager, develops a personalized “Life Recovery Plan” based on a holistic and multi-disciplinary assessment of 14 areas of life.  The “Life Recovery Plan” 14 areas of life are:

The LRP then serves as a ‘roadmap’ of the steps that need to take place for an individual to move forward in making positive life changes.   All appropriate resources both inside of, and outside of, the community are engaged to facilitate implementation (e.g., medical services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, housing, employment, etc.). The plan is then monitored for progress on goals and outcomes, and periodically adjusted as necessary. Progress on this plan is required (within each Guests’ abilities) to maintain continued extended services at CP. This methodology allows each Guest to make positive strides toward self-sufficiency on a personalized basis.

Results

In the one year period 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

        -  301 homeless persons transitioned to stabilized housing

     205 into their own apartments

       94 into transitional housing

         2 into supported housing

        -  229 attained employment

     204 Full-time employment

       25 Part-time employment

*This represents significant transformation in the lives of long-term homeless individuals with multiple and complex life issues.

History Timeline

Carpenter's Place has experienced success through the following historical milestones: