Category Archives: Homeless Shelter

LUM Emergency Shelter Focuses on Addiction

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New Video Series for LUM Shelter Guests

Addiction and homelessness are directly correlated. At the LUM Emergency Shelter there has been a focus on addiction including a nightly support group for the guests. This month, LUM launched a new, creative video series program to enhance LUM’s focus on addiction.

During check-in each afternoon, at dinner and at breakfast, a series of videos are played for the guests which focus on addiction in a wide array of different, inspiring, creative and often entertaining ways. John Schumann, a recent LUM intern, worked with Joe Micon, LUM executive director, and David Heckert, LUM Emergency Shelter director, on this important project. John coordinated the purchase of new equipment and researched and selected the videos for the program. So far the video program has been well received by the LUM shelter guests. LUM is committed to addressing addiction with our clients and shelter guests and is confident this new program will have a positive impact.

If you wish to invest in the LUM Emergency Shelter and this program, please make a donation online.

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Emergency Shelter

Thanks & Congrats to the LUM Spring Interns

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LUM Staff Host Reception for LUM Spring Interns

Special THANK YOU to all of the LUM Interns for their valuable contributions this past Spring semester. Best wishes to all of our interns, especially Evie Griffin, Rob Krasa & Angela Weaver, who are graduating. Evie & Rob will receive their MSW from IU, and Angela, her BA from Purdue, at ceremonies this weekend. John Schumann will continue his studies toward his MSW.

Interns allow LUM to serve our youth, clients and guests with increased efficiency and innovation. Thanks also to Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College and the IU School of Social Work for trusting LUM with the education and supervision of their talented intern students.

{Pictured above L to R , are John Schumann, Evie Griffin, Rob Krasa, and Joe Micon, LUM executive director.}

Thanks to LDS Members – Volunteer Painters

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LUM Youth Center Gets New Coat of Paint
Last weekend, the members of the Lafayette Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints volunteered with LUM. The LDS volunteers painted the porch and outside trim of the LUM Ray Ewry Youth Center, home to the LUM After School Program, 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program, LUM Protein Food Pantry and Emergency Shelter. LUM is grateful to have such wonderful support from the LDS members throughout the year.
 
If you or your group would like to volunteer with LUM, click HERE to find out how to get started.

LUM is Hiring – Shelter Security Staff

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Part-time | Immediate Openings | Paid – $15 per Hour

The LUM Emergency Shelter is seeking applications for the Security Staff. The positions are part-time, paid ($15 per hour).
More details are as follows:
Hours: Daily – 8 p.m. to midnight or midnight to 7 a.m.
Duties:
  • Maintains safety of guests, volunteers and premises; a team environment modeling mutual respect; and a professional and safe environment
  • Ensures compliance with Shelter Rules
  • Monitors arrival, departure, activity within shelter, activity outside within three blocks of the building
  • Disciplines guests who are noncompliant; refers guests to police when necessary
  • Submits written reports of daily activities and incidents
If interested—please Email, Mail or Drop-off a resume with cover letter to David Heckert, LUM Emergency Shelter Director (dheckert@lumserve.org | 420 N 4th Street, Lafayette, IN 47901).

Exclusive Interview with Bayley, the Bernedoodle

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Reading Dog – LUM After School Program

GRRR-Ruff. My name is Bayley, and I am a six-month-old Bernedoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog & Poodle mix). My dog guardians are Nancy, Greg & Carly Emig. Nancy, Greg, Carly and I live in West Lafayette with my animal-siblings: Zoey (7 years old) & Abbey (3 years old) who are both Golden Retrievers and my best friends.

I am a big fan of LUM because the students in the LUM After School Program read to me every Monday afternoon. After they read to me, I usually give them a high-five or shake their hand. I love making them laugh and smile — and give kisses. Mostly though they read to me and we relax together. They tell me that I’m perfect for LUM because I love people (especially kids), I’m really mellow and I don’t shed or bother people with allergies.
I also visit the LUM Office every other week with Nancy when she works as the volunteer afternoon LUM receptionist. I greet everyone who visits the office and love meeting the LUM Emergency Shelter guests at 2 p.m. when they check in to pick up their passes — because I get lots of attention and they smile at me a lot. It makes me happy to make them happy.

It gives me great joy to give my human-friends happiness, comfort and hope during difficult times. I especially enjoy seeing the children in the LUM After School Program get excited about reading books and develop their mastery of the subject matter, knowledge, and their ability to apply that knowledge to the real world. It is a win-win – they become better readers and I get to hear great stories. I love those kids!

To view more PHOTOS of Bayley with the LUM students, click HERE.

Kibbles & Bits

  • In 2017, 33% of Indiana fourth graders read at or below basic level; and
  • 59% of Indiana fourth graders do not read at a proficient level-demonstrating mastery of subject matter, knowledge, or the ability to apply that knowledge in the real world (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress)
  • Bayley and others like her provide a win-win for helping to further the development and interest in reading for our children
  • There are proven benefits of animal assisted learning with children and adults (International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health)
  • The LUM After School Program provides safe, fun and enriching childcare for up to 60 children in Kindergarten to 8th grade. In 2018, 105 children were provided academic support and education enrichment in a fun learning environment each day after school.
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After School Program

West Lafayette Recommends Grant for LUM

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LUM Emergency Shelter to Benefit from Grant

Lafayette Urban Ministry has recently been recommended for a Community Development Block Grant from the City of West Lafayette (IN). LUM has been recommended to receive $7,217 to support the work of the LUM Emergency Shelter.

CDBG is an important resource for local governments in their efforts to provide both transitional and permanent housing, as well as supportive services, to families and individuals experiencing homelessness. This grant money will be used to support the LUM homeless guests. Thanks to David Heckert, LUM Emergency Shelter director, for his work on this grant.

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Emergency Shelter

We’re Almost Out! (Of Simple Green, that is.)

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Currently there is an urgent need for Simple Green (concentrate, original scent) all purpose cleaner at LUM. The LUM Emergency Shelter and Youth Programs rely on gifts from the community and our LUM friends.

Please help by making a monetary donation to LUM or purchasing Simple Green for LUM. You may ship or drop them off to the LUM Office (420 N 4th Street, Lafayette, IN 47901), Monday-Friday, 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Cash donations are preferred because they allow LUM to purchase what is needed, when it’s needed, but donations of “needed items” are also appreciated. Items on the wish list are listed by “need” and also by program (Emergency Shelter, Youth Programs, Food Pantry, etc.). Thank you.

To view our entire WISH LIST, click HERE.

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Use Where Needed Most

Meet the LUM Shelter Security Staff

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The LUM Emergency Shelterprovides short-term, overnight shelter, meals, and showers in a safe and caring environment for up to 44 homeless adults each night of the year. The LUM WinterWarming Stationcomplements these services from November to April. 
The LUM shelter staff members manage the nightly operations of the LUM Emergency Shelter & Winter Warming Station. They are as follows (pictured L to R above):

  • Connie Kepner Davis – Connie grew up in Mt. Summit, lived for many years in Tennessee and now lives in Fowler. She has four grown children and 10 grandchildren (with one on the way). Connie is a member of White Horse Christian Center
  • Jamie Volom – Jamie is from Hammond and now lives in Lafayette. He is a certified recovery coach and works with A Better Life Brianna’s Hope. Jamie leads the recovery group at the LUM Emergency Shelter. He is a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.
  • Louis Sausa – Lou is from Long Island, NY and now lives in Lafayette with his wife of five years, Katey. He earned a BS in General Studies with minors in Sociology, Psychology & History from Ball State University.
  • Davie Heckert – LUM Emergency Shelter director. See his bio HERE.
  • Alex Tarr – Alex grew up and lives in Rossville. He earned professional certification from the Computing Technology Industry Association through Ivy Tech Community College. Alex served in the US Army for four years as a tank mechanic.
  • Nikolas Ballard (not pictured) – Nikolas is originally from New Mexico and grew up and now lives in Lafayette. He graduated from McCutcheon High School and served in the US Marines Corp (Okinawa, Japan) for three and a half years. Nikolas is also a musician and song writer.

LUM is fortunate to have such a dedicated, caring and hard-working shelter team.

LUM Reconnect & Restart Bus Ticket Program

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A Better Option for Some LUM Shelter Guests

Occasionally the better option for a LUM shelter guest to succeed in getting housing, employment & financial stability is to move. These individuals are willingly “reconnecting” with their family (also willing) in another city/town and “restarting” with better career opportunities, better housing options and a strong family support system. After careful review and approval, the shelter guest is provided a one-way bus tickets to their new home. In 2018, this program served 37 guests providing $4,662 in bus tickets to various places across the country including New York, California and Texas.

LUM Shelter Staff Goes “Above & Beyond”

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LUM Shelter Staff Thanked by LUM Board

At last night’s meeting, the LUM Board of Directors honored and thanked the LUM Emergency Shelter staff members for “going above & beyond the call of duty” in their service to LUM shelter guests the first week in February during the “Polar Vortex.”

Lafayette Urban Ministry has a shelter protocol for severely cold and snowy weather. During the Polar Vortex, the LUM shelter staff members provided bus transportation from the local day shelter to the LUM Emergency Shelter and Winter Warming Station, opened the Winter Warming Station three hours early, and provided bus transportation back to the local day shelter in the morning — in addition to their regular nightly duties. The LUM Board of Directors acknowledged that their work is sincerely appreciated and is saving lives. Pictured above L to R: David Heckert, shelter director; Connie Kepner Davis, shelter staff member; Joan Low, LUM board president; and Joe Micon, LUM executive director.