Homeward Bound

In La Porte County Indiana there are about 1100 known homeless. Homeward Bound is attempting to correct this situation. Over the past three years a team known as the "Home Team" has been working with the ten agencies assisting the homeless to raise awareness of our county's problem. This team has begun creating new services that provide access to educational programs, clothing, showers, haircuts, jobs and housing. Working in the private sector, fund raising events have raised over $28,000 to support agencies providing services such as 1) shelter to abused women, 2)women homeless with children, 3)GED educational support and job training programs, 4) daytime care facilities, 5) assistance in creating new housing facilities and 6) local men's shelters and soup kitchens.

Beyond monetary support many in the community have provided pro bono services in support of our many initiatives. As examples, architectural services and local trade schools have greatly assisted in the development of a facility known as "Keys to Hope" and a women's home currently under construction known as "A Hand Up".

As we move forward our goal is to provide a community setting, "Homeward Bound Village", within which those who are chronically homeless are able to find permanent affordable housing. Our village is being patterned after a similar village located in Austin, Texas. It is our goal to include work opportunities within the village that allow the our clients to earn the funds needed to afford housing and provide for their sustenance It is a lofty objective. We hope to attain that goal one person and/or one family at a time. If you would like to assist in the Home Team's effort to eliminate homelessness in La Porte County please feel free to reach out to me.