A Safe Haven for the Homeless

Dayspring-Rachel-KatyWhere does one turn when their life is up-ended? Who can help get you back on your feet and headed in the right direction? Where do you go when you lose your home? For local homeless women, help can be found at the Dayspring Women’s Center.

Dayspring was born as a result of the work of the Open Arms Women’s Overnight Shelter. The shelter, through churches and volunteers across Valparaiso, provides overnight housing for homeless women, from 6:00 pm until 7:00 am. But during the day, these women often had no place to go, no place to stay out of poor weather conditions, no place to find help to get back to a stable lifestyle.

Officially opening its doors October 15, 2012, Dayspring has already helped 45 women. “They’re coming from everywhere, all walks of life,” stated Rachel Niemi, Director at the center. “Our mission is to be that safe haven for people who have no where else to go.” Dayspring offers homeless women a place to go during the day, not just a place for shelter and food, but also a place of resources. Women have access to case management services, group classes, and counseling. The center also provides storage capabilities, phone services, and computer access, so women can create resumes, and search for jobs and housing.

We point the women in the right direction,” shared Case Manager Katy Gordon. “We do whatever we can do to help get the women stable.” It may be as simple as helping a woman obtain her driver’s license or as complicated as navigating public aid. “We work really hard to make accurate referrals in the community,” Niemi went on to say, as the center often connects clients with organizations such as The Caring Place and Porter-Starke to receive further help. “We try to work towards the client’s success.

Funded by grants and donations, Dayspring is run by a staff of 2 and numerous volunteers. “We couldn’t do it without our volunteers,” Gordon stated. “The community has been wonderful in helping.” Volunteers not only work in the center itself, but also donate their time outside, such as driving clients to places they need to go, putting in over 200 hours a month. One volunteer even donates tokens for the V-line, so clients can get around on their own. “We would have to shut our doors tomorrow if we didn’t have our volunteers,” Niemi said.

Many community groups have also been instrumental in helping the Dayspring clients. Blackbird Café and Barnes and Noble let clients hang out during the day, and Panera Bread donates bread items every Monday. Blackbird even will serve the clients food and drink at no cost. “These places have been wonderful,” Gordon said.

Surprised to hear homelessness is a problem in Porter County? Many of these women were once in stable conditions and have had a bad hand dealt to them. One such story is Laura Lee, a graduate of Dayspring. Up-ended by a bad marriage and a family unwilling to help, Laura Lee found herself extremely ill with bronchitis, out on the street. She found her way to Dayspring and began the journey towards stability. “I made up my mind that I wanted to move on and be more productive,” she shared. “I was determined for my son’s sake and mine.”

Within three weeks of being homeless, Laura Lee had her own place. “I now have food stamps, Medicaid, and a steady doctor to help me. My apartment is coming along nicely.” Yet her success has not led her away from the center; in fact, Laura Lee begged to come back on as a volunteer. “I want to give back what I’ve been given.

I love all the women- this is like a second family,” she shared. “A lot of women have commented that coming to Dayspring is like coming to a second home,” commented Niemi. “More like a home away from home,” Laura Lee countered.

They don’t just hand us the golden keys,” Laura Lee continued. “We have to do the legwork.” Along with actively participating in getting back on their feet, clients are also given goals for the day, which could range from organizing the center’s kitchen to obtaining a birth certificate. “These are great self-gratifications for them,” said Gordon.

As any service organization, Dayspring relies on donations to help make ends meet. Volunteers are always needed and in-kind donations are extremely helpful. “We haven’t had to pay for toilet paper since we opened!” shared Niemi. Community members can drop off clothing and food during the office hours, Monday through Wednesday and Fridays from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm. “Thanks to donations, all of us got snow boots before the big snow fall…that was a miracle,” shared Laura Lee.

Looking to the future, Dayspring has several goals set for the spring and summer months. “I would like every woman to have a bike,” Niemi stated. “Not only for exercise, but to get to places like the BMV, where the V-line doesn’t go.” Another important destination the V-line does not run to is Porter Regional Hospital, and when volunteers are unable to drive, the bikes would come in handy.

We’re trying to be more innovative,” Niemi went on to say. A community garden is another idea the center would like to pursue, along with transitional job programs for clients. But the biggest goal this summer is to install a shower and laundry capabilities at the center. “We need a plumber!

Dayspring has been able to continue with the support of organizations such as Neighbors Corporation, the Valparaiso University law program, Indiana University Northwest, Purdue Calumet and Porter County Family Counseling Center. For more information on the center and how you can get involved, visit them online at www.dayspringvalpo.org or call 219.510.5432.