2019-2020 Annual Report XXXXX AREA? Your Support Helps Meet The Needs Of The Most Vulnerable No matter the challenges, Volunteers of America provides hope and stability to those in need. Your generosity allows Volunteers of America all of southeast Louisiana. It also allows Volunteers of Southeast Louisiana to go where we are needed most America to adjust with these uncertain times. and help those in dire straits, and your support For nearly 125 years, Volunteers of America has changed the lives of more than 47,000 persons in worked to help children, adults, seniors and persons need last year. with disabilities. Now, we’ve begun to adapt to meet These past months have been a strain on the unique needs presented by COVID-19 while everyone, but our mission is clear—Help The Most also continuing to create hope, provide stability and Vulnerable. Your support transform communities. enables Volunteers of Our Fresh Food Factor program is an example of America’s more than 20 stepping up to meet the needs of the community. different social service When COVID-19 changed the world in March, our programs to help those in Fresh Food Factor program switched from serving up need in our 16-parish school lunches in cafeterias to providing community service area, which covers feeding sites with fresh, healthy meals for families struggling to make ends meet. Even with those changes, we continued our current programs by providing stability for those who need it most. That stability comes in many forms—from a roof over seniors' heads to helping people with intellectual disabilities like Adam remain safe and cared for. Our work is never done, but it’s not work when people like Adam, who need 24-hour support to ensure they can still live and work independently, become family. Those are just a few examples of how you have changed lives over the past year. Many more can be found in this Annual Report. Thank you for your support of Volunteers of America’s mission of helping our community’s most vulnerable. LEADERSHIP MESSAGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thank You For Helping Change Lives Christy Howley Connois Chair Last year, Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana touched the Tod Smith lives of more than 47,000 of our most vulnerable neighbors. That Chair-Elect number takes on even greater meaning, considering the challenges and M. Isabel Barrios obstacles presented by COVID-19. Secretary You made a positive impact in the lives of thousands of people. S. Chuck Viator Whether you are a new supporter or a long-time friend, you can see the Treasurer difference you made on every page of this Annual Report. Geoffrey C. Artigues Take a minute to look closely at our facts and figures, but remember Immediate Past Chair the true measure of success is the difference we made in the lives of the people we serve. Our success comes in the hope we create, the stability Rupa Jolly, DDS Nathan J. Junius we provide for those who need it most and the transformation that takes Thomas J. McGoey, II place in the 16 parishes that we serve. Fred H. Myers You can see that hope in our adoptive families like Nicole, Josh and Christy N. Ross baby Henry. Our Adoption and Maternity program creates forever Stephen C. Schrempp Lynn E. Swanson families and also helps mothers receive pregnancy counseling while Michelle Treschwig, CPA providing outreach training to the community. Lives are changed forever James M. LeBlanc, because of you. President/CEO Stability is essential for individuals to live full, happy lives, and you can see the stability we provide for people like Donna through our Community Living Services program. For nearly 30 years, Donna has MISSION not let her intellectual disability slow her down, and she’s been a part of Volunteers of America is our Constance Community Home family. Thanks to you, we’ll continue a movement organized to to be there for Donna and many others. reach and uplift all people You can see communities being transformed each day by affordable and bring them to the housing options such as The Terraces on Tulane. Our seniors have safe, knowledge and active service of God. Volunteers secure housing and a community that looks after them and provides of America, illustrating the needed resources. presence of God through As we continue to launch new programs in response to an ever- all that we do, serves changing world, those are just a few examples of the people you helped people and communities last year by supporting our more than 20 programs. Thanks to your in need and creates support, Volunteers of America will continue to adapt and do great opportunities for people things today, tomorrow and for many years to come. to experience the joy of serving others. Volunteers of America measures its success in positive change in the lives of individuals James M. LeBlanc | President/CEO Christy Howley Connois | Board Chair and communities we serve. PEOPLE SERVED 47,365 CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES = 536 MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES = 1,594 n Adoption and Maternity—Adoption Services. 33 n Housing Case Management . 132 n Adoption and Maternity—Community Outreach Training . 30 n Lakeshore Counseling Center . 271 n Adoption and Maternity—Post Adoption Services. 16 n Permanent Supportive Housing. 796 n Adoption and Maternity—Pregnancy Counseling . 17 n Supportive Services for Veterans Families . 395 n Fathers Focused on Family and Faith . 87 n Forever Promising and Powerful Futures . 67 VETERANS SERVICES = 225 n Mentoring Children of Promise. 286 n Veterans Case Management . 16 n Veterans Transitional Housing . 165 COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT SERVICES = 41,603 n Veterans Transitional Housing Savings Program . 44 n Auto Enterprise Program . 329 n Community Food Program . 3,527 n Craftsman Home Repair. 109 n Fresh Food Factor . 10,374 n Healthy Lifestyle Choices . 1,161 n RSVP–St. Tammany . 25,842 n Volunteer Placement . 261 CORRECTIONAL SERVICES = 208 n Residential Re-Entry Program . 208 ELDERLY SERVICES = 235 n Repairs on Wheels . 185 n The Terraces on Tulane . 50 HEALTH CARE SERVICES = 1,779 n COVID-19 Services Coordination . 1,527 n HIV/AIDS Case Management & Direct Services. 195 n HIV/AIDS Prevention Services . 57 HOUSING MANAGEMENT = 1,034 n Elderly Housing . 401 n Single Room Occupancy . 220 n Workforce Housing. 413 INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY SERVICES = 151 n Community Living Services . 57 n Supported Living Services. 94 1 ELDERLY SERVICES Our Seniors Are Safe Because Of Your Generosity The Terraces on Tulane offers a safe home and loving community in tough times. Thanks to your support, The Terraces on Tulane is a vibrant place filled with 200 seniors who enjoy safe, affordable housing and a special community that looks after each resident. When the pandemic began in March, it put The Terraces staff and residents to the test, but there was never a doubt that Volunteers of America would step up to that challenge. There was never a doubt that Volunteers of America would ensure that our seniors would remain safe and cared for in the most trying times. “It’s a special community here at The Terraces,” says Senior Service Coordinator Adrena Chandler. “Our residents care about one another, and they are like family to the staff. We knew we had to find a way to keep them safe and continue to meet their needs. There was never a doubt that we would get that done.” The Terraces provide residents with not only housing but a community. On any given day, residents gather in the common areas to talk, watch TV, receive meal distributions, and enjoy each other’s company. But all of that had to stop when the pandemic hit. The staff held socially-distanced food distributions to ensure that residents had plenty to eat, and the staff increased their wellness checks just to make sure our seniors were safe. Everyone came together to make sure we could get through this together. When restrictions were loosened, the staff held socially- distanced bingo outside as residents wore masks and enjoyed the welcomed social interaction. The event was a hit and brought smiles to everyone’s faces. It was a perfect example of The Terraces community. Thanks to your support, our seniors will continue to remain safe no matter what the future holds. The Terraces on Tulane and our other senior housing facilities will provide safe, affordable homes for years to come. 2 INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY SERVICES Your Support Is Providing Homes For People Like Donna The Community Living Services program allows people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live full, happy lives. Since 1992, Donna has only known one home— to low-income individuals with intellectual and our Constance Community Home—and your developmental disabilities. Our seven community generosity means that she will continue to receive homes provide 24-hour support and supervision. the support she needs to live a full, happy life. Staff members ensure a comfortable, family-like Last year, the Community Living Services environment and help residents achieve independent program provided a safe home for 57 individuals who living through community connections, education would otherwise had nowhere to turn. That includes and training. people like Donna, who has been with us for nearly Volunteers of America believes that persons with 30 years. developmental disabilities, unable to live “This house has taken care of me for 28 years,” independently in their own homes, function more says Donna, a 68-year-old woman with an intellectual productively and with greater self-esteem in small, disability. “We’re all independent. We can do our own residential settings rather than in institutions. laundry; We get to be independent.