Hillcrest Ministries

Just under a month ago, one apartment tenant, Fred, moved out and Laura moved in. This was no ordinary exchange. Fred had just graduated from Hillcrest Ministries, with a stable, fulltime job, and now has full custody of his son; he is on his well way to self-sufficiency. Laura is determined to use the next 60 days to make her transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency as well using all of the resources provided by Hillcrest. She works two jobs in the healthcare field at nursing homes, working a total of 60-80 hours per week (not including overtime). 

Laura lost her apartment when she had to sacrifice a month’s rent to fly her son home from Puerto Rico for a custody hearing. There was not enough money to make the rent, so they were out on the street just like that.

“Without a place to live, she would loose her son and other three children as well,” John Kreidler, case manager for Platt and Wyandotte counties said. “Often people who are homeless loose custody of their children completely.”

Hillcrest Ministries provides transitional housing to help homeless families become self-supporting and self-reliant contributors to society by providing tough love in a caring environment, as well as professional services and counseling, employment searches, budgeting, nutrition and parenting. They are one of the new Nativity Parish Outreach Programs organizations to be awarded financial and service support at the Wyandotte affiliate; Fred and now Linda live in the apartment Nativity sponsors.

Hillcrest Ministries is solely supported through private funding from churches, businesses, organizations and private individuals. In the metropolitan area, Hillcrest maintains 27 housing units available for the homeless in Clay, Platte, Jackson and Wyandotte counties. During 2005, Hillcrest provided housing for more than 70 families.

A family like Fred and his son or Laura and her three children come into Hillcrest with basically nothing. They go through an application and interview process, and if they are willing to agree to the stipulations of the program, they are placed in an apartment as soon as one is available.

“The family has to be willing to work full time,” Becky Poitras said. “They also have to be willing to sacrifice their wants in order to learn how to meet their needs.”

Becky is the Executive Assistant working for all of the Hillcrest affiliates. She and eight others make up the staff for all of Hillcrest Ministries and their affiliates. Though they put in much time and effort, they attribute their ability to grow to volunteers.

“We are such a small staff, especially in Wyandotte County,” John said. “Without volunteers, we really would not exist. So much of the success that we have had is dependant upon the folks who have come out.”

Nativity Volunteers are no exception to the incredible amount contributed to Hillcrest Ministries. Before Linda and her children moved into the apartment, volunteers from the A&E Committee took one of their work days to help get the apartment ready for the new arrivals.

“It just needed cleaning, the whole thing.” Pat Dollard said. “There’s nothing more gratifying than helping someone else. It’s worth a lot to the people who are benefiting from it, and is an opportunity for seniors.”

Pat and others spent their day scrubbing and cleaning.

“We cleaned all the drawers, washing dished, putting down fresh lining,” Susie Meyer said describing her contribution in the kitchen. “It’s a wonderful ministry, and it would appeal to a broad spectrum of people.”

Whenever a new family moves in to a Hillcrest apartment, the church who sponsors that apartment prepares for their arrival by cleaning, re-stocking cupboards, sprucing things up and having a hot meal waiting for the family.

“They [the families] have been in such bad situations before, that they expect four walls and a cot when they arrive [at Hillcrest Ministries]”. John said, “I have never ever walked into the apartment and not just been amazed with what resources they {the family] will have available for the next three months. And that is not even touching on the educational resources that are available to them through out the program.”

Hillcrest Ministries has an almost 95 percent success rate of families who complete the program and become completely self-sufficient. At the three apartments in Wyandotte 15 families have graduated to self-sufficiency in under three years. After they complete their 90 days, there is a 5 year After-Care Program which gives them continued access to counseling, the food pantry, back to school assistance, Christmas adoption and includes an annual follow-up meeting.

“It is a big thing to see someone who walked in with practically nothing come back a few years later and say, ‘We have the money for the down payment on a house. Will you help us get ready to buy?’” Becky said.

Usually within the first three to five years graduates come back to get involved with the first-time home buyers counseling program.

“We’re not just helping the mom and dad,” Becky said. “we’re helping the children realize that they can be responsible. Basically, we are breaking the poverty/welfare cycle one family at a time.”

Just under a month ago, one apartment tenant, Fred, moved out and Laura moved in. This was no ordinary exchange. Fred had just graduated from Hillcrest Ministries, with a stable, fulltime job, and now has full custody of his son; he is on his well way to self-sufficiency. Laura is determined to use the next 60 days to make her transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency as well using all of the resources provided by Hillcrest. She works two jobs in the healthcare field at nursing homes, working a total of 60-80 hours per week (not including overtime).

Laura lost her apartment when she had to sacrifice a month’s rent to fly her son home from Puerto Rico for a custody hearing. There was not enough money to make the rent, so they were out on the street just like that.

“Without a place to live, she would loose her son and other three children as well,” John Kreidler, case manager for Platt and Wyandotte counties said. “Often people who are homeless loose custody of their children completely.”

Hillcrest Ministries provides transitional housing to help homeless families become self-supporting and self-reliant contributors to society by providing tough love in a caring environment, as well as professional services and counseling, employment searches, budgeting, nutrition and parenting. They are one of the new Nativity Parish Outreach Programs organizations to be awarded financial and service support at the Wyandotte affiliate; Fred and now Linda live in the apartment Nativity sponsors.

Hillcrest Ministries is solely supported through private funding from churches, businesses, organizations and private individuals. In the metropolitan area, Hillcrest maintains 27 housing units available for the homeless in Clay, Platte, Jackson and Wyandotte counties. During 2005, Hillcrest provided housing for more than 70 families.

A family like Fred and his son or Laura and her three children come into Hillcrest with basically nothing. They go through an application and interview process, and if they are willing to agree to the stipulations of the program, they are placed in an apartment as soon as one is available.

“The family has to be willing to work full time,” Becky Poitras said. “They also have to be willing to sacrifice their wants in order to learn how to meet their needs.”

Becky is the Executive Assistant working for all of the Hillcrest affiliates. She and eight others make up the staff for all of Hillcrest Ministries and their affiliates. Though they put in much time and effort, they attribute their ability to grow to volunteers.

“We are such a small staff, especially in Wyandotte County,” John said. “Without volunteers, we really would not exist. So much of the success that we have had is dependant upon the folks who have come out.”

Nativity Volunteers are no exception to the incredible amount contributed to Hillcrest Ministries. Before Linda and her children moved into the apartment, volunteers from the A&E Committee took one of their work days to help get the apartment ready for the new arrivals.

“It just needed cleaning, the whole thing.” Pat Dollard said. “There’s nothing more gratifying than helping someone else. It’s worth a lot to the people who are benefiting from it, and is an opportunity for seniors.”

Pat and others spent their day scrubbing and cleaning.

?>“We cleaned all the drawers, washing dished, putting down fresh lining,” Susie Meyer said describing her contribution in the kitchen. “It’s a wonderful ministry, and it would appeal to a broad spectrum of people.”

Whenever a new family moves in to a Hillcrest apartment, the church who sponsors that apartment prepares for their arrival by cleaning, re-stocking cupboards, sprucing things up and having a hot meal waiting for the family.

“They [the families] have been in such bad situations before, that they expect four walls and a cot when they arrive [at Hillcrest Ministries]”. John said, “I have never ever walked into the apartment and not just been amazed with what resources they {the family] will have available for the next three months. And that is not even touching on the educational resources that are available to them through out the program.”

Hillcrest Ministries has an almost 95 percent success rate of families who complete the program and become completely self-sufficient. At the three apartments in Wyandotte 15 families have graduated to self-sufficiency in under three years. After they complete their 90 days, there is a 5 year After-Care Program which gives them continued access to counseling, the food pantry, back to school assistance, Christmas adoption and includes an annual follow-up meeting.

“It is a big thing to see someone who walked in with practically nothing come back a few years later and say, ‘We have the money for the down payment on a house. Will you help us get ready to buy?’” Becky said.

Usually within the first three to five years graduates come back to get involved with the first-time home buyers counseling program.

“We’re not just helping the mom and dad,” Becky said. “we’re helping the children realize that they can be responsible. Basically, we are breaking the poverty/welfare cycle one family at a time.”

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