An annual fundraiser will also highlight the Hillcrest Transitional Housing’s work in the community over the years.
The theme of this year’s third annual Fall Ball is ‘Fire and Ice.’ The event is Hillcrest’s largest fundraiser of the year and features dinner, a silent and live auction and more.
Hillcrest Executive Director Shannen White said also at the event, one of the graduates of the program will speak about his experience with Hillcrest.
“He has just done a phenomenal job throughout the program and he is now two years removed from the program, so this is an opportunity for him to give his testimony of how Hillcrest has influenced his life and ultimately changed it for the better,” White said. “His story is just absolutely amazing. He was living on the streets before coming to Hillcrest and now he’s proud to say he’s a college graduate all because of the things we have taught him through the Hillcrest program.”
Hillcrest’s 90 day program works to help individuals and families suffering from severe poverty and homelessness.
“We help them transition into a place of self-sufficiency, meaning completely off of government assistance, working full time in the community and ultimately giving back to the community,” White said. “We offer budgeting and finance courses that are mandatory. All of our residents have to work full time while they’re in the program and remain working full time, so they can remain being self-sufficient.”
White said while individuals are in the program, they have no expenses.
“We provide their apartment free of charge, we provide a pantry with hygiene and food,” White said. “All of our church sponsors throughout the community that support the program, that’s how they’re able to be there and not spend any money while they’re there. We set them up on a financial plan when they come in where we pull a credit report and we know exactly where they’re at in their finances and set them up on a plan so they can be self-sufficient and ultimately debt free when they leave our program.”
White says they have a 95% success rate with 80% of graduates remaining self-sufficient after being out of the program for five years.
Hillcrest Transitional Housing’s Third Annual Fall Ball takes place Thursday, October 27th, at the St. Joseph Civic Arena. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner begins at 6.
To make a reservation or find out more, click here.