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Welcome to Room at the Inn, an emergency shelter for homeless women and families in St. Louis County. If you were a homeless mother with children—our typical client—here's how you would be introduced to the shelter.
• First, you place a call to the St. Louis County Homeless Hotline. The Hotlines does an initial screening. If you are eligible, you will be referred to Room at the Inn and our staff will conduct another phone interview. (In general, in order to be eligible to stay at Room at the Inn, you must be a St. Louis County resident without a home. Click here for more on eligibility.)
• You arrive at our Bridgeton location. You meet with our client services coordinator, who would conduct an intake interview. This interview collects general information and begins the “assessment” step of the program. The information gathered here helps our staff know what kinds of assistance you will need. Referrals are made based on your particular situation and needs. |
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• Arrangements are made to get your child(ren) back in school, if their education has been disrupted. Pattonville School District is contacted to arrange transportation to the school the child(ren) have been attending. Students are delivered to their usual school, often by taxi, at the expense of the school district.
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• With the help of the client coordinator, you will create short-term and long-term goals. These goals are stepping stones to returning to self-reliance. For more information on our comprehensive program, click here: program services. |
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• While at Room at the Inn, you have access to a telephone and computer. |
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• Shower and laundry facilities are available, which eliminates the need for such at the night sites. |
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• You can use the full kitchen at the shelter to prepare your own and your child(ren)'s lunch and snacks. Room at the Inn receives food from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, Operation Food Search and from volunteers who make weekly shopping trips for the shelter. |
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• There's also space for relaxing and group discussion. |
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• While you are attending a class at the shelter, your child(ren) can play in the well-stocked children's room under supervision.
• At approximately 5:00 p.m. each evening, members of that evening's host congregation arrive to drive you to the night site. |
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| • You are served a healthy dinner and enjoy an evening of fellowship: sometimes organized games, sometimes television, sometimes homework, sometimes just pleasant conversation. |
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| • The congregation also provides a safe, clean place for you and your child(ren) to sleep. |
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| • After breakfast at the night site, your hosts return you to the shelter for another day of working toward your goals. |
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