In the short term, Bethlehem Inn will be able to double its capacity to serve homeless families improve quality of service for families and individual residents, expand capacity for community partnerships, and at the same time reduce the cost per person participating in the program. The new facility will also make it possible for Bethlehem Inn to remain viable for generations to come, securing a permanent impact on the character of the region as a hub for economic equality and inclusion.
In Central Oregon today, even people fortunate to find and keep jobs can’t always find and keep stable housing. Others struggle to find living wage jobs. Beyond providing for temporary housing, food, safety and health, Bethlehem Inn guides residents to programs and services designed to help them emerge from situational homelessness, break the cycle of poverty and access opportunities for long-term stability and success.
Sometimes the best way to understand the impact of Bethlehem Inn is through a story: Jasmine was fleeing an abusive partner. With her four children, she moved in with friends in Bend. Working hard every day to juggle three part-time jobs and parenting, she found her herself homeless when the temporary living situation ended. Fortunately, a school counselor recommended Bethlehem Inn. It took about 30 days at the Inn for Jasmine to get her family needs sorted out. We helped Jasmine and family find an apartment, and access additional resources. Jasmine now has a future. Her children are stable in school, and she is advancing her own education while making enough to live on through her work.