Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Detroit, MI
Permit No. 396
At Central United Methodist Church
23 E. Adams | Detroit, MI 48226
The NOAH Project
2015 Annual Report
The NOAH Project | 23 E. Adams Detroit, MI 48226 | 313-965-5422
www.noahprojectdetroit.org | [email protected]
Return Service Requested
Winter 2016
Many Partners, Many Stories
r
016 Calenda
Mark Your 2
isers!
OAH Fundra
For these N
In 1976 members of Central United Methodist Church began serving a simple lunch to anyone who came to our
door. 40 years later we still serve that simple meal, but offer so much more. Thanks to our many partners, 2015
was an incredible year of growth here at the NOAH Project!
& Soul
April 21: Art
OAH
nd Show at N
Art Gallery a
cert of Hope
May 22: Con
le
gham Temp
at the Birmin
lessness
ists vs. Home
rt
A
it
o
tr
e
D
June 3:
nt Gallery
at the Tange
ciation
artner Appre
P
:
6
1
r
e
b
m
Septe
at NOAH
Celebration
anksgiving
oncert of Th
C
:
0
2
r
e
b
m
use
Nove
cres Clubho
at the Westa
Partnerships with Shift Digital, The Kresge Foundation, and the UMW of Birmingham FUMC helped launch our
new Computer Training Lab and brought us volunteer Don Williams, who is spotlighted
inside. The lab and our Computers 101 class have benefited people like Darren, who crafted
a resume and is now employed.
Back Alley Bikes and Covenant Community Care brought new programs and increased
access to care. Robert, for example, now can make it reliably to work with his bicycle and
Gary saw the dentist for the first time in 20 years. These programs empower and encourage
growth.
Mission Statement
Core Values
The mission of the NOAH Project is to
empower low income and homeless
Detroiters to achieve stability
by serving as the first step on the
journey to self sufficiency.
The NOAH Project commits itself to:




Welcome all people with hospitality, recognize their
dignity, and practice acceptance
Build long-term trusting relationships
Patient, holistic care
Personal growth through empowerment
Art & Soul, made possible through NOAH’s longstanding partnership with Birmingham
FUMC, celebrated its five year anniversary in April with a Gallery and Art Show. The event showcased 14 NOAH
artists who displayed and sold over $1,600 of their work, with 80% of the proceeds going directly to the artists
and the remaining 20% going to support the program. It was through Art & Soul that Jessica finally found a
family of support.
Organizations like Southwest Solutions and the Neighborhood Service Organization are helping our clients
navigate the cumbersome process of obtaining permanent housing. Clients like Tony who, after five years of
living on the streets, turned the key to his very own apartment.
The NOAH family of supporters also grew this year as we added two new fundraisers: the Concert of Hope at the
Birmingham Temple and Detroit Artists vs. Homelessness. We hope that you can join us for these events this
year as well! Find dates for these and all of our events on the last page of this report.
All of these relationships, new and old, impacted the lives of our most important partners: the over 250
individuals who come to NOAH every day looking for support and encouragement. People like Darren, Robert,
Gary, Jessica, and Tony. People like Craig whose story is highlighted inside.
The NOAH Project is a program of the Central United Methodist Church of Detroit
Community Development Corporation, a 501(c)3 organization.
CUMC CDC Board of Directors
William Goodman, Esq., President
Angela Bakely
Cynthia Bradford
Francine Grace
Rev. Dr. Jill Zundel, Vice President
Carl Herrell
Colleen Robar
Paul Perez
Tom Robinson
Celeste Rabaut
Paul Sobocienski
Susan Shirkey, Treaurer
Deborah Snyder
Dyane Townley
Don Williams
But this emphasis on partnerships has been with NOAH since the beginning. To celebrate 40 years of working
together, we invite you to join us for a Partner Appreciation Celebration on September 16, 2016 at 6:00pm at
NOAH. If you have made sandwiches, collected socks, volunteered time, or donated financially in the last 40
years, you’re invited!
We – the board, staff, volunteers, and clients – are grateful for your support, both in 2015 and for the past 40
years. Thank you.
Amy Brown
Executive Director
2015 By the Numbers
38,470 Lunches
in 2015!
Did you know that all
of NOAH’s lunches
served in 2015 would
weigh about the same
as six and a half elephants!?
That’s over 38 tons of food!
Each day, NOAH Caseworkers meet with people one-on-one.
Here’s a snapshot of the:
=20 people
Partnering with Back Alley Bikes, NOAH
launched an Earn-A-Bike program, to teach
mechanics skills. At the end of the three
week program, six participants earned
their very own bike, gaining reliable
transportation and the skills to maintain it!
“Living homeless is a hard life.” Craig knows this life all
too well. For the past fifteen years, Craig has lived an
unstable life. He has bounced between family and friends,
the streets and shelter, jail and treatment facilities. Time
after time over the past decade and a half, Craig has
slipped through the cracks. Over the years he has been
able to slowly climb out of the hole, by landing a job or
getting an apartment, but somehow he always seems to
fall back through the cracks.
It
was
Craig
released
Number of client visits to the
doctor or dentist through
Covenant Community Care
Number of
Wheels Earned
In Search of Solid Ground
1,044 Hours 30 Minutes
insurance, and jobs knowing that important documents
would be safe. Like over 800 other people in 2015, Craig
saw a case worker, meeting one-on-one to plan the next
step forward, one that would place Craig on solid ground.
But in
the process of “NOAH takes care
constantly being on the move,
of you. They
Craig had lost his photo ID.
give you some
Without this crucial document,
peace of mind.”
he could not begin the housing
application
process.
NOAH
specializes in identification restoration and together we
were able to send off and pay for his birth certificate and
get the other necessary documents needed for a new
State ID. With this card in hand, we could begin applying
for housing.
after one of these moments that
came to NOAH. Having just been
from jail and losing his
apartment,
he
came
for
something simple: lunch. But
Craig quickly found out that
NOAH offers much more This process takes time, but last month Craig got a letter
than lunch.
saying that his application for a housing subsidy was
Staying on the streets, approved. His journey is not over yet, as he still must
Craig did not have a receive the voucher and find an apartment, but he knows
safe place to receive that NOAH will be with him every step of the way. “NOAH
his mail. By using takes care of you,” Craig says. “They give you some peace
NOAH as an address, of mind.” Having gone through the system and fallen
he could apply for through the cracks, Craig now wants to give back. His goal
benefits,
health after becoming housed: go back to school for social work.
Volunteer Spotlight: Computer Training Lab
When at the beginning of 2015 Don Williams’ wife, Amanda, began volunteering regularly in NOAH’s kitchen,
he began to wonder about how the company he works for, Shift Digital, could get involved.
Revenue Source
Fundraisers
Annual Appeal Letter
Individual Donations
Mission and Ministry Churches
Organizational Donations
Neighborhood Opportunity Fund
The McGregor Fund
Other Grants
Total
Fast forward to the end of 2015 and under Don’s leadership Shift Digital has “It’s an opportunity to
become one of NOAH’s most loyal partners. It began (as most things at NOAH
empower people….Their
do) with the Bag Lunch Program, when Shift employees sponsored lunches once
motivation is inspiring.”
a month. But Don always had the drive to do something more.
So, when in June NOAH staff mentioned their desire to create a Computer Lab, Don knew this was a golden
opportunity. Shift Digital is an automotive marketing firm based in Birmingham, and they know computers.
Don worked with Shift to gather a group of coworkers to give the lab a fresh coat of paint and get six laptops
donated to start the lab. These, along with support from The Kresge Foundation and Birmingham FUMC,
helped
NOAH
launch the lab in July.
With the lab
people about
provided one-
up and running, Don realized that he had an opportunity to do what he loves: teach
computers. Every other Thursday since October, Don and a team from Shift have
on-one training through our Computers 101 class.
Covering topics such as email setup, resume preparation, web searching, and job
applications, Don sees the class as “an opportunity to empower people.” He’s
constantly asking how he can help and always strives to build relationships
with the people who come back class after class.
“Their motivation is inspiring,” Don says. “It pushes me.”
Last year, over 370 people used the lab and 42 took one of
Don’s Computers 101 classes. 2015 saw the birth of the lab,
but knowing Don, there is always room to grow.
Expense Category
Bag Lunch Program
Community Center Programs
Case Management Services
Direct Assistance
Facilities and Maintenance
Administrative
Community Awareness and Fundraising
Total
Amount
$ 66,274
$ 45,060
$ 80,086
$ 26,023
$ 7,653
$ 24,489
$ 30,662
$ 280,247
Amount
$ 22,087
$ 14,461
$ 16,749
$ 14,862
$ 38,513
$ 100,000
$ 80,000
$ 16,130
$ 302,802