We recently celebrated our 20 year anniversary March 17, 2009, in the provision of Case Management and Supportive Services to homeless and low-income individuals and families with children. These services are provided through the delivery of the following fifteen (15) programs:

Year Round Shelter (6+ Years) - This program began April 2004. It provides two (2) hot meals and a cot to more than 600 homeless individuals. Additionally, there are 15 Case Managers who provide case management services, and a complete Medical Team that provides on-site medical services and free prescription care. Through case management services, the homeless secure housing, jobs, and are assisted with entitlement programs. (New Image operated Winter Shelter Programs for 17 years.)

Project Fresh Start (2+ Years) - Transitional Housing for homeless single women. These women are assisted in the areas of: job search, housing search and placement, and retention; budgeting; Practical Life Skills; and other preparation necessary to find success in permanent housing placement.

Project Stepping Stone - We provide Transitional Housing to homeless families with children. These families are assisted with jobs, formal and vocational education, Practical Life Skills, access to credit repair and money management, in preparation for their placement into permanent housing or ownership.

Families with Children Program (17+ Years) - We provide an array of services to homeless and low-income families with children. It is our ultimate goal to provide families at risk of losing their housing with both funds to prevent homelessness and the tools necessary to prevent a reoccurrence, (i.e.: budget management, Life Skills, job search, retention, and or placement, etc.), and financial move-in, rental, and utility assistance.

Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA)Voucher Program (16+ Years) - We have been the Central Coordinating Agency (CCA) for the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA), Hotel/Motel and Meal Voucher Program, since 1993 (Countywide).

(HOPWA) Housing Case Management Program (2+ years) – This program provides assistance with housing opportunities and placement, through case management and supportive service efforts.

HIV/AIDS Program (8+ Years) -The HIV/AIDS Program provides comprehensive case management services and housing search and placement. This program is staffed by a full-time Case Manager and a full-time Housing Coordinator. This supportive team address the unmet needs of clients.

Homeless Unaccompanied Runaway Youth Program (Outreach and G.E.D. components) (7+ Years) – This program provides services to Homeless Unaccompanied Runaway Youth through case management services on site, and outreach services off-site. The ultimate goal is to reunite families, when possible. When this is not possible, clients are referred to youth shelters.

OUTREACH Program (6+ Years) - We maintain a Street Outreach Case Manager for adults 18 and older, and have added hours to the existing Youth Case Manager’s week. An Outreach Case Manager’s day, consists of visiting places where homeless frequent (i.e.: parks, abandoned buildings and cars, encampments, etc.). The purpose is to educate and assist the homeless to access case management services, at the Long Beach Multi Service Center. Additionally, the Center offers: showers, laundry room, and free transportation.

HUD/FHA First Time Buyers Program (4+ Years) - We recently renewed our “Certification” to purchase homes in need of rehababilitation. We make these available to Low-Income Families with Children found eligible for the ‘First Time Buyers’ Program. Through this program, we can now provide ownership to Low-Income families.

The following three (3) new programs began 3/1/08. (Contract signed 2/14/08). “Project Connect I and II” introduced the delivery of Mental Health services to homeless women and families with children, respectively.

Project Connect I, bridging the Mental Health Gap through services – The Department of Mental Health (DMH) Specialized Emergency Shelter Bed (SESB) Program is a short-term emergency housing resource for homeless mentally challenged women, in need of transitional housing. The program offers a warm, clean and safe place to sleep; hygiene facilities; food (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); and case management services with a connection being made to a DMH Case Manager who transitions the family into affordable stable housing.

Project Connect II, bridging the Mental Health Gap through services – The Department of Mental Health (DMH) Specialized Emergency Shelter Bed (SESB) Program is a short-term emergency housing resource for homeless mentally challenged families with children, in need of transitional housing. The program offers a warm, clean and safe place to sleep; hygiene facilities; food (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); and case management services with a connection being made to a DMH Case Manager who transitions the family into affordable stable housing.

Project Connect III – The Department of Mental Health (DMH) Specialized Emergency Shelter Bed (SESB) Program is a short-term emergency housing resource for homeless single mentally challenged men and women (ages 18 and older) in need of a temporary shelter. The Shelter Program offers a warm, clean, and safe place to sleep; hygiene facilities; food (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); and case management services. Since Shelter placement is very short-term, a plan for transitioning the client into stable housing is made at the time of shelter placement by connecting the client with a DMH Case Manager. The SESB Program occurs from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., daily at the New Image Year Round Shelter site.

We also provide the following Supportive Services Programs:

Transportation Program (20+ Years) - Provided to homeless and low-income clients to assist them with jobs and housing searches, medical appointments, and/or other housing related destinations.

Clothing Program (18+ Years) - Through the Clothing Program that is provided by two vendors, “Dress for Success” (which is now located on the shelter site) and “Goodwill Industries” which is voucher generated for clients with clothing needs.

Permanent Housing Essentials Program (19+ Years) - Once permanent housing is found, New Image provides the individual or family with initial housing essentials through purchase and/or referrals, i.e. a refrigerator, beds, a stove, pots and pans, linens, etc. when finances permit.

Petty Cash Program (19+ Years) - We provide a Petty Cash Program that allows the Case Managers to assist clients to acquire items that are necessary for securing housing and jobs, i.e. a California I.D., Birth Certificate, Social Security Card, etc.

Annual Christmas Store (14+ Years) - Annually, we create a Christmas Store. Last year, it was held at the Long Beach Westin Hotel/Ballroom. The Ballroom or similar facility, is transformed into a ‘Christmas Wonderland,’ full of toys/gifts for all ages. Families are selected from the Multi-Service Center agencies, local agencies, and from the families New Image serves. All families receive supermarket and WalMart Store Gift Cards to assist them with their Christmas gift shopping and perishable item needs. Additionally, every child (ages new-born to 18yrs) gets to select 3-4 Christmas gifts from the Christmas Store.