Serving Women and Their Children Experiencing Homelessness
We provide Christ-centered programs and services for those experiencing homelessness and those in need. Our services take a holistic approach by providing physical, mental, emotional and spiritual help.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Shelter Services
We offer women and women with children a 45 – day program designed to assist them with basic temporal needs, like meals and shelter, while assessing the factors that led them to experience homelessness. Whether addiction, mental health, medical, occupational, or educational issues, ladies are encouraged to enter our other long-term programs that can help them with recovery, securing safe housing and employment or mental health care.
Winter Contingency Program
The Winter Contingency Program ensures that every man, woman, and child in the Indianapolis and Bloomington areas can find a safe place to sleep and a nourishing meal during the cold months. Five months out of the year, November 1 through March 31 low barrier care is provided on a night by night basis.
Residential Programs
Our women’s residential programs are designed to address the specific issues that contribute to life instability and, in turn, homelessness. The primary goal of these long-term programs is to walk alongside women and children as they either enter or strengthen their walk with Christ.
Foundations
Foundations gives individuals a good, solid groundwork for successful, independent living by addressing specific issues that contribute to life instability and homelessness. This is a residential program designed to assist women to become independent through job training, job procurement, community connections and stabilization. Guests receive individualized case management, educational training in our computer lab, work therapy, career development and life-skill classes, spiritual training and counseling. Guests in Foundations who need additional support for mental health challenges are able to undergo counseling, medical care, and medication stabilization with a service team while the Wheeler staff provides added support through the day-to-day challenges that are often intensified with a chronic illness or mental health diagnosis. The goal is to have all guests move to safe, affordable housing within nine months, obtain a sustainable income source, mend broken relationships, demonstrate life change, and be involved in a follow-up program for up to one year.
1 Timothy 6:18-19 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
Compass
Compass is a program for women with children that focuses on reorienting the family unit by providing basic necessities along with life skills and parenting classes. It is a 6–9-month program designed to provide stabilization along with spiritual and skill development. Assistance with childcare, housing and employment is also provided.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Addiction Recovery
Addiction is a common experience for women caught in the cycle of homelessness. Our Higher Ground program is unique in that its focus is total healing through a relationship with Christ.
Higher Ground
Higher Ground assists women struggling with substance abuse and other life-dominating sins by focusing on a total life change through a relationship with Christ. It is a transitional, residential program that begins highly structured and freedoms increase as the program continues, through a minimum of eight total months. The program is designed to focus on total life change, rather than a single focus on the addiction. The foundation for this change is a relationship with Jesus Christ. The goal is transformation with minds focused on a desire to please God rather than self. Curriculum includes recovery classes and group and individual counseling. Life skills classes are offered in anger management, financial management, and healthy relationships. Ladies also have Bible studies and learn how to apply the Word of God to daily decision making. The progressive nature of the programming allows for growth in skills to include meal planning, shopping, budgeting, and other independent living responsibilities. Individual mental health counseling is available both in-house and with coordinating agencies. The program offers many avenues for developing healthy relationships that will be longstanding upon completion of the in-house programming, so that each graduate leaves with a secure support system in place. Throughout Higher Ground , guests participate in Wheeler Mission’s social enterprise Restored Creations.
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
Connect
Our Connect program helps program graduates focus on the goals of finding a church, employment, and housing so they can transition back into society and maintain successful, independent living. Connect offers continued support while graduates continue to reside under the security of Wheeler Mission’s Center for Women & Children. During this program, the participant would be expected to secure employment and maintain savings in an effort to obtain safe and affordable housing or participate in an educational training program.
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Servant Leader Training (SLT)
Servant Leader Training (SLT): is for graduates of our programs who decide to receive ministry training by serving within a Christian context. It is a nine-to-twelve-month residential internship program for individuals who have completed a level 2 program and are seeking opportunities to serve others. This internship allows an individual to be trained while continuing to serve in Christian community. He or she will be able to address life issues, assist case managers, and develop God-given gifts/talents.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Locations
Center for Women & Children
3208 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46201 | MAP
Questions?
317.687.3630
No appointment necessary for emergency shelter
Must make an appointment for addiction recovery program.
Services
- Meals
- Shelter
- Chapel Services
- Medical Clinics
- Shelter Services
- Residential Programs
- Addiction Recovery Program
About
Begun in the early 90’s by a group of concerned businessmen, the Care Center merged with Wheeler Mission in 2001. In 2009, the Care Center was renamed the Center for Women & Children (CWC). This location provides an environment that is safe physically, emotionally and spiritually. Hundreds of women and mothers with children enter our doors seeking food, clothing and housing, but they also experience love and compassion, bringing rest for their weary souls. National studies indicate that the fastest growing segment of the homeless population consists of women and women with children, making the services offered at the CWC imperative to our community. There are five main programs at the CWC: Emergency Shelter Services, Foundations, Employed, Revive, and Higher Ground Addiction Recovery.
WANT TO VOLUNTEER? |
Volunteers are needed at all different areas of the Mission.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS |
Our men’s and women’s facilities have urgent needs for clothing and food.