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, outreach teams from various agencies perform “street sweeps” to find the homeless and provide them transportation to one of the shelters in the area. In addition to those who are transported, hundreds of others seek out shelter and food at organizations around town.

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, 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 six months, find employment, 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.

Revive

Revive is a program for women with children that focuses on reviving 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, spiritual development, and skill development. Classes in parenting, life-skills, and career development are included. An individualized educational program is supplied for the mothers where they can prepare to earn their GED or improve basic skills. Individual case management and counseling are an important part of this program. Assistance is given with regard to housing and employment procurement.

Psalm 143:11 For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me. In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.

Revive: Kids

Our Revive: Kids program provides high-quality, developmentally-appropriate childcare for children while they are staying at Wheeler Mission. Our state registered child care ministry has a strong educational emphasis. When mothers are in classes, the children attend age-appropriate educational programs, which include preschool education preparation, social behavior lessons, physical exercise and motor skill development, craft time, and introduction to Biblical themes through fun story times. Positive mother and child interaction is facilitated and encouraged.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

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

Equip: Higher Ground

Equip is specialized for graduates of our programs who decide to receive additional training by serving within our mission. This person will serve as an intern in the ministry for another nine months following completion of the Higher Ground program. This program is designed for those who desire an extra challenge and have a desire to further their relationship with God through service in a ministry. These participants will have opportunity to attend biblical counseling classes as well.

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.