13 Apr Benilde Hall Receives $67,000 Grant from the Emergency Solutions Grant

Benilde Hall was recently awarded a $67,000 grant from the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program to deliver housing and supportive services to 500 adult males who are experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, and/or mental illness through our Safe Haven program.

ESG funds will specifically be used to support food and utility expenses for the men participating in this program. Benilde Hall provides services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. The facility is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by trained and skilled staff, many of whom are certified medication aides and peer specialists and trained in cultural competency and trauma-informed care.

Benilde Hall is requesting ESGP funds for operations to support two significant and growing expenses that are critical to service delivery: food and utility expenses. These costs are fundamental to our program and vital parts of ensuring our clients are healthy and living in safe, suitable, and comfortable environments. Not only are food and utilities critical to operations, these expenses are increasing as a direct result of COVID-19. This is due to the fact that more individuals are presenting to Benilde Hall for services and more residents in the program are staying in the facility, which is driving up food and utility costs. Since this time last year, Benilde Hall has seen food and utility bills nearly double.

Founded in 1993, Benilde Hall has 27 years of experience in delivering transitional housing, substance abuse services, and mental health treatment to homeless men throughout Kansas City. In 2001, the agency expanded services by moving to its current location and in 2006 opened a 12-unit permanent housing apartment building (Matt Talbot) for successful program graduates. The men of Matt Talbot continue with aftercare services while becoming mentors and role models within our program and community. In 2010, we expanded again with the addition of Benilde Services, a work program offering hard-to-employ residents an opportunity to gain crucial work skills while earning an income. Since then, Benilde Services has employed nearly 100 men. In 2014, Benilde Hall opened its Safe Haven program to expand housing for veterans. In cooperation with the Kansas City Veterans Administration, this program provides beds for up to 25 chronically homeless veterans.