St. Vincent de Paul’s Ozanam Manor, a transitional housing program for adults with disabilities and those ages 50 and older, is hosting an open house March 16.
The open house will give the public a unique opportunity to meet with the residents of Ozanam Manor. The residents will share their personal stories and the barriers they’re overcoming to become self-sufficient. Visit the Ozanam Manor next Saturday and learn about opportunities for how you can help the homeless.
The Phoenix Housing Department is starting a community garden next to Ozanam Manor. The kickoff event, at which the mayor is scheduled to speak, will coincide with our open house, so join us to celebrate the city’s “Let’s Grow” initiative too!
Ozanam Manor Open House
Saturday, March 16
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
1730 E. Monroe St
Phoenix, 85934
Refreshments will be provided. Call (602) 850-6900 to let us know you’re coming!
5 Questions with Maribeth Schmidt, Clinical Manager at Ozanam Manor:
Can you tell me about the Open House?
The whole shelter is going to be open for the public to see. The open house will be run by the residents, who will be available throughout the shelter to tell you about life at Ozanam Manor.
What does Ozanam Manor do and provide for its clients?
The goal is to get our residents back on their feet and out on their own. The first step to that is for them to gain a source of income. Once they have income, they move into housing as soon as possible.
The average length of stay at Ozanam Manor is about five months, but our clients could stay up to two years. If they’re looking for work, they’re on the 90/90 program which is up to 90 days to find work and 90 days to save up money to move out.
We provide our clients with shelter, food, bus tickets, clothing and medications for those with no income.
What makes Ozanam Manor unique?
We’re unique because we serve the senior population. We have a dormitory setting that’s smaller than others. It’s only six to ten people in a dorm instead of a bigger room of people so that residents feel like they are part of a community.
What is Ozanam Manor working on now?
We’re forming a garden committee to support the raised vegetable garden we built last year for our residents and the new one that the city is going to open on March 16th. The city’s garden will be next to our property and will be open to us, as well as the Phoenix Housing tenants, so we’re recruiting Ozanam Manor residents and community volunteers to be a part of it.
We are also starting more classes like self-esteem improvement, budgeting and cooking for residents. Those interested in volunteering their time to lead these or other enrichment classes are welcome to contact our office for more information.
Right now Ozanam Manor has about 25-30 volunteers. Some are mentors who come in once a week, others help in the office and church groups come once a month to host a birthday party for the clients. Many of our residents say that one of the best things about Ozanam Manor is seeing and getting to know the volunteers, and knowing that people care about them.
What do you think is the most effective way to break the homelessness cycle?
People need to be educated on the resources they have available to them and the systems that are in place to help them, like Social Security or job assistance programs. Most of our clients don’t know which papers to fill out, how or why you need to put in appeals, and they don’t know which agencies will help them with resumes or interviewing skills. They don’t know how to go on monster.com or jobing.com, or they don’t know how to work a computer. Empowering them through these resources is the first step.
