By Colleen Westberg, Blacktie Staff

A haven is a port, a harbor, a place of shelter and safety. In the greater Pittsburgh area, Bethlehem Haven has provided shelter and safety for thousands of homeless women for more than 25 years. Their stated mission is to serve homeless women by providing them with supportive housing and assisting them to achieve self-sufficiency. This year, Bethlehem Haven is celebrating 25 years of compassion, integrity and hospitality.

In 1981, Bethlehem Haven's emergency shelter for homeless women was founded in the basement of a downtown church. In the mid-90's, they realized that the original focus of "crisis intervention" was insufficient to address the multiple issues confronting the growing number of homeless individuals. In 2000, the Haven created a collaborative model of service providers, completed a successful capital campaign, and moved into Fifth Avenue Commons, a four-story, 21,000-square-foot building in uptown Pittsburgh. Since moving to Fifth Avenue Commons, the Haven has provided shelter and supportive services for thousands of homeless women.

The emergency shelter at Bethlehem Haven provides homeless women with a safe, clean environment and an opportunity to work with caring staff to assess their needs, develop a plan of services, and establish goals for reclaiming their lives. The shelter provides free overnight stays to 28 women, with on-site breakfast and dinner being served daily. Project Employ (PE) is an employment program of Bethlehem Haven that provides intensive individualized and group services to people who have experienced homelessness. The primary focus of PE is to assist in developing the skills required to improve self-sufficiency and quality of life. This is done through obtaining and maintaining meaningful employment and decreasing barriers such as substance abuse, mental illness, domestic violence, criminal records, lack of education and work experience, and a lack of safe, affordable housing.

Additionally, Bethlehem Haven provides transitional housing with an emphasis on self-reliance for up to 20 women with a maximum stay of two years through the A Step Up Program. The program includes: more independent living, cooking dinner for the community, attending drug and alcohol meetings, attending Life Skills classes, attending women’s empowerment meetings with assistance from the YWCA, attending treatment team meetings, review of goal plans every 30 days and progress notes weekly, as well as fulfilling a requirement to work, go to school or volunteer within 30 days of entering the program. SOAR (Safe Oasis and Residence) is a safe haven that provides permanent housing for up to 16 chronically homeless women with mental illness. The program provides residents with supportive housing, services, referrals and activities, including Life Skills classes. Each woman has her own furnished bedroom, while sharing a communal kitchen and living room.

Other services available on-site at Bethlehem Haven include: medical, podiatry, and dental care for homeless women and men at the Health & Wellness Center through the Health Care for the Homeless Program of Primary Care Services; gynecological services and women's health education for homeless women through Magee-Women’s Hospital of UPMC; and mental health services for homeless women and men through the 902 Clinic in conjunction with Mercy Behavioral Health and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Bethlehem Haven is continually making every effort to diversify their funding sources, including the opening of a second location for Ambiance, a consignment shop for designer clothing for women in Regent Square and now, in Oakmont, PA. Ambiance serves not only as an essential funding source and marketing tool, but also as a resource for our Project Employ participants to receive clothing and image consulting.

Continental Connections is a joint project supporting homeless women at Bethlehem Haven in Pittsburgh and Mayan women in Guatemala. Bethlehem Haven buys high quality handcrafts through their partner MayaWorks. MayaWorks pays the local artisans fair market value for their products and puts 10% of all earnings in education programs for Mayan children. By selling these products at home and office parties, funds have been raised for Bethlehem Haven and have provided an opportunity to educate more people about the issues of homelessness.