History

A brief history of Friendship Home

1978 • Catholic Social Services and the Daughters of Charity develop Friendship Home as a joint project

Dec. 1978 • Opened to receive women and children in need of shelter.

Nov. 1980 • Moved to a larger, rented house in response to an increase in demand for our services. Focus narrowed to serve survivors of domestic violence.

Feb. 1984 • In response to funding requirements, reincorporated as an independent, non-profit organization administered by a Board of Directors.

May 1984 • Long-term shelter (up to 6 weeks) program added to existing emergency shelter (up to 7 days) at the request of the City/County Joint Budget Committee.

Sept. 1984 • The Board initiated Capital Fund Drive to purchase and remodel a permanent facility.

Jan. 1985 • Fund Drive successful! New shelter facility is purchased and remodeled.

July 1985 • Moved into new facility.

June 1988 • Facility is full (20-22) up from 10-12 average daily occupancy; frequent waiting lists for shelter.

Oct. 1989 • Begin renovation of Carriage House to expand office, counseling and support group space.

Oct. 1990 • Renovation of Carriage House completed, offices occupied; Board, staff, and support groups began utilizing meeting space.

Jan. 1991 • Begin planning for addition of a transitional shelter to increase beds available for shelter. First United Methodist Church offered use of a 5-bedroom house.

June 1991 • Katy's Place, Friendship Home's first transitional shelter, opens.

July 1992 • Lincoln Housing Authority purchases duplex for use as a second transitional shelter and provided ongoing funding for operational expenses.

Aug./Sept. 1992 • Housing Authority duplex opens for use as transitional shelter.

June 1994 • Sidney Johnson Wayland donates a six-plex apartment unit to Friendship Home. One unit of the six-plex is devoted to transitional shelter usage. Costs of transitional shelter services to this apartment are supplemented by the rent of the other five units.

July 1994 • Record number of women and children on the waiting list.

Oct. 1994 • A pilot program for case management services to women and children on the waiting list begins.

Jan. 1995 • Lincoln Housing Authority purchases another duplex for transitional housing. This duplex replaces Katy's Place.

March 1995 • Record number of women and children on the waiting list; record number of beds provided.

April 1995 • Participation in a program to provide a continuum of services to women and children begins in cooperation with Lincoln Action Program's (LAP) Supportive Housing Grant. Aug. 1995 Board of Directors approves a five-year Strategic Plan.

Sept. 1996 • Friendship Home's Board of Directors, recognizing the need for additional emergency shelter as a priority, approves a Capital Campaign for a second emergency shelter.

Jan. 1997 • Friendship Home embarks on a $1.9 million Capital Campaign entitled: Shelter for the Journey: A Community in Partnership, to raise funds for a second emergency shelter.

May 1997 • Junior League agrees to provide financial and volunteer support towards purchase of a second emergency shelter and renovation of the current shelter.

June 1997 • Purchase of the second emergency shelter is completed.

Aug. 1997 • Record number of women and children on the waiting list. One hundred eleven women and children waiting to come to Friendship Home.

Oct. 1997 • Public phase of the Capital Campaign begins with a number of activities. The activities include a news series, a prime time television special on KOLN/KGIN 10/11, and a press conference.

July 1998 • Construction and renovation begins at new emergency shelter.

Aug. 1998 • Fundraising for Capital Drive complete.

Sept. 1998 • Record number of women and children on the waiting list. One hundred sixteen women and children waiting to come to Friendship Home.

Dec. 1998 • Friendship Home celebrates 20 years of service to the community.

March 1999 • Friendship Home's second emergency shelter opens to 25 women and children. First shelter closes temporarily for repairs and renovations.

June 1999 • First shelter renovations are completed and the facility reopens to shelter 12-14 women and children, thus accomplishing Phase I of Expansion. First shelter will remain at 12-14 bed occupancy rate until community support is available to complete expansion (Phase II). [NB: In the future, Phase II will expand first shelter occupancy to 25 beds, effectively doubling emergency shelter beds from 25 beds (prior to Capital Campaign) to 50 beds.]

Aug. 1999 • Lincoln Housing Authority agrees to fund two additional single-family units for Friendship Home's Transitional Housing Program (increasing transitional units from four to six).

Sept. 1999 • Friendship Home has a total of 50 employees for the first time.

Nov. 1999 • Donated six-plex is placed on the market. Offer is accepted in December. Half of proceeds from sale will be placed in reserves; half used as challenge to increase endowment funds.

Nov. 1999 • Record number of women and children on the waiting list. One hundred thirty one women and children waiting to come to Friendship Home.

Feb. 2000 • Sale of donated six-plex finalized.

March 2000 • Two more transitional shelter units, funded by Lincoln Housing Authority, are added, bringing the total up to six.

April 2000 • Launch of Community Strategic Planning Project to End Violence Against Women.

Aug. 2000 • Friendship Home begins to provide Strengths-Based Case Management Services in collaboration with The Gallup Organization.

Sept. 2000 • Launch of first Annual Campaign

Apr. 2001 • Community Strategic Plan is completed.

Apr. 2001 • Friendship Home Strategic Planning Process begins.

Feb. 2001 • First Donor Recognition Luncheon: Heart of the Matter.

Dec. 2001 • Board approves five-year Strategic Plan.

July 2001 • Friendship Home offers employees optional participation in 403b retirement plan.

Jan. 2002 • Friendship Home provides first employer match to 403(b) retirement plan. Jan. 2002 Technology and Communication plan is implemented with the installation of new computer network.

Jan. 2002 • Six-month pilot project is launched to provide services of a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor in shelter for New Beginnings Program, in collaboration with St. Monica's.

Feb. 2002 • 2nd Annual Heart of the Matter Luncheon doubles in size from previous year. Ed and Joanie Perry honored.

June 2002 • Six month pilot project s launched to provide case management services to victims of domestic violence in shelter at the City Mission.

Sept. 2002 • Cooperative agreement with Rape Spouse Abuse Crisis Center is expanded to include the Family Violence Council. Lancaster County submits grant application to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on behalf of St. Monica's (and Friendship Home) for a joint domestic violence shelter/substance abuse treatment center.

Jan. 2003 • Friendship Home announces the closing of FH1 (smaller shelter) due to lack of funding. Two anonymous donors step forward to offer support for continued operations in that facility.

Feb. 2003 • Donor Recognition Luncheon celebrates Friendship Home's 25th anniversary. Sister Janet returns for festivities. Sister Janet, Polly McMullen, and Barb DeMars honored.

Feb. 2003 • Friendship Home moves forward with plans to keep FH1 operating using Resident Manager model.

May 2003 • Lancaster County awarded SAMHSA grant for joint domestic violence shelter/substance abuse treatment center, called "New Beginnings - Safety and Sobriety for Women". Up to 19 women and children a day will be served in this program.

June 2003 • First family moves into FH1 under new Resident Manager model.

September 2003 • "Safe Quarters" fundraiser held on Sunday, September 28. More than 1,600 volunteers go door-to-door in Lincoln collecting quarters (and other cash denominations) for Friendship Home. Over $58,500 is collected the day of the event.

October 2003 • First family enters "New Beginnings" house.

December 2003 • Board of Directors approves 2004 Budget which will allow FH1 to resume operations as a 14-bed emergency shelter.