Community Relations

Carpenter’s Place and the Community

The majority of our guests have very severe and urgent needs in almost every area of life. Because their needs are so diverse and require many specialists, Carpenter’s Place aggressively seeks to develop collaborations and alliances, both in and out of the local community, which allow the core issues in all 14 areas of an individual’s life to be addressed effectively.

We have invested much time and energy in developing and utilizing any and all of the available resources in Rockford that may facilitate our mission to our guests. We systematically visit the sites of collaborative agencies and invite them to visit with us in an effort to develop solid working relationships. There are over 400 agencies and organizations in our resource database, and we have utilized resources in at least eight different states.

CP also strives to avoid duplication of services already available in the community. If a required service is not currently available or is not available in sufficient capacity to meet the need, CP will work in a collaborative manner to fill that need. We have a track record of forging and participating in community collaborations to address gaps in services for the homeless and to increase the efficiency of service delivery in this community.

Examples of local community collaborations include:

• Al-Tech of Rockford: Substance abuse services
• Careers Etc.: Employment services
• Crusader Clinic: On-site medical services provided at CP.
• Family Counseling Services: Counseling and mental health services
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs
• Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS)
• Illinois Employment Training Center (IETC)
• Janet Wattles Mental Health Center: Mental health services
• Office of Rehabilitation Services ORS
• Remedies (formerly Phase/WAVE): Substance abuse services/Domestic violence
• Rockford Department of Human Services
• Rockford Rescue Mission: Overnight shelter, residential recovery program
• Rockford School District: GED
• Rockford Housing Authority: General assistance
• Rosecrance: Substance abuse services
• Salvation Army: Residential recovery program
• Shelter Care Ministries: Transitional housing
• Swedish American Hospital: Medical
• Veteran’s Administration: On-site medical services provided at CP
• Winnebago County Township: General assistance

Community Involvement

Recognizing and valuing the importance of participating at the community level, CP actively participates in the following:

• Rockford, Winnebago, and Boone Counties Continuum of Care (Task Force on Homelessness
• Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Committee
• Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness Committee
• Salvation Army “Social Services” Committee
• Rockford Healthy Community “Behavioral Health” Committee
• Rockford Chamber of Commerce and Advantage Club Originals
• Association of Fundraising Professionals
• Northern Illinois Planned Giving Council
• Rockford Network of Professional Women
• Women in Ministry, Greater Rockford Clergy, Evangelical Minister’s Fellowship, Missional Leaders