MIFA History II continued MIFA Opens New Doors for Families in Crisis November 1983 marked the beginnings of Emergency Homes for Families, an innovative program started under the direction of VISTA DeeDee Roop, which brought national recognition to MIFA. In a February 1988 US News and World Report article on programs for the homeless, it was cited as one of five programs in the nation that actually worked. Innovative in concept and execution, the first area program to keep families together in times of crisis represented a unique partnership consisting of HUD, the City of Memphis, MIFA and other cooperating agencies. Conrad Lehfeldt, Director of Housing since 1991, points out, “It was originally assumed that families were homeless because of a one-time crisis. What we now realize is that homelessness is largely caused by their lack of the skills for independent living.” Earlier Marianne Williams had said, “We try not to let a catastrophic event result in chronic homelessness. We hold their heads out of water until they can begin to tread.” MIFA's 65-unit Estival Communities houses families for up to 2 years but they must also work and attend life-skill classes. Twenty of the units are located in Estival Place, which opened in 1991. Another group of units at 925 Vance Avenue is now home to eight families. Four case managers now assist the families who pay no rent but make deposits in a savings account which is theirs upon “graduation.” The Estival Child Development Center provides quality day and after-school care for the residents' children. On-site medical screenings, individualized parent instruction, a weekly teen group and Saturday field trips are all part of the comprehensive program which has achieved measurable success. 85% of all families move directly to permanent housing and 70% maintain their housing for at least two years. The 20-unit Idlewild Court, opened in September 1998, is a joint project of MIFA and major funder Idlewild Presbyterian Church with additional funds provided by the Plough and Assissi Foundations, THDA, individuals, and the City of Memphis. The land was, for the most part, donated by Marianne and former Memphian Ken Bouldin, the result of a dream that Mrs. Bouldin had. Formerly a worker for a homeless program in Washington, D.C., she dreamed that this property would be used to help the homeless! A plaque on an outside wall is inscribed “Marianne's Dream.” Members of the church have also donated a demonstration kitchen. The dream lives on! Willie Lowry noticed homeless people without caps on the coldest winter days; she conceived the idea of knitting caps for them in 1991. Beginning with a small group of knitters, the program has grown until there are now thousands of “Love Caps” knitted and distributed annually, largely through the Coats for Kids program. Next: Accountability on the Business Side / Kindness on the Program Side