What We Do
Since 1968, MIFA's programs have met the emerging needs of our aging neighbors and families in crisis in our community. In FY22, we served 40,098 individuals in Memphis and Shelby County.
Senior Programs
MIFA’s senior programs are designed to promote independence, health, and dignity. Through daily nutrition and fellowship with volunteers, our programs help seniors continue living in their homes, while advocacy continues to support them when they move into care homes.
With the help of volunteers, MIFA Meals on Wheels provides nutritious lunches for seniors in their homes and at congregate meal sites.
Eligibility
Home-delivered meal recipients are Shelby County seniors (age 60 and over) who are nutritionally at-risk and frail, homebound, or disabled. Congregate meal recipients are Shelby County residents over age 60 or under 60 and disabled.
To be screened for eligibility for Meals on Wheels, call the Aging Commission of the Mid-South at (901) 222-4111. To apply for congregate meals, complete an application in person at the site nearest you. Congregate sites are listed here.
Impact
In FY22, MIFA Meals on Wheels served 557,434 meals to 3,849 seniors; of those clients, 2,533 received home-delivered meals and 1,316 were served at congregate sites.
Surveyed clients reported the following: 94.20% eat healthier foods as a result of the program, 91.86% believe the program helps them feel better, and 89.45% of home-delivered meal recipients believe the program helps them continue living in their own homes.
Volunteer
Click here to learn about volunteering for MIFA Meals on Wheels.
Contact Us
Tonya Bradley Parker, Director of Meals on Wheels Services | tbradley@mifa.org | (901) 529-4520
Craig Woods, Director of Meals on Wheels Fleet | cwoods@mifa.org | (901) 529-4564
Demeatrise Givens, Senior Navigator | dgivens@mifa.org | (901) 529-4506
To become a volunteer, contact:
Marcie Lynne Williams, Engagement Volunteer Specialist | mwilliams@mifa.org | (901) 529-4521
MIFA's Long-Term Care Ombudsman program advocates for residents of long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and residential care homes. Through regular visits by staff and specially trained volunteers, the program investigates and mediates complaints, monitors residents’ care and quality of life, and provides public education for clients and their families.
Eligibility
Clients must be residents or potential residents of nursing homes, assisted living care facilities, or homes for the aged in Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, or Lauderdale County.
Impact
In FY22, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program’s two staff members and 23 volunteers completed 314 volunteer hours while providing advocacy for the care and dignity of seniors living in local facilities; their work reached 7,223 individuals in the community.
Volunteer
Trained Ombudsman volunteers pay regular visits to facilities, where they spend time with residents, monitor conditions, investigate complaints, and protect residents’ rights.
Volunteers must be 21 years of age with no conflicts of interest, provide references, submit to a background check, and complete an interview. Thirty-six hours of training and certification are required before a volunteer may visit residents. Volunteers must be willing and able to commit to the program for a minimum of one year, visiting residents weekly and working to resolve conflicts within nursing homes and care facilities.
Click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.
Contact Us
Zev Samuels, District Ombudsman | zsamuels@mifa.org | (901) 529-4565
Carlos Royston, Volunteer Coordinator | croyston@mifa.org | (901) 529-4562
Family Programs
MIFA’s family programs provide basic services to prevent homelessness, stabilize families, and encourage independence. We offer a spectrum of personalized interventions designed to address the vulnerabilities that could lead an individual or family to homelessness—interventions ranging from referrals to financial assistance to shelter placement or rapid rehousing.
MIFA Emergency Services provides utility, rent, and mortgage assistance for Shelby County households who have lost income or experienced a recent crisis.
Eligibility
In order to qualify for assistance, the applicant must be a resident of Shelby County who can document a recent crisis and has not received Emergency Services assistance in the past 24 months.
Impact
Of the 10,872 unduplicated households that requested Emergency Services assistance in FY22, 2,888 (representing 3,460 adults and 3,905 children) received utility, rent, or mortgage assistance.
Apply for Assistance
Click here to apply for utility, rent, or mortgage assistance through Emergency Services.
Contact us
Sharon Harden, Director of Emergency Services | (901) 529-4583 | sharden@mifa.org
Our 24-hour Hotline for Homeless Families helps connect families with minor children in Memphis and Shelby County to shelter and/or other resources. Call (901) 529-4545.
Eligibility
Shelby County residents with minor children can access the hotline 24 hours a day for MIFA Emergency Shelter Placement screening or referrals to other community resources.
Impact
In FY22, the Hotline for Homeless Families screened 8,804 calls from an estimated 6,562 callers representing 8,007 adults and 7,623 children.
APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE
Call the hotline at (901) 529-4545, or click here to submit an application for emergency shelter assistance online.
Contact us
Call the hotline at (901) 529-4545.
Reginal Fisher, Homeless Hotline Operations Lead | rfisher@mifa.org | (901) 529-4546
Rodney Lomax, Director of Emergency Housing | rlomax@mifa.org | (901) 529-4522
Emergency Shelter Placement helps homeless families secure temporary shelter if homelessness cannot be avoided through mediation.
Eligibility
Eligible families are literally homeless Shelby County residents, according to HUD's definition, which means they are living in a place not meant for human habitation, like outdoors or in a car.
Impact
In FY22, Emergency Shelter Placement screened 2,858 unduplicated families for service and referred 600—representing 663 adults and 1,576 children—to shelters and 562 to rapid rehousing.
APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE
Click here to submit an application for emergency shelter assistance online, or call the 24-hour Hotline for Homeless Families at (901) 529-4545.
Contact us
MaLika McGowan, Emergency Shelter-HMIS Operations Lead | mmcgowan@mifa.org | (901) 529-4584
Rodney Lomax, Director of Emergency Housing | rlomax@mifa.org | (901) 529-4522
Rapid Rehousing assists literally homeless families with children with short-term assistance to quickly obtain permanent stable housing.
Eligibility
Families must already be in emergency shelter to be eligible for this program.
Impact
In FY22, the Rapid Rehousing program connected 132 families representing 148 adults and 243 children with permanent, stable housing.
APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE
Click here to submit an application for emergency shelter assistance online, or call the 24-hour Hotline for Homeless Families at (901) 529-4545.
Contact
Miranda Young, Rapid Rehousing Operations Lead | myoung@mifa.org | (901) 529-4531
