Emergency Services

Goals:

To provide various resources to meet emergency needs immediately and conveniently in one location.

To be an entry point for on-going self-management training to achieve economic, health, housing, and social stability.

Community Lunch Program (Soup Kitchen) - On Mondays, Wednesdays, and *Fridays, BCI staff and volunteers serve 100 to 120 guest home-style meals--with an emphasis on fresh and healthy meals for people who are hungry and have limited or no financial resources. (Community Impact hosts the Friday lunch program).
Leader:
Chef Michael Ennes

Women's Shelter - Seven nights a week, homeless women are transported from the Olivieri Drop-in-Center to BCI where they sleep overnight, have breakfast, snacks, and dinner. Assisting the ladies each night are two overnight volunteers from a rotating list of community and student volunteers.
Leader:
Volunteer facilitator

Food Pantry - Twenty low-income families are involved in receiving pantry bags containing groceries for three days (9 meals) each week. Participants select a specified number of foods from each of the five food categories according to the number in their family. The food director shares nutritional information with them as they choose from supermarket type shelves.
Leader:
Chef Michael Ennes

Clothing Closet - The newest program to BCI offers guest an opportunity to take a shower twice a week and for exceptional emergencies. New undergarments and clean clothing are distributed when needed for each person.
Leader:
BCI intern and a regular volunteer assistant

Social Service Referrals - Organized by our affiliate Community Impact, social workers, caseworkers, and volunteers provide emergency and on-going referrals during lunchtime (three times a week). A BCI social worker or caseworker available everyday.
Leader:
Volunteer facilitator

Shower Program - The newest program to BCI offers guest an opportunity to take a shower twice a week and for exceptional emergencies. New undergarments and clean clothing are distributed when needed for each person.
Leader:
BCI intern and a regular volunteer assistant

Medical Services - Institute of Urban Family Practice through Care For The Homeless, a collaborating agency with BCI, sends a doctor, health educator, HIV group leader, and medical social worker once a week to . No medical insurance is required for treatment or prescriptions. About forty guest are cared for each day.
Leader:
CFH Team leader


For further information, you may contact 212-864-6100 ext. 120.