From left, the United Christian Advocacy Networks (UCAN) City Missions Life Skills Coordinator Denise DeAngelo and UCAN City Missions Executive Director Bruce Baehr, outside of the missions 7 W. First St. location Thursday morning. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

Denise DeAngelo is dedicated to coordinating local services and providing life skills training for homeless individuals residing at the facility located at 7 W. First St. Her efforts play a crucial role in helping prevent a form of recidivism at the homeless shelter.

DeAngelo, recently hired as the United Christian Advocacy Networks (UCAN) City Missions Life Skills Coordinator, is making a positive impact, according to Executive Director Bruce Baehr.

“We hired Denise to coordinate all the different services offered in our community and to help develop life skills our guys are going to need when they eventually move out,” he said. “We have had several guests who’ve returned to use for various reasons after moving out into a place of their own – most being because they were not ready to move out, so we’re trying to address that need.”

Baehr noted that UCAN has had to assist in navigating a pathway forward for guests facing various challenges, including the absence of identification, mental health issues, difficulties with money management, a lack of social decorum, substance abuse, and chemical dependency addiction. Additionally, many guests struggle with limited transportation options, a history of criminal activity, and the loss of essential documents such as high school diplomas, proof of identification, birth certificates, and work history, among other concerns.

“I’m building relationships and working with several of the area’s non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, and other resources to coordinate the services our guests need to better prepare them for when they do receive the keys to their apartment,” said DeAngelo.

DeAngelo said that UCAN is embracing the holistic approach in its initiatives. This involves a comprehensive assessment of each individual’s circumstances and needs to foster their journey toward independence and success.

“We must treat people as individuals,” she said. “Each guest is at a different stage in their lives and requires different support mechanisms and skills; nothing is black and white.”

Baehr and DeAngelo emphasized the vital importance of the wrap-around care component in the overall success of UCAN’s efforts to keep past guests independent. This comprehensive approach not only addresses the immediate needs of the individuals staying at the men’s homeless shelter but also focuses on their long-term stability once they leave. By providing tailored support services such as mental health counseling, job placement assistance, and housing support, UCAN ensures that former guests have the necessary tools and resources to rebuild their lives and avoid the pitfalls that could lead to returning to homelessness. This holistic strategy fosters a smoother transition into independent living and promotes lasting personal growth.

“We provide aftercare, which can include a 30-day check-in, communication with an employer who hires a past guest, and eating at the City Mission during dinner times and other services,” said Baehr.

“Guests form a sense of community here. This can become a very safe place for them,” said DeAngelo. “So, when they move out, it can be scary. This place becomes home, so we don’t just cut them loose; we keep healthy boundaries, but we still support them after their stay here.”

DeAngelo shared that Jamestown and Chautauqua County have some real hidden gems in the community – for support.

“There is a ton of support for people here,” she said. “There’s a lot of organizations who are dedicated to helping people get back on their feet.”

Baehr said that he feels that UCAN is starting to see some of the fruits of its labor.

“We have several guests who donate to us and give a little bit of any extras they have,” he said. “They just want to give back and help the next person down on their luck.”

DeAngelo shared an experience about a current guest who had received culinary arts training while incarcerated. This guest prepared a dinner for all attendees at UCAN, which led to her being invited to participate in the event as a quasi guest of honor.

“It was extraordinary “Since we have a guest skilled in the culinary arts, we could arrange for him to conduct a cooking session,” she remarked. “Another guest is an accomplished artist, so we could have him lead a workshop on various art forms; I discovered that statistically, individuals struggling with addictions like smoking have a higher chance of overcoming that cycle if they engage their hands for just 15 minutes – ideal for our artist to instruct.”sweet,” she said. “They held the door open for me; they sat in their chairs a little straighter and were very proud of what they were able to accomplish.”

DeAngelo has begun exploring innovative solutions from within the organization, tapping into the wealth of talent and creativity that lies right in-house. Looking in and not out for solutions.

“Like our guest who’s trained in the culinary arts, we can have him teach a cooking class,” she said. “We have another guest who’s a trained artist, so we can have him teach a class on different art forms; one of the things I learned is that statistically speaking, a person who has an addiction like smoking if they can do something with their hands for 15 minutes, they have a better chance of not smoking or breaking that addiction cycle – perfect for our artist to teach.”

For more information about UCAN City Mission or to make a donation, visit ucancitymission.org.