CUP

CUP is a coalition of eight non-profit agencies providing direct services to the low income, working poor, and homeless of Greater Cincinnati since 1985.

2009 was a tough year for all of us. The caring spirit and generous gifts of our supporters made it possible for the member agencies of CUP to serve the needs of thousands of individuals and families.

The agencies within CUP offer a variety of services to meet the needs of the diversified group of individuals and families in Greater Cincinnati. While the services are unique to each agency, the method of delivery is common. Each agency counsels and serves people with personalized attention, and at a minimum of administrative costs.

The mission of CUP is to raise awareness about the plight of the poor in the Cincinnati area.

Our goals:

1. To educate the public about the plight of the poor.
2. To raise funds for and awareness of member agencies.
3. To facilitate collaboration among agencies.

Financial Report

Summarized Financial Data

	2009	2008
Revenue	$220,650	$43,071
Program Expenses	174,303	167,864
Management & General	6,678	7,956
Fundraising	14,369	14,106
Net Assets	$340,307	$315,007

CUP Agency Reports

Bethany House Services (BHS) helps to provide a full range of housing, education and assistance programs to homeless and disadvantaged women and children. In 2009 the staff, board and volunteers at BHS provided emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing, and offered programs such as Life Skills Literacy, Parenting Plus, Post Shelter Support, and Second Chance Initiative, to 567 unduplicated individuals. The Family Shelter Partnership Program, a BHS initiative, coordinated assessment, case management and essential stabilization services for 661 unduplicated high risk families. BHS supervised 13,138 shelter nights, prepared 23,678 meals, and fielded 10,978 requests for information or referral. BHS also administers the CAP (central access point) line so that one phone number directs callers in need of shelter to a single point of communication; BHS served 7,425 callers in 2009.

Mary Magdalen House, believing that hope goes hand-in-hand with dignity, is an oasis of hospitality, offering a safe, pleasant place to shower, shave, brush teeth, use a phone and receive messages and mail. Mary Magdalen House also provides clean clothes and laundry services to those who need them. In 2009, the staff, together with generous volunteers and benefactors, gave 4,850 hours of their time, provided 21,700 showers and laundered over 21,100 bags of laundry for more than 2,000 brothers and sisters in need.

Mercy Franciscan at St. John works to improve the health of our community, with a focus on the poor and underserved. The agency offers emergency assistance and self-sufficiency programs that served a total of 106,490 people in 2009. St. John's Social Services Department provided support to 6,091 individuals. Temporary shelter benefited 601 individuals, food and clothing more than 5,694, and the Sandwich Window served 91,250 free lunches. The Bridges Program, a job training program specializing in computer skills and professional development, trained 124 adults. The Family Development Program and the Positively Empowering Parents Program counseled 185 individuals. There were 530 active participants in our Youth Development Programs and the annual Circle of Giving program distributed gifts to 489 families during the holiday season.

Our Daily Bread has been providing food and hospitality to the poor of Over-the-Rhine and surrounding neighborhoods since January 1985. Our Daily Bread feeds those who hunger for dignity, friendship and community, in addition to food. Located on Race Street across from Findlay Market, Our Daily Bread serves more than 500 mid-day meals, Monday through Friday. It operates with the help of volunteers and a small staff, which includes individuals who have been guests themselves, but have encountered obstacles finding employment elsewhere. Our Daily Bread also offers a supplemental food pantry, "Lunch on Legs" for neighborhood seniors, an after-school "Kids Café," and social activities including Bingo and Movie Days. A licensed social worker is available to assist guests with their needs beyond food.

Over-the-Rhine Kitchen (Oldest Soup Kitchen in Cincinnati), Walnut Hills Kitchen and Walnut Hills Pantry strive to help alleviate hunger in our community by feeding the poor in an environment of respect, care and hospitality. The population we serve consists of disadvantaged people who lack the financial means, the mental capacity, the housing, and/or the life skills to provide themselves with a hot, nutritious meal. Among our guests, we see the mentally ill, the elderly poor, the unemployed working poor, underemployed, and the homeless. Through our services, we seek to meet their basic needs for food and water and attempt to improve their quality of life. Annually, with the help of over 27,000 volunteer hours, the Kitchens serve approximately 180,538 meals and the Pantry distributes groceries to about 11,924 individuals and families.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul, through community support and 58 parish-based volunteer groups, has helped relieve the burdens of families in need since 1869. In 2008, SVDP helped over 81,000 people with basic necessities: groceries, medicine, rent and utility assistance, clothing, household items and furniture. Special programs include the Fan and Coat Drives that help families survive harsh weather conditions, Operation BootStrap a job readiness program that encourages self-sufficiency and Adopt-A-Family that shares the blessings of Christmas with families.

For 25 years, Tender Mercies has provided housing and support services to homeless individuals who have histories of mental and/or emotional disabilities. In 2009, Tender Mercies served over 200 individuals, preparing and serving 73,000 individual meals and offering 119 recreational activities. Tender Mercies also assisted 96 residents with medication, 134 with SSI and/or Medicaid applications, and 16 with obtaining a birth certificate or other identification. Volunteers gave 87,600 hours of their time.

Visions Community Services provides crisis intervention, case management, and counseling to low-income young parents to enable them to escape poverty. Through parenting groups and other programs, VISIONS encourages parents to finish school and/or pursue employment. These services benefited 143 parents in 2008. VISIONS also offers nationally accredited early childhood education for children 6 weeks to 5 years old. In 2008 VISIONS helped to prepare 174 children to succeed in school.

CUP Board of Trustees

Officers of CUP