Elisabeth Fielder-Hix (HOTEL INC) and Rhondell Miller (HOTEL INC) accept Community Partnership Award from Joe Beavers (LifeSkills CEO) on November 4 during LifeSkills 50th Anniversary celebration.

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

— Henry Ford

Successful community partnerships are key to progress and results. Skills, experiences and resources that are often beyond the capacity of a single organization or group can become valuable assets to all partners. Through cooperation and coordination, plans can be shared, problems can be solved together and a coalition can be built that will make a difference in the community.

LifeSkills Supported Housing Manager Kristin Pruitt said HOTEL INC’s partnership with LifeSkills has made a difference in our community’s ability to assist the homeless population.

HOTEL INC received LifeSkills’ Community Partnership Award on Nov. 4.

“HOTEL INC is an invaluable part of the Bowling Green community and a vital partner to LifeSkills in efforts to end homelessness, break the poverty cycle, build self-sufficient households and improve lives,” said Pruitt, who noted that she was impressed by efforts that are made to address not only the physical but also the emotional and spiritual needs of people. “From offering laundry and shower services, to providing classes on cooking, parenting and budgeting, to hosting Manna Mart – a food pantry – this faith-based nonprofit organization does some truly praiseworthy work. …

“A homeless outreach and street medicine program that provides a hot meal, hygiene products and clothing as well as basic medical care to those in need is another HOTEL INC service,” Pruitt said. “And their short-term rental assistance program helps people obtain permanent housing.”

LifeSkills and HOTEL INC are members of the Homeless and Housing Coalition of South Central Kentucky, which is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to serving those in our community who suffer from poverty, homelessness and housing inequality. From November through March, the coalition’s vital Room in the Inn program partners with local churches who open their doors one night at a time to a small group of homeless people. Participating congregations offer a warm, safe place to sleep and share an evening meal and a light breakfast the next morning.

Spearheading the effort to organize areawide case management meetings to better serve our community, HOTEL INC also tailors trainings to LifeSkills staff regarding the VI-SPDAT assessment – a tool that serves to prioritize the needs of homeless individuals so service providers can best serve them. With its many connections to businesses, churches, community groups and private individuals, as well as its wide base of community volunteers, HOTEL INC works with LifeSkills’ case managers to identify and assist those with housing needs who have severe mental illness or substance use.

“HOTEL INC works diligently to filter and refer clients who are the most suited to receive our services,” Pruitt said. “In turn, our housing department works equally hard to send appropriate clients to HOTEL INC. We are grateful and honored to have had them as our partner for many years and consider them to be an integral part of our future.”

Rhondell Miller, executive director of HOTEL INC, said her agency was pleasantly surprised to learn of the nomination and award.

“We strive to be a positive community partner to all in Warren County,” Miller said. “Our case managers work with the great folks of LifeSkills on nearly a daily basis. As a community-based nonprofit, it is important to meet people where they are and help provide or connect them to the services they need.”

— Maureen Mahaney coordinates public information for LifeSkills Inc., a nonprofit, behavioral health care corporation that plans for and serves the people of southcentral Kentucky in three main areas: mental health, addiction and developmental disabilities. Her column appears monthly.