Pittsburgh Presbytery - Mission Agencies

Breachmenders Ministries

UNITED WAY #963

200 Robinson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-621-2530

MISSION

To provide decent, affordable housing, youth activities and employment training, and community development in partnership with the people of West Oakland and the Hill District neighborhoods of Pittsburgh as a demonstration of Christ's reconciling love.

CURRENT PROGRAMS

Housing Development Program: To date we have renovated twenty-four single family homes which were sold to low-to-moderate income first time buyers. In 2002-2003, we will completely renovate one single-family home and one duplex. For the first time ever, we will build 5 new houses, in consultation with the Pittsburgh Housing Development Corporation (PHDC). We will secure funds through conventional and gap financing, oversee contractor selection, manage construction, create and implement a marketing plan for sale of the houses to 8 low-to-moderate income home buyers, and negotiate closings.
The Apartment Management Program: To contribute to our goal of quality and affordable housing we own and manage a 30-apartment unit building and three single family houses in West Oakland for low-to-moderate income families. We select tenants who share our commitment to making West Oakland a safe, healthy, involved and positive community.
The Labor Free Repair Program: This program provides 50%-75% discounts off the cost of needed home repairs for 50-60 low-income homeowners throughout the City of Pittsburgh. Some of the repairs, if left unattended, could result in serious, sometimes extensive further damage to the homes. In other cases, the absence of repairs could result in life threatening situations, such as fires and structural collapse.
The School-to-Career Program: The mission of the School-to-Career Program of Breachmenders Ministries is to prepare young people living in the neighborhoods of West Oakland and Oak Hill to become competent, confident, contributing citizens in our society in a center for collaboration among the family, the school and the community. Under our guidance, young people are challenged to develop study skills, life skills and goal setting skills and develop plans for their futures.

We serve 40-60 elementary and middle-school students in the after school tutoring, literacy and homework completion program from September through June.

We serve 45 students in the career exploration and mentored work experience program. We provide supportive services related to academic and career development including computer assessment, interviews, career exploration, goal setting, resume preparation, job readiness workshops and year-round mentored work experience.

We currently partner with 50-75 parents and guardians through information sessions, outings and celebrations.

For more information about the School-to-Career program, please contact Youth Program Director Karla Stallworth at (412) 683-2140 or by email at kstallworth1@hotmail.com.
Neighborhood Advocacy: The majority of West Oakland residents are poor, but hopeful. Throughout our 22-year history, we have included them in planning and working in partnership with Breachmenders Ministries toward community revitalization. We mobilize the residents of West Oakland and Oak Hill through our board and staffing structures, partnerships with other community organizations, and gratis staffing and technical consultation services for the #4 Block Club, supporting all community events such as West Oakland Light-Up Night and open neighborhood planning meetings. We also provide fiscal management for Ohio View Acres and Addison Terrace public housing communities in a capacity building role to allow them to better service their neighborhoods through after-school youth programming.

HISTORY

Founded on May 1, 1980, Breachmenders Ministries is an independent outgrowth of the Friendship Community Presbyterian Church in West Oakland, and strives to show Christ's love for all people in all it does. However, Breachmenders Ministries is non-sectarian, does not discriminate, and does not proselytize. The name comes from Isaiah 58, which calls those who share with the afflicted and help release the oppressed "Restorers of Streets to Dwell In, and Menders of the Breach."

In January 2001, New Beginnings Learning Center came under the auspices of Breachmenders Ministries as a result of a merger. The merger has strengthened the ability of Breachmenders Ministries to deliver academic programming and prepare young people in the community for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Over the twenty-two years of its existence, Breachmenders Ministries has developed an array of programs and services to benefit and empower our neighbors. These programs have taken a community whose housing stock was overwhelmingly aging and in disrepair, with the occupants too poor to pay for renovations, and transformed it into an increasingly attractive, owner-based community where pride and responsibility have overcome disillusionment and hopelessness. Our youth program has revitalized the community as well, providing outreach to school children through our after-school academic program and by allowing teens to expand their horizons through our mentored career exploration and employment program.

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Experienced staff with backgrounds in community/housing development, carpentry, education, credit counseling and property management.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We offer suggestions to involve members of your church in volunteer positions at Breachmenders Ministries. Please give us a call if a member of your church is willing to make a commitment of a few hours each week to fill one of these positions on a volunteer basis.

Fundraising Event Planner - This person would be responsible for helping to plan at least one annual fundraising event.

Marketing and Media Relations Specialist - This person would help us produce the quarterly newsletter, brochures, advertisements, press releases, presentation materials and the website.

Volunteer Coordinator - This person would recruit and provide orientation for, as well as coordinate the schedules of volunteer workers. This person would help staff various volunteer days, when church groups and other organizations assist Breachmenders Ministries with housing renovation and home repair projects.

Receptionist and Office Assistant - This person would be responsible for some front office work, including answering the phones, greeting clients and visitors, routing mail, screening inquiries and helping process applications for the Labor Free Home Repair Program.

Database Manager - This person would help input and retrieve information and provide reports and tracking information related to various Breachmenders Ministries programs and operations.

Carpenter - This volunteer position would require a highly skilled journeyman carpenter to work in conjunction with our construction manager on Labor Free home repair projects for low-income homeowners and housing renovation projects.

Mentor - This person would act as mentor to youth enrolled in our School-to-Career Program. We have a special need for African American males to mentor young boys and teens in the community.

Creative Arts Instructor - This person would provide creative arts instruction during our after-school program.

Multi-Media Learning Center Grantwriting Consultant - This person with expertise in the area of computer multi-media arts education would help us prepare a grant proposal to expand our School-to-Career program at the learning center.

INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

Program interpretations allow us to provide explanations of Christian oriented community development, low-income housing needs, and self-sufficiency programs to defeat poverty.

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