Since the earliest days of Nest Community Shelter, partnerships across the community have been invaluable to our organization. In many ways, we attribute our success to these impactful partnerships. Today, we want to highlight a unique collaboration that goes beyond the typical boundaries of community service-our partnership with the Michigan City Fire Department. This collaboration has created a safety net that not only protects but also empowers our most vulnerable citizens, showcasing the positive outcomes of our collaboration. Together, we are inspired and motivated by our shared goal of protecting and uplifting these citizens.
Beyond Emergency Response:
When we first heard that the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Michigan City’s historic west side was closing, we hoped and prayed that our new home had been found. When the news came through that the building would house Nest Community Shelter, there was joy, relief, and trepidation. This beautifully historic building, aside from needing to be lovingly repaired, needed significant safety and fire prevention infrastructure in order for us to safely and legally operate a homeless shelter. This knowledge felt overwhelming and super complex at times, yet we recognized the importance of getting it right. The Michigan City Fire Department was a resource from day one. Their guidance in ensuring that our building is safe for guests, staff, and volunteers has been invaluable to our shelter. From complex fire suppression infrastructure that is required by law to best practices, our local Fire Department has been with us every step of the way!
This partnership has had a profound effect on our shelter and, by extension, our guests. Through the education from the Fire Department and our collaborative partnership with them, staff, and volunteers, we have been able to reduce emergency calls. With better education and preventive care, we’ve seen a significant decrease in emergency calls from the shelter area. We are so grateful to our local fire department for taking the time to teach us basic first aid, CPR, and how to assess a truly emergent moment. These basic skills have meant the difference between life and death for guests in moments of medical crisis, such as seizures, heart attacks, or mental health episodes.
We have also found that our partnership with the Michigan City Fire Department has improved mental health at our shelter. The presence and support of firefighters have boosted morale and self-esteem among our residents. For many of our residents, trust in those in positions of authority continues to be a tricky relationship. However, our local Fire Department, along with other emergency services in Michigan City, has instilled a feeling of kindness, dignity, and partnership in our guests. Our Fire Department has shown and proven themselves time and again to be a trusted resource for our guests in moments of crisis.
This visible collaboration has inspired other local organizations to get involved, creating a more comprehensive support network. We are often asked about our fire suppression system and our safety practices. While we are always willing to share this information, we always suggest that partners and interested parties reach out to our local fire department as a resource. This allows partners and other organizations within our community to bring best practices across the board for safety.
Our Heartfelt Appreciation
Words cannot fully express our gratitude to the brave men and women of our local fire department. Your dedication, compassion, and willingness to go above and beyond have made an immeasurable difference in the lives of those we serve. To our firefighters: You are not just emergency responders; you are beacons of hope, mentors, and friends to those who often feel forgotten by society. Your impact extends far beyond the emergencies you handle – you are helping to rebuild lives every day. We take such comfort in knowing that help in an emergency is only a phone call away. We find that when we do have an emergency, that our local fire department is often very first to arrive, and last to leave.
Looking to the Future
As we move forward, we are excited to explore new ways to strengthen and expand this partnership. We invite other community organizations to join us in this collaborative effort to create a safer, more inclusive, and more supportive environment for all our citizens.Together, we are not just fighting fires – we are igniting hope and building a stronger, more resilient community for everyone.
