One of the countless children Genesis Home has helped to escape homelessness.I had the pleasure of attending a "lunch and learn" event today at Genesis Home, a transitional shelter at 300 N. Queen St. for families working hard to break the cycle of homelessness.

The economic downturn has been a double whammy: demand for services is up but donations are down. The silver lining is that federal dollars have increased, said Ryan Fehrman, executive director.

But they still are looking for community support for their three core programs.

Their bread-and-butter is the three-story residential facility that houses 12 families. Two staff case managers work to get parents education and job opportunities and address any obstacles, such as mental illness or substance abuse, that may stand in the way of them moving out on their own. While they're there, residents learn life skills - including the basics like cooking and parenting.

Ryan said the average stay is about six or seven months. The breezeway connecting the original Genesis Home - a house that once sat on the Hope Valley Golf Course - to the residential facility is decorated with the handprints of departing residents. The hope and joy captured in those colorful prints, many of them by tiny children, was enough to put a lump in your throat.

Another child with a chance at a better life thanks to Genesis Home.Genesis Home also pays for permanent housing at apartments across the city for five different families. Ryan said there are as many as 50 more families that Genesis Home could place in permanent housing if it had the resources.

The third program is transition assistance for 18-21-year-olds just out of foster care. Many leave foster care ill-equipped to handle the world on their own. This program prevents these young people from slipping into homelessness.

It was an inspiring visit, and my thanks to Ryan and Director of Development Mary McGuigan for their hospitality.

Genesis Home is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The big event is a party on Saturday Sept. 26th at Bay 7 of the American Tobacco Campus. Be sure to mark your calendars. Click here for ticket info.

To contribute to Genesis Home, you can donate quickly and easily via PayPal by clicking here.