About Us

Community and agency leaders continually ask the question of how to create change that will end the cycle of poverty.  In St. Joseph County, a large group of organizations has recognized the potential of the Bridges Out of Poverty model and is working to implement it to bring positive change to our community.  Our mission statement is:

Using Bridges Out of Poverty as a framework, transform St. Joseph County into a sustainable community in which individuals move from generational poverty to self-sufficiency, enhancing the quality of life for everyone and creating a model for other communities.

What is poverty?
Bridges defines poverty as, "The extent to which a person does without resources (which results in a chronically stressful, unstable and unpredictable environment)." The experience of generational poverty is different than situational poverty.

What is Self-Sufficiency?
1. Financial stability: goal of self-sufficiency wage
a. Job retention skills: 1 year, 1 job
b. Means to keep that job: training and education/ skills set
c. Secured stable housing outside of transitional living facility

2. Stability through knowledge of the hidden rules and building resources: identify key resource & measure gains
a. More financial tools: credit, budget, bank accounts, microloans & IDAs

3. More connectedness to the community: relationships across economic class
4. Consciously working to break cycle of poverty for their children

For more information, contact us at 574/246-0533 or 574/339-1232.