Depaul USA NOLA to hold Oct. 7 gala benefiting chronically homeless

By BETH DONZE
Clarion Herald

Depaul USA NOLA, the local arm of the national non-profit organization that provides housing and supportive services to homeless men and women with various levels of mental health challenges, will host “Growing Home,” its fifth annual gala, Oct. 7 from 4-7 p.m. at Rebuild Center, 1803 Gravier St.

In addition to enjoying New Orleans cuisine from area restaurants, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages and a coffee bar, attendees will be treated to live music from the Jazz and Heritage Foundation Youth Ensemble, an extensive silent auction and a 50/50 raffle.

Free and secure onsite parking will be available in the St. Joseph Church parking lot at 1802 Tulane Avenue. Gala entry will be accessible through the church parking lot.

Dedicated to ending chronic homelessness

Depaul USA NOLA provides an umbrella of services to homeless men and women through two main programs: Rapid Re-housing for Chronically Homeless Individuals (RRCHI), and Coming Home, a long-term permanent supportive housing program.

Depaul has remained in the top-5 housing programs in the city for years due to its trauma-informed, human-centered approach toward case management, as well as its emphasis on holistic wellbeing, noted Jessica Lovell, city director of Depaul USA NOLA.

“The work we do at Depaul USA NOLA is not just about finding housing. It’s about building community, learning to forgive and love yourself, relating to friends and neighbors in a safe space, building a support system, accessing safety, and learning to heal from trauma – which all equate to better outcomes in life,” Lovell said.

Wellness program offers healing, community

This year’s gala theme of “Growing Home” is a nod to another major way Depaul USA NOLA is helping the unhoused and recently housed continue to flourish. A wellness program that has been in place for more than a year, called “Wellness Warriors,” offers weekly meditation, art therapy, music therapy, food and nutrition tips and field trips to Depaul’s guests. The program – which receives no outside funding and is completely fueled by volunteers with expertise in the various wellness fields – hopes to expand soon to provide daily wellness opportunities, Lovell said.

“Through our wellness program, we have realized that our needs are mostly simple. The complication is how to access (those needs) in a world that has hurt us,” Lovell said. “When asked what one word is to describe their experience in the wellness program, one participant answered, ‘Replenishment. When I come to class I have a lot of stress, but by the time I leave I feel like I can face the world.”

Individual gala tickets are priced at $75; sponsorships and donations are available at varying levels. All gala proceeds will directly benefit Depaul USA’s housing and wellness participants.

For tickets and additional information, please visit https://depaulusa.networkforgood.com/events/52422-growing-home.