Programs
Wellness
Since March of 2021, Depaul USA New Orleans’ Wellness Program has combated isolation and promoted a trauma-informed philosophy to healing. For those experiencing homelessness, Wellness provides an hour of the day to step out of the harsh realities they may be living, and find calm within themselves.
Our dedicated, loving and qualified volunteers, together with our small but passionate staff, offer wellness classes, four days a week, consisting of art therapy, meditation, yoga, mindfulness group, music therapy, as well as many other activities, like field trips, nutrition/cooking series, and much more. All classes are open to current and formerly unhoused individuals: providing the opportunity to come together and engage in positive, therapeutic activities that promote self-worth, healing and community building.
Wednesday
Recovery meetings at the Rebuild Center, 9:45am, open to all in the community.
Thursday
Thursday’s wellness group is spearheaded by a volunteer MPH who provides group meditation sessions, yoga, and a short story club all once a month.
Friday
Friday’s wellness is facilitated by a volunteer LPC who leads a dharma talk with focus on meditation and mindfulness every week.
Field Trips
Field trips have included canoeing at Joe Brown Park, picnics at the Fly, City Park, the Lakefront, the Audubon Zoo, the Insectarium, the Aquarium, and community tickets to Jazz Fest!
Partnerships
Partnerships include the individual facilitators mentioned above, LSU Health Sciences OT Dept., Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, Ursuline Academy, Loyola School of Music Therapy, and Grace at the Greenlight.
John
RRCHI Participant
Over the years, John worked primarily in construction. While working, John befriended the father of one his employers and he lived with and took care of the older man for the next 10 years.
When the older man passed away, John was asked to leave the house so it could be sold. John became homeless.
John spent several years on the streets before he found Depaul USA. At Depaul USA, he worked with a case manager to meet goals that would help him be approved and referred to a permanent supportive housing program. It was in the middle of this process, that he suffered a bad fall and shattered his left knee. John had multiple surgeries while homeless. He was faced with many challenges navigating the health system and getting around the streets on foot.
John’s hard work and commitment paid off when an apartment opened in the RRCHI Program. Since coming into the program, John has been very positive and worked closely with Depaul USA staff to find an apartment. He just signed a lease for his new apartment in February and he could not be happier. John wants to start physical therapy and hopes to be able to work in construction again.
Accreditation
The CoC in New Orleans released its “priority project listing” for HUD funding for 2019. This list ranks 49 homeless service programs across Orleans and Jefferson parishes based on their past performance.
Depaul USA RRCHI project was ranked number 1 and “Coming Home” was ranked number 5.