Mission of CommonGround Ministry, Inc.
The mission of CommonGround Ministry, Inc. is to provide physical, spiritual and emotional support to people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS regardless of religious beliefs, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or socioeconomic status. Elena’s House, CommonGround Ministry’s faith-based community day center for people living with HIV/AIDS, provides a unique opportunity for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Elena’s House offers a safe, supportive environment where God’s love and presence are shared. CommonGround Ministry, through Elena’s House, offers wholistic care based on the values of individual responsibility to self and community and the celebration of God’s presence in the midst of life and death.
Elena's House
Elena’s House Community Day Center is located in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. For over 20 years Elena's House provided transitional and end of life care for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Due to medical advancements and improved treatment, the need for the services we were providing evolved. As a result, we rededicated our five bedroom home to meet this new purpose, our Community Day Center.
Our doors are open throughout the week for individuals living with HIV/AIDS to gather for meals, fellowship, support groups, meditation, guided art projects, and space for respite.
Our goal is to enable individuals to restore their physical and spiritual health through safe, peaceful sourroundings, nutritious meals, one-on-one counseling, and emotional support. Elena’s House offers counseling on accessing medical and financial assistance, assistance with case management and housing needs, and transportation to appointments.
Elena’s House is a smoke-free, drug-free, and alcohol-free environment. Within Elena’s House we are dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. We take special pride in forming an extended family.
CommonGround Ministry, Inc. Goals
- To help individuals struggling with HIV/AIDS understand a new sense of purpose and meaning in their life and to find peace and serenity within themselves.
- To assure the integration of, and accessibility to, a spiritual component of care.
- To help individuals achieve success by defining and working towards individual goals in order that they might regroup and reshape their lives and move towards independence.
- To provide wholistic care, which considers the total needs of each individual physical, social/familial and spiritual - while treating each individual with non-judgmental dignity and respect.
- To offer love and support to family and friends affected by HIV/AIDS.
- To reach out to others living with this disease not currently utilizing our services.
- To collaborate with existing agencies in order for individuals to receive the best care possible, without duplicating services.