Homeless Prevention Program

"I don't
know where
I would be if
Friends Association wasn't there
to help me.
My son and I now live in our own apartment
and we are both thankful for Friends."
Denise

Our Homeless Prevention program helps families with children find or maintain safe,permanent housing. It balances financial assistance with strong case management services.

Initially our Case Manager meets with each family to complete an individualized family service plan. Throughout the program they work together to achieve goals which often include:

• Maintaining employment
• Increasing earnings
• Paying bills on time
• Learning to budget money
• Increasing savings
• Furthering education

As with our shelter program, families are referred to the medical, dental, support and counseling services they need.

One component of our Homeless Prevention program involves supporting families who are coming from a shelter or facing imminent eviction and homelessness. Securing permanent housing is often difficult for these people because they have poor credit and tenant records, limited incomes, spotty employment histories, or even criminal records. However, with the cooperation of local landlords who are willing to work with us and our families, we find units that are suitable and affordable. We anticipate our families will be able to live independently in twelve to eighteen months.

We also work with families who are struggling to maintain their housing. By providing immediate rental assistance we are able to save a family "in place." Sometimes the rental assistance we offer helps to bring them current on their rent; at other times it may involve partial rental subsidies for a longer period of time. In either case, keeping a family in their own apartment is extremely cost effective and, more importantly, it preserves the family's unity and avoids the trauma of homelessness.