Homelessness has many causes and housing stability involves many solutions. This may include workforce development, building up financial capabilities, instilling good tenancy skills, and addressing any health and wellness needs. After identifying each family’s unique barriers and after three months of intensive case management, our families will be able to be stably housed.
But our goal is not simply getting families into housing; it is keeping them in housing.
Once a family graduates from our Shelter Program, they have the choice to continue in our Stabilization Program. Stabilization case management will be provided for up to 6 months to ensure that the family does not become homeless again. Stabilization case management includes bi-weekly check-ins, family mentoring, monthly budgeting, landlord mediation, and more. Stabilization ensures that all the hard work and changes the families have made during their time with Family Promise SJC are enduring.
Another key is innovative thinking to match an identified need to a service that a local community partner can provide including childcare, transportation, clothing, and adult education. We also tap into the diverse resources our volunteer pool and congregations have to offer to assist in post-shelter support. This includes providing our graduates with any immediate household needs when moving into their new home including cleaning supplies, utensils, food, hygiene supplies, bedding, furniture, appliances and more. The result is families no longer at risk of homelessness.
And, even more importantly, through our New Beginnings: Financial Literacy Program and Good Tenancy Program, our families can create the basis for security and stability that separates them from poverty and allows them and their children to aspire to the future every child deserves.