Family Campus
Two Family Programs
The Family Interim Program provides housing, targeted personalized support services, and parenting groups for 14 families for 30 to 90 days. The program gives families time to stabilize and identify the issues that lead to their homelessness. The program includes: weekly case management meetings, counseling and other life skill classes or services to combat intergenerational homelessness and prevent future homelessness. There is no charge for the program; however, families are required to save 75% of any disposable income (after paying daycare, insurance etc.) through a savings plan program. These funds are returned at the conclusion of the family’s stay to be used toward housing costs. In addition, parents who are unemployed or underemployed are also accessed for enrollment in Café Joshua’s new Training and Placement Program to assist them in gaining and sustaining economic independence.
The Family Permanent Program is a permanent supportive housing program for families with children who need intensive support services impacted by mental and physical trauma, generational poverty and dependence on the welfare system. In 2007, the program changed from a two-year transitional housing program to a permanent housing program for homeless families with disabilities. The program provides this special needs population with a safe and stable living environment. Children are enrolled in local schools and a familiar routine is established. Extensive personalized support services are provided with the goal of permanently ending the families’ homelessness. The facility has 24 fully furnished two and three-bedroom apartments and the capability to connect two of the two-bedroom apartments to create a four-bedroom apartment.
Targeted therapeutic services help participants achieve greater self-determination and gain the needed confidence to make the transition out of homelessness. Families receive a thorough assessment to determine what type of counseling is required and individual and group therapy is provided for substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health issues. Therapy is offered to both children and adults. During the prior contract year, 80% of the families who left the program during had been with the program seven months or longer.
Parents are encouraged to participate in budgeting, credit counseling, community meetings, parenting classes, tutoring for the children, and weekly case management sessions. Additionally, parents are also required to obtain employment, go to school, or participate in a job-training program. More and more, parents are being encouraged by staff to return to school to improve their skills and secure higher paying employment. During the 2008/2009 contract year, 80% of the parents residing in the program were in college or trade school.
