reStart Inc - Transitional Living

This program provides up to 36 families at two sites with supportive housing and case management, counseling, substance abuse counseling, job education and referrals, housing referrals, life skills, recreational activities, parenting classes, tutoring, and an art program for children. Open year round with a maximum stay of 24 months.

Program long-term success defined - Long term success is defined when single adults or families retain permanent housing and are entirely self-sufficient. We also hope to impact the understanding homelessness as a poverty-based issue by advocating and educating the public about the number of families and youth needing shelter and services due to poverty. Youth and families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, a trend we hope will subside.

Program short-term success defined - Both Single Adults and Families are provided with the tools and services, as well as basic needs (shelter and meals) to become self-sufficient. Adults and Families work on an individualized action plan to seek out permanent housing. We provide advocacy, guidance and access to resources, as well as plan and monitor services from various agencies, in order to stabilize individuals and families in crisis and empower them toward self-sufficiency. Residents attend daily floor meetings and case management meetings at least 3 times each week. A full-time Substance Abuse Counselor provides individual and group sessions as well as educational materials and support. In-house AA and NA recovery groups are offered weekly. A housing and employment specialist and a full-time staff therapist are on staff to assist individuals and families. Children are enrolled in school and have access to a tutor, and also participate in weekly youth groups and art classes.

Examples or evidence of program success - 50% of adults move into permanent housing, 100% receive referral information about permanent housing as part of case management. 70% of adults attend employment counseling sessions weekly, 60% of adults improve their employment situation within 6 months. 100% of adults and families benefit from case management in life skills, budgeting, home care, etc. Over 50% of the families in our transitional housing move on to permanent housing. A recent success from our family transitional program is *Tina. This mother of 4 was pregnant and only had custody of one child when she came to reStart. She signed up and received within months Section 8 housing and used our resources to find a home. After the baby was born she moved into permanent housing and calls her case worker weekly to check in. She is working diligently to regain custody of her children and her daughter is enrolled in early childhood. She has her HS diploma and is looking into computer classes.