Family Promise Metrowest Inc

TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE FACING HOMELESSNESS BY MOBILIZING A DIVERSE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE SHELTER, EDUCATION AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT.

SHELTER:THE FAMILY PROMISE METROWEST SHELTER SERVES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS BY PROVIDING A SAFE HOME AND OFFERING SUPPORT IN MAKING CHANGES THAT WILL HELP THE FAMILY STABILIZE AND REESTABLISH HOUSING. EACH FAMILY IS ASSISTED BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF WHO MEET WITH THEM WEEKLY TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE IN REACHING INDIVIDUAL GOALS IN AREAS INCLUDING HEALTH AND SAFETY, FINANCES, PARENTING, AND TRANSPORTATION.OUR SHELTER OPENED IN 2008 WITH A UNIQUE MODEL OF CONGREGATIONS PROVIDING HOUSING FOR FAMILIES BY CONVERTING CLASSROOMS INTO BEDROOMS WHILE VOLUNTEERS SUPPLIED DINNER FOR THE FAMILIES, CREATING A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO CARE. IN 2021, AS COVID CONTINUED, OUR SHELTER REMAINED OPEN WITH FAMILIES HOUSED IN HOTEL ROOMS AND FAMILY COACHING PROVIDED THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE. WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 10 FAMILIES IN SHELTER-25 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING 13 CHILDREN. WHILE THIS APPROACH HAS BEEN A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION, IN DECEMBER 2021 WE BEGAN CONSTRUCTION TO CONVERT OUR FACILITY (THE "DAY CENTER") INTO A PERMANENT OVERNIGHT SHELTER WITH A GOAL OF REOPENING IN JUNE 2022. WE LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING A NEW HOME FOR OUR FAMILIES WHILE WELCOMING BACK VOLUNTEERS FROM THE CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITY WHO WILL ONCE AGAIN BRING DINNER TO THE SHELTER AND SPEND TIME WITH OUR FAMILIES AS THEY MOVE TOWARD INDEPENDENCE.

SUSTAINING ACHIEVEMENTS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (SAIL):OUR SAIL PROGRAM IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES ENSURING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY FOR OUR FAMILIES AFTER THEY GRADUATE FROM SHELTER AND MOVE BACK INTO COMMUNITY HOUSING. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SAIL, FAMILIES MUST DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO WORKING TOWARD THEIR GOALS BY SHOWING PROGRESS DURING THEIR TIME IN SHELTER.ONCE FAMILIES ENTER SAIL, THEY ARE ASSISTED IN DETERMINING NEW GOALS TO ENSURE FUTURE SUCCESS. FAMILIES MEET WITH THEIR FAMILY COACH A MINIMUM OF ONCE A MONTH TO REVIEW THEIR BUDGET, MONITOR PROGRESS TOWARD GOALS, AND ACCESS COMMUNITY RESOURCES. ESSENTIAL SUBSIDIES ARE PROVIDED FOR ONE TO TWO YEARS IN AREAS INCLUDING MOVING COSTS, SECURITY DEPOSITS, RENT, AND CHILDCARE. FPM ALSO NEGOTIATES WITH LANDLORDS AND ACTS AS A GUARANTOR WHEN NEEDED TO ASSURE LANDLORDS THAT OUR FAMILIES WILL BE A LOW RISK AS TENANTS. IN 2021 WE SERVED 17 FAMILIES IN OUR SAIL PROGRAM, 45 INDIVIDUAL INCLUDING 27 CHILDREN.THE SAIL PROGRAM HAS A MEASURABLE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY BY MOVING FAMILIES PERMANENTLY OUT OF POVERTY. FAMILIES ARE GIVEN THE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT THEY NEED IN TRANSITION WHILE SUBSIDIES ALLOW FAMILIES TO CONTINUE THEIR DEBT REDUCTION AND SAVINGS THAT THEY BEGAN WHILE IN THE SHELTER PROGRAM. AS A RESULT, FAMILIES ASSIMILATE SUCCESSFULLY INTO THE COMMUNITY AND ACHIEVE A LEVEL OF SUSTAINABLE INCOME THAT INCREASES THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND ENSURES A BRIGHT FUTURE.

THE LOCAL INITIATIVE FOR FAMILY EMPOWERMENT (LIFE):THE LIFE PROGRAM IS A PREVENTION AND DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS FAMILIES AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND SHELTER ENTRY. LIFE PROGRAM COACHES WORK WITH FAMILIES TO IDENTIFY THE IMMEDIATE THREATS TO THEIR HOUSING SECURITY AND DEVELOP A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE RISK. BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEED, FPM THEN PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, WHICH MAY INCLUDE SUBSIDIES FOR RENT IN ARREARAGE, SECURITY DEPOSITS, OR MOVING COSTS. IN ADDITION, FPM WORKS WITH THE FAMILY TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR LANDLORD BY PROVIDING ADVOCACY, ESTABLISHING PAYMENT PLANS, AND HELPING THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS A TENANT.TO ENSURE LONG-TERM HOUSING STABILITY, ALL FAMILIES ARE THEN SUPPORTED WITH ONE YEAR OF FAMILY COACHING, CREATING GOALS THAT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF THEIR NEAR EVICTION. THE LIFE PROGRAM IS THE FASTEST-GROWING PROGRAM IN OUR CONTINUUM OF SERVICES, AND IN 2021 WE SERVED 37 FAMILIES-112 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING 61 CHILDREN WHO WERE ALL PREVENTED FROM EVER BECOMING HOMELESS.STEPS TO SUCCESS:THE STEPS TO SUCCESS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY BY ASSISTING PARENTS IN ACCESSING EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL MAXIMIZE THEIR EARNING POTENTIAL, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN PLANNING FOR FURTHER EDUCATION TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. OVER THE YEARS THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN TO SERVE ADULTS AND TEENS IN OUR SHELTER, SAIL, AND LIFE PROGRAMS.WHILE MANY FAMILIES ALREADY HAVE CAREER GOALS WHEN COMING INTO OUR PROGRAMS, THEY OFTEN NEED ASSISTANCE IN PAYING OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS TO ACCESS PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS, HIGHER EDUCATION, OR SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. FPM PROVIDES SUBSIDIES TO ADDRESS THESE POTENTIAL BARRIERS INCLUDING COURSE FEES, CHILDCARE, CLOTHING, SUPPLIES, AND TRANSPORTATION. IN 2020 WE ALSO LAUNCHED A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT OFFERS $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO MEMBERS OF CURRENT OR ALUMNI FAMILIES.MEMBERS PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION:SUBSIDIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS ARE INCLUDED IN GUEST ASSISTANCE AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IN THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.TO HELP OUR FAMILIES BUILD THEIR SKILLS FOR SUCCESS, WE ALSO OFFER IN-HOUSE TRAININGS INCLUDING NEW BEGINNINGS (A FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE) AND KEYS TO GOOD TENANCY (A TENANCY TRAINING COURSE).ADDITIONALLY, WE ESTABLISHED A TUTORING SERVICE IN 2020 TO PAIR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH VOLUNTEER TUTORS TO HELP THEM BUILD SKILLS AND ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL GOALS.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES