Family Promise Of Essex County Inc

FAMILY PROMISE OF ESSEX COUNTY'S (FPE) MISSION IS TO HELP HOMELESS AND AT-RISK FAMILIES ACHIEVE SELF SUFFICIENCY BY PROVIDING SHELTER, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE THROUGH A COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH. FPE ENVISIONS A COMMUNITY IN WHICH EVERY FAMILY HAS A HOME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE.

EMERGENCY SHELTER - FAMILY PROMISE OF ESSEX COUNTY (FPE) PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER, MEALS AND COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING THE CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS. WORKING WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES, FAMILY PROMISE PROVIDES SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY SHELTER AND HOUSING-FOCUSED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. WITH THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, FPE TRANSITIONED FROM A ROTATIONAL SHELTER MODEL WHICH MADE USE OF SPACE IN THE FACILITIES OF OUR FAITH-BASED PARTNERS FOR OVERNIGHT SHELTER TO A SCATTERED SITE MODEL, PROVIDING SHELTER FOR FAMILIES IN AREA EXTENDED STAY MOTELS. FPE PROVIDED FOOD AND GIFT CARDS FOR SHELTER CLIENTS. DURING THE DAY FPE'S PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES STAFF PROVIDE ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAMMING AT THE FPE RESOURCE CENTER IN MONTCLAIR. THE CENTER IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS A MAILING ADDRESS FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND FOR ACCESS TO PHONES AND COMPUTERS. IN 2021, FPE PROVIDED SHELTER TO 30 INDIVIDUALS OF WHICH 18 WERE CHILDREN.

PREVENTION - FAMILY PROMISE OF ESSEX COUNTY (FPE) PROVIDES PREVENTION ASSISTANCE TO KEEP FAMILIES FROM BECOMING HOMELESS OR ENTERING THE SHELTER. SERVICES FOR THIS PROGRAM, INCLUDE WHEN AVAILABLE AND APPROPRIATE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING RENTAL AND UTILITY ARREARS, FIRST MONTH'S RENT AND SECURITY DEPOSITS. IN 2021, FPE SUPPORTED 210 INDIVIDUALS OF WHICH 103 WERE CHILDREN WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT THEM FROM ENTERING THE ESSEX COUNTY SHELTER SYSTEM. FAMILIES IN THE PREVENTION PROGRAM JOIN OUR SHORT-TERM SHELTER FAMILIES IN BECOMING PART OF THE FPE COMMUNITY. MANY CLIENTS STAY CONNECTED TO FPE FOR YEARS, ATTENDING OUR HOLIDAY PARTIES AND MAKING USE OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES SUCH AS THE DISBURSEMENT OF DONATED CLOTHING, TOILETRY ITEMS BOOKS AND TOYS.

HOUSING AND STABILIZATION - HOUSING STABILITY IS THE OVERALL GOAL FOR ALL FAMILY PROMISE OF ESSEX COUNTY (FPE) PROGRAMS. USING A HOUSING FIRST APPROACH, EVERY FAMILY THAT COMES TO FPE IS ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER TO HELP THE FAMILY EXIT HOMELESSNESS AND MOVE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE. TO FACILITATE RAPID REHOUSING, FPE PROVIDES ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF SECURITY DEPOSITS AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS AVAILABLE AND APPROPRIATE. FPE ALSO PARTNERS WITH HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES EXITING HOMELESSNESS. IN 2021, 36 FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS OF WHICH 23 WERE CHILDREN WERE PERMANENTLY HOUSED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS OR RECEIVED RAPID REHOUSING RENTAL ASSISTANCE. ALL THESE FAMILIES RECEIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR UP TO ONE YEAR. FPE PROVIDES STABILIZATION SERVICES TO HELP FAMILIES MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING STABILITY AND GAIN GREATER ECONOMIC MOBILITY. CASE MANAGERS ACT AS COACHES HELPING EACH FAMILY SET AND ACHIEVE GOALS FOR HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. FPE'S PROGRAMMING IS BASED ON NEED AND INCLUDES SERVICES SUCH AS JOB TRAINING, JOB SEARCH AND INTERVIEWING SKILLS; SEMINARS ON WORKPLACE PROTOCOL, BUDGET MANAGEMENT, LANDLORD/TENANT RELATIONSHIPS, APARTMENT MAINTENANCE, PARENTING, WELLNESS AND NUTRITION; AND ASSISTANCE WITH CHILDCARE AND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. FPE ALSO PROVIDES YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING TO GIVE YOUTH EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS OPPORTUNITIES TO FEEL PART OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS WITH THEIR PEERS, BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-CONFIDENCE AND RESILIENCY. TO THIS END, FPE PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL/COMMUNITY BUILDING FIELDTRIPS IN THE SUMMER, CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND CLOTHING, BIRTHDAY AND HOLIDAY PARTIES, AND EVEN HALLOWEEN COSTUMES. IN 2021, FPE PROVIDED YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS FOR 77 INDIVIDUALS, 50 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE CHILDREN.