Family Promise North Shore Boston Inc

FAMILY PROMISE NORTH SHORE BOSTON'S MISSION IS TO PREVENT AND END FAMILY HOMELESSNESS. WE PROMOTE ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND HOUSING STABILITY THROUGH A HOLISTIC, FAMILY-CENTERED, COMMUNITY-BASED RESPONSE. THIS IS DONE THROUGH OUR PRIMARY PROGRAMS OF EMERGENCY SHELTER, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND SHELTER DIVERSION, AND HOUSING STABILIZATION. AS A PRIVATELY FUNDED ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN CREATIVE AND EFFICIENT WAYS THAT OFTEN CANNOT BE DONE THROUGH STATE OR FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS. WE WORK WITH FAMILIES TO ENSURE THEY CAN ACCESS ANY/ALL RESOURCES THEY ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE AND USE OUR OWN FLEXIBLE FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS. WE HELP FAMILIES WHO OFTEN FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS DUE TO BEING OVER INCOME FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES BUT STILL UNABLE TO AFFORD THE INCREDIBLY HIGH COST OF HOUSING IN MASSACHUSETTS

THE EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM PROVIDES FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSSNESS WITH TEMPORARY, BUT LONG-STAY, SHELTER. FAMILIES IN THIS PROGRAM WORK WITH A CASE MANAGER WHO HELPS THEM FIND AND APPLY TO PERMANENT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. THE SHELTER BUILDING IS RENTED BY FAMILY PROMISE NORTH SHORE BOSTON (FPNSB) AND CAN HOST UP TO THREE FAMILIES AT A TIME. CURRENTLY IT IS LOCATED IN BEVERLY, MA. IN SOME CASES, FAMILIES IN SHELTER ARE PUT IN HOTELS THAT ARE PAID FOR BY FPNSB. FPNSB PAYS FOR FAMILIES BASIC NEEDS WHILE THEY ARE IN THE SHELTER PROGRAM. WE ENSURE EACH FAMILY HAS ACCESS TO FOOD, CLOTHING, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS. WHEN A FAMILY SECURES PERMANENT HOUSING, THEY ENTER INTO OUR "FAMILIES FORWARD/STABILIZATION" PROGRAM. THEY CAN ACCESS OUR STAFF AND CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR UP TO ONE YEAR AFTER GRADUATING (LONGER IF NEEDED). THE CASE MANAGER WILL WORK WITH THE RECENTLY HOUSED FAMILY TO ENSURE THEY CAN REMAIN STABLE POST-SHELTER.

ALTHOUGH TECHNICALLY TWO SEPARATE PROGRAMS, THE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM AND SHELTER DIVERSION PROGRAM SERVE SIMILAR POPULATIONS THROUGH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES. ALL THE FAMILIES IN THESE TWO PROGRAMS ARE AT IMMEDIATE RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOUSING AND FACING HOMELESSNESS. THE STAFF AT FAMILY PROMISE NORTH SHORE BOSTON (FPNSB) WORKS WITH THESE FAMILIES TO IMMEDIATELY MITIGATE THE RISK OF HOMELESSNESS BY MEDIATING WITH LANDLORDS, PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, OR WORKING WITH THE FAMILIES TO SECURE ALTERNATIVE, SAFE HOUSING (I.E. WITH FRIENDS/FAMILY). EACH FAMILY HAS ACCESS TO AN FPNSB CASE MANAGER, AS WELL AS UP TO $2000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE CASE MANAGER ALSO WORKS TO ENSURE THE FAMILY IS SET UP WITH CONSISTENT CHILD CARE, AND SUCCESSFUL/STABLE EMPLOYMENT OR INCOME OF ANY SORT (AMONG OTHER THINGS). WHEN FAMILIES ARE SUCCESSFULLY HOUSED, FPNSB WILL WORK WITH THE FAMILIES TO ENSURE THEY HAVE FURNITURE AND BASIC NEEDS MET FOR THEIR HOUSING. CASE MANAGEMENT CONTINUES AFTER THE FAMILY IS STABILIZED FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR (DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION).

WHENEVER A FAMILY GRADUATES FROM THE EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM OR THE PREVENTION/DIVERSION PROGRAMS, FAMILY PROMISE NORTH SHORE BOSTON OFFERS "STABILIZATION SERVICES" FOR UP TO ONE YEAR POST GRADUATION. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP FAMILIES MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT, CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION, ETC. ANYTHING THAT MAY COME UP OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE THEIR HOUSING STABILITY. IN SOME CASES, WE MAY OFFER FAMILIES IN THIS PROGRAM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP WITH RENT, CAR PAYMENTS, OR UTILITIES. THE FIRST YEAR AFTER A FAMILY FINDS STABILITY CAN BE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT AND STRESSFUL, AS THEY OFTEN JUST EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT HOUSING TRAUMA. STABILIZATION SERVICES HELP TO ENSURE THAT THE FAMILY REMAINS IN HOUSING FOR YEARS TO COME.

ALL OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE GENERAL PROGRAM