Hamilton Families

HAMILTON FAMILIES' MISSION IS TO END FAMILY HOMELESSESS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.

RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAMS: THE HOUSING SERVICES PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED TO MOVE FAMILIES INTO PERMANENT AND INDEPENDENT HOUSING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, AND TO ASSIST AT-RISK FAMILIES TO AVOID EVICTION. HOUSING SERVICES IS COMPRISED OF TWO INTERRELATED PROGRAMS HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND HEADING HOME. THE CORE ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: THE ALLOCATION OF MORE RESOURCES TOWARD THE GOAL OF PREVENTING FAMILIES FROM ENTERING SHELTER OR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING: ENHANCED HOME-BASED SUPPORT SERVICES; TEMPORARY RENTAL SUBSIDIES; AND RAPIDLY RE-HOUSING FAMILIES WHO ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY-BASED SHELTER PROGRAMS. HAMILTON WORKS WITH FAMILIES TO CLEAR EVICTION AND CREDIT PROBLEMS, FOLLOW A SAVINGS PLAN, SECURE RENTAL UNITS, AND ACCESS MOVE-IN GRANTS. FAMILIES CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR A FULL YEAR AFTER THEY ARE PLACED IN PERMANENT HOUSING. HOUSING SPECIALISTS MEET WITH THE FAMILIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY BY HOME VISITS, PROVIDING PERSONAL DIRECTION/ADVOCACY, AND IN HELPING FAMILIES ACCESS LOCAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS COUNSELING, CHILDCARE, HEALTH CARE, MENTAL OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESOURCES, PARENTING CLASSES, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT GROUPS.HOUSING SOLUTIONS PROVIDES RAPID RE-HOUSING SERVICES, WITH AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME IN THE PROGRAM OF 12 MONTHS. AFTER A YEAR, FAMILIES ARE ELIGIBLE TO GRADUATE FROM THE PROGRAM. FAMILIES MAY APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE RENTAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.HEADING HOME IS AN EXPANSION OF THE HOUSING SOLUTIONS PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS BASED ON A MODEL THAT HELPS FAMILIES MOVE INTO HOUSING AND FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE RATE OF SUCCESS OF LONG-TERM STABILITY FOR FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN THE SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ONLY. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES INNOVATION AND PILOTING OF NEW METHODOLOGIES TO ENHANCE FAMILIES' STABILITY. HEADING HOME PROVIDES RAPID REHOUSING SERVICES FOR UP TO 20 MONTHS. A TOTAL OF 882 HOUSEHOLDS AND 1,534 CHILDREN WERE SERVED BY HAMILTON FAMILIES PROGRAMS. HAMILTON FAMILIES ALSO PROVIDED SHELTER/TEMPORARY HOUSING TO 127 FAMILIES AND 264 CHILDREN.

FAMILY RESIDENCE - SHELTER: HAMILTON FAMILIES OPERATES THE LARGEST FAMILY SHELTER PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN SAN FRANCISCO, OFFERING A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP, THREE MEALS A DAY AND CRITICAL SOCIAL SERVICES TO 50 FAMILIES A NIGHT FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS. FAMILIES AT THE SHELTER RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES SUCH AS CASE MANAGEMENT, HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES, BUDGETING, HOUSING SEARCH ASSISTANCE, JOB TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED REFERRALS.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING: THIS PROGRAM OFFERS 20 FAMILIES TEMPORARY HOUSING IN THEIR OWN APARTMENTS AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS. THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM GIVES FAMILIES TIME TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THE CAUSES OF THEIR HOMELESSNESS. FAMILIES ARE PROVIDED ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, ADVOCACY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED REFERRALS. FAMILIES RECEIVE WEEKLY CASE MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE BUDGETING, PARENTING SKILLS, AND OTHER LIFE SKILLS WHILE PREPARING FOR ECONOMIC AND HOUSING STABILITY. IN NOVEMBER 2015, HAMILTON OPENED A SECOND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM IN SAN FRANCISCO, TO HOUSE UP TO SEVEN FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH AN OPEN CHILD WELFARE CASE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES.