FAMILY PROMISE OF GREATER CLEVELAND

FAMILY PROMISE OF GREATER CLEVELAND ("FAMILY PROMISE", OR "WE", OR "OUR") PROVIDES TEMPORARY HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND CRITICAL COMMUNITY LINKAGES FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES OF ANY COMPOSITION. THE AGENCY EMBRACES A HOUSING FIRST APPROACH, MEANING THAT A PRIMARY GOAL FOR EVERY FAMILY SERVED IS TO SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING, AND THE MEANS TO SUSTAIN IT, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. FAMILY PROMISE IS A PARTICIPATING PROVIDER IN THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO HOMELESS FAMILIES. FAMILY PROMISE ACCEPTS REFERRALS THROUGH THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY COORDINATED INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT UNIT, AND PARTNERS WITH OTHER PROVIDERS IN THE CONTINUUM TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE HOUSING OUTCOME FOR EACH FAMILY. AT THE CORE OF THE AGENCY'S WORK IS THE BELIEF THAT FAMILIES NEED TO STAY TOGETHER DURING THE TRAUMA OF HOMELESSNESS AND THE TRANSITION TO PERMANENT HOUSING. ALSO CENTRAL TO ITS MISSION IS THE GOAL OF HELPING FAMILIES ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN ECONOMIC STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. TO THAT END, FAMILY PROMISE OFFERS FAMILIES A NUMBER OF "STABILITY SERVICES", INCLUDING ASSISTANCE IN SECURING BENEFITS, CHILDCARE, EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, LEGAL SERVICES, AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE. APPROXIMATELY 90% OF ALL HOMELESS FAMILIES ENTERING FAMILY PROMISE HAVE NO EMPLOYMENT AND LITTLE OR NO INCOME. WHILE PERMANENT HOUSING IS A PRIMARY GOAL, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES TO MAINTAIN HOUSING AND MOVE TO ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY WITHOUT GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT. THE AGENCY STRIVES TO EQUIP FAMILIES WITH THE TOOLS TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT, AND THEN SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR JOB SEARCH, PLACEMENT, AND RETENTION AFTER THEY LEAVE EITHER THE EMERGENCY SHELTER OR INTERIM HOUSING PROGRAM. FINALLY, TO ENCOURAGE LONG-TERM STABILITY, FAMILY PROMISE STRIVES TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND TO DEVELOP A NETWORK OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO CAN PROVIDE ON-GOING SUPPORT. FAMILY PROMISE EMPLOYS THE ABOVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE, FAMILY-CENTERED SERVICE MODEL. A KEY APPROACH OF FAMILY PROMISE IS TO TARGET SERVICES THAT ARE INDIVIDUALIZED TO EACH FAMILY SERVED. EVERY FAMILY HAS UNIQUE NEEDS, SO PROGRAMMING IS NOT "ONE SIZE FITS ALL." EACH FAMILY RECEIVES THE TYPE, AMOUNT AND DURATION OF SERVICES NEEDED TO HELP ACHIEVE LONG-TERM STABILITY. FAMILIES WITH GREATER CHALLENGES RECEIVE MORE INTENSIVE SERVICES, WHILE THOSE WITH FEWER BARRIERS TO HOUSING MAY BE ABLE TO REACH THEIR GOALS MORE QUICKLY. FAMILY PROMISE'S TEMPORARY HOUSING PROGRAM ALLOWS FAMILIES TO LIVE IN FAMILY PROMISE FACILITIES RENT-FREE, USUALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 13-16 WEEKS. DURING THIS TIME, THEY RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING SEARCHES, LIFE SKILLS AND JOB TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING. THEY ARE ALSO MADE AWARE OF AND CONNECTED TO BENEFITS AND OTHER SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY TO ASSIST THEM TO ATTAIN STABLE LIVING. WHILE ATTAINMENT OF PERMANENT HOUSING IS A PRIMARY GOAL, CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING RESUME WRITING, JOB SEARCHES, INTERVIEWING AND JOB RETENTION SKILLS PAVE THE WAY FOR HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS TO SEARCH FOR AND OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT. IN 2023, 84 FAMILIES, INCLUDING 173 CHILDREN WITH AN AVERAGE AGE OF FOUR WERE SERVED IN TEMPORARY HOUSING. 91% OF THESE FAMILIES EXITED SHELTER TO INDEPENDENT LIVING OR A LONG-TERM FAMILY LIVING SITUATION. FAMILY PROMISE'S COMMUNITY STABILIZATION CASE MANAGERS FOLLOWED FAMILIES FOR AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS AFTER THEIR EXIT FROM SHELTER TO CONTINUE TO ASSIST WITH STABILITY AND JOB SEARCH. 90% OF THESE FAMILIES WERE STILL HOUSED WHEN THEIR CASES WERE CLOSED, AND 68% HAD A SOUCE OF INCOME. THROUGHOUT 2022 FAMILY PROMISE FACED UNPRECEDENTED BARRIERS DUE TO COVID-19 BUT CONTINUED TO EVOLVE ITS SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM TO BEST MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES, AND TO ENGAGE THE HOUSING FIRST PHILOSOPHY. TO THAT END, THE AGENCY CONTINUED TO 1) DELIVER ITS TEMPORARY HOUSING PROGRAM BASED ON THE UNIQUE HOUSING AND STABILITY PLANS FOR EACH FAMILY; 2) CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT OF OVER 30 CONGREGATIONS TO ENSURE THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION OF SERVING HOMELESS FAMILIES; 3) INCREASED FOCUS ON SERVICES TO YOUNG (AGES 18-25) HOMELESS PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY THOSE AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AS THIS POPULATION HAS SPECIAL NEEDS AND FEWER RESOURCES; 4) CONTINUED TRAINING OF DIRECT SERVICE STAFF IN EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, SUCH AS SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT, CRITICAL TIME INTERVENTION, PROGRESSIVE ENGAGEMENT, AND TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM (TIP) TO PROVIDE THE MOST CURRENT AND EFFECTIVE SERVICES TO FAMILIES; AND 5) CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY'S COORDINATED INTAKE SYSTEM TO ACCEPT FAMILIES AND TO ENGAGE IN RAPID RE-HOUSING PRACTICES; AND INCREASED PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY PROVIDERS THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES TO HOMELESS FAMILIES.