If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, then Family Promise’s A Future Begins at Home program, funded in part by Innovation Grants made possible by generous donors, is a heavyweight in the arena of homelessness prevention and shelter diversion. The program helps families in crisis avoid the trauma of homelessness through comprehensive supports that enable them to remain housed and work toward independence.
In Florida, a grandmother was caring for extended family when she learned her job was being eliminated. She and her grandchildren faced any family’s worst nightmare – homelessness. In Indiana, a mom wanted to remove her children from an unsafe home situation, but their only alternative was to live in their car. Another Indiana family needed temporary rental assistance and food to avoid homelessness.
In Sedro-Woolley, WA, Family Promise of Skagit Valley is using Innovation Grant funding from A Future Begins at Home to develop a program that trains volunteers to be long-term mentors who walk side-by-side with families on their journey to regain stability.
A Future Begins at Home addresses families’ needs, big or small, to keep them stably housed and assists Affiliates with program development. Innovation Grants were awarded to 20 Affiliates in 2020. In addition, manufactured home builder Clayton donated five homes to Affiliates for use as permanent or transitional housing. More grants and homes will be distributed this year to help Affiliates expand prevention programs.
Last year, more than 400 families in crisis (including 900 children) remained in their homes. The security of home is the best place to begin building a future, and for families facing homelessness, A Future Begins at Home makes that possible.