Empowering families to rebuild lives. by Rick Mundy
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he scenario is repeated all too frequently. A singleparent family is desperate. No home, no job, heavily in debt, credit shot, no money for food or rent. The children need care. There is likely a history of domestic violence. In fact, 60% have become homeless due to domestic violence. The parent is highly discouraged and feels trapped and hopeless. Homestretch in Falls Church can make a difference. Their mission is “to empower homeless families with children under 18 in Northern Virginia to attain permanent housing and self-sufficiency by giving them the skills, knowledge, and hope they need to become productive participants in the community.” Homestretch was founded in 1990 by Nancy Taxson and Kieran Sharpe to address locally the national homelessness problem by getting homeless families in safe homes where they could find more help. According to Christopher Fay, executive director at Homestretch, the intent is to “remove the barriers in their past and remove 'I can’t' from their vocabulary.” The challenge is due to the compound nature of the problems. The client can be willing and eager to work but their credit history or childcare needs may get in the way. Client Services Candidates are accepted to the program for a two-year period. A multitude of services are provided that address the stumbling blocks that can prevent a family from achieving success: Once accepted the family is placed in a fully-furnished apartment and provided an initial food stock. Thirty percent of their income will go toward the rent. Case Management - The family begins by collaborating with a case manager to establish goals and develop plans addressing the barriers to self-sufficiency. Case managers advocate for the clients and assist with access to needed services. Employment Center - The job counselor helps clients to find employment, improve their earnings, and improve their skills through workshops and outside courses. On-site daycare is offered during the workshops.
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Credit Counseling and Debt Reduction - The credit counselor offers budgeting assistance to the family and works with creditors arranging payment plans, the client pays an additional 10% of their gross income to reduce debts. Once the debts are paid off, the 10% continues to go into a savings account. Money Management and Financial Literacy - Seminars are offered to help clients learn how to prosper, including understanding credit, budgeting, and even preparing for a home purchase. ESOL Classes - Sometimes English proficiency can dramatically help with job opportunity. Classes in English are offered all year long with on-site daycare provided. GED Tutoring - If a client does not have a high school diploma, they are expected to get one while they are a client. Tutors provide one-to-one assistance to enable the client to pass the GED test. Other services include computer literacy and life skills training, domestic violence education and support, free psychotherapy and substance abuse counseling, transportation assistance, children’s programs, on-site daycare, micro-loans, legal advice, and health and wellness seminars and services. In short, Homestretch anticipates every possible concern and seeks solutions to make its clients successful. And they are Successful Homestretch accommodates up to 120 families, including up to 300 children per year. Approximately 90% are single moms and 10% are single dads. Of the 1,000 client families who have participated in the program, 85% achieve longterm self-sufficiency. Ten percent of these even become homeowners. A Shining Example One such success story is recent graduate, Claudia Flamenco. Her background is similar to many others and she was accepted at Homestretch. Her most pressing concern was to make sure her daughter was safe and had proper care. Using the array of services that Homestretch offers to struggling families she set a course to create a
VivaTysons | JULY-AUGUST 2012 vivatysons.com