The Family Outreach Program has two components:
Component 1 -- Comprehensive Case Management and Transitional Housing
Comprehensive case management helps homeless families reintegrate into the community with emphasis on increasing and developing skills and income to prevent families from recycling back into homelessness. The case manager works closely with each family to develop an individualized case plan with outlined goals and objectives which addresses the specific needs of the family.
Transitional housing is utilized to reintegrate homeless families into the community and out of shelters. Transitional housing provides families in the program with safe and stable housing while they work to rebuild their lives. Families can remain in the program for two years.
Goals for families participating in the program vary but always include the following: residential stability (obtain permanent housing of their own after completing the program) and increased self-sufficiency (getting jobs, getting better paying jobs, increasing their skills by getting GED, enhancing their skills by participating in education opportunities such as college, vo-tech, etc.).
Component 2 – Homeless Prevention Services
There are many families in Oklahoma City at any given point in time in danger of being evicted from their home or having their utilities cut off. Emergency assistance provided to these families, on the edge of homelessness, is very cost effective. A family that can remain in their home can avoid significant relocation charges in utility hookup fees and deposits, and will require fewer social services compared to a homeless family needing an array of social services.
Homeless prevention is an important strategy in reducing the size of the homeless population in our community. Homeless prevention offers a short term financial bridge, in the form of emergency assistance, and linkage to community resources, which will enable families to access resources they need to stabilize their lives and strengthen their futures. Specific financial assistance includes help with rent and utilities.
The Family Outreach Program is funded by a special event, annual campaign, and grants from the City of Oklahoma City, the Kirkpatrick Family Fund, and the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency.
Travelers Aid and Homeless Assistance Center's mission is to elevate the needy, homeless and stranded travelers to a position of self-sufficiency.
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