Prevention
Preventing families from becoming homeless in the first place with Shelter Diversion by utilizing community resources.
With more than 40% of Americans a $400 expense away from financial distress, the threat of crisis looms close for too many families. Preventing families from spiraling into homelessness is an essential part of the Family Promise mission.
PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS
If a family living paycheck to paycheck suffers a major illness, car accident, or job loss, it can immediately destabilize their housing and security. Without one-time financial help, they will be unable to pay their rent, ultimately resulting in eviction and the forced loss of their home. The cost of a single intervention to keep a family in their home is significantly less than the cost of rehousing them. In addition to the financial cost, the destabilization caused by losing a home can be traumatic for both children and adults. Losing their home can negatively impact children's educational outcomes and mental health.
Once a family becomes homeless, rehousing them becomes more difficult. If a family receives an eviction for not paying their rent, it will be on their record, making future landlords less likely to rent to them. They may end up owing large sums of money for legal and lease-breaking fees. Not having a home can also make maintaining a stable job and income much more difficult. By stepping in and preventing the loss of a home, we can keep families safe and ensure that children continue to wake up in their own beds.