family mentoring to prevent homelessness, we train volunteers to help at-risk families achieve goals...
TRANSCRIPT
Family MentoringTo prevent homelessness, we train volunteers to help at-risk families achieve goals and maintain self-sufficiency.
Just Neighbors: An Interactive Poverty Awareness ProgramOur interactive educational program raises awareness of poverty and homelessness as the first step in establishing community-based responses
Community InitiativesWe foster local IHN outgrowth programs, such as transitional housing, housing renovation, job training, health care services, childcare and literacy.
Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN)Our networks of congregations and volunteers meet homeless families' immediate needs for shelter, meals, and comprehensive support services.
Voices UnitingVolunteers work together to promote policies that alleviate poverty and improve the well-being of low-income families.
Family Promise
•Serves homeless families with children•Partners with Communities of Faith•Strengths Based Case Management•Family Promise Mentoring Program•Just Neighbors Program
Interfaith Hospitality Network
•The goal of the mentors is to build committed relationships with families and individuals, to help them define and meet goals in order to achieve and maintain self-reliance and independence.
Family Mentoring Program Goal:
Program Topics:
•Comprehensive Training Materials•Study of Poverty•Communication Skills•Values Exploration•Diversity Training•Life Skills•Goal Setting/Action Planning/Problem Solving•Financial Planning/Budgeting•Resources
Relationships - Life Skills - Resources
Additional Resources
•Just Neighbors – An Interactive Poverty Awareness Program•Videos•Poverty Simulations•Large and Small Group Discussion Topics•Role-Playing Activities
Relationships - Life Skills - Resources
•There are currently 35 IHN affiliates with Mentoring Programs
•Agencies reported that they remained connected to 100% of mentored families versus a range of 20% - 65% of those not mentored.
•Agencies saw significant increases in families sustaining their housing for more than one year when mentored
Statistics
Mentoring Statistics
•Faith Community•IHN or other shelter programs•Fatherhood Initiative Mentoring Program (“Be a Man!”)•Faith Community Service Fund•Building Healthy Marriages
•Agency Partnerships•Champions Program •Collaborative program among multiple agencies partnering Case Management and Mentoring
•Family Treatment Court Mentoring•Bridges Out of Poverty•Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World
Community Partnerships
•“Bridges Out of Poverty” by Ruby K. Payne•“Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World” by Phil DeVolwww.ahaprocess.com
•Circles Campaignwww.movethemountain.org
The Next Step – Ending Poverty
Second Chance Apartment Project
• 2 year transitional housing• Partner with YWCA and local sponsors• Sponsors pay rent for 2 years• Families pay 30% of their income as “rent”• Their “rent” actually is used to repair credit (pay
past bills, landlords, etc.)• Mentoring component as well• Obviously, a HUGE commitment, so how do we
recruit congregations to participate?
1. Faith in Action
• Speak their language• They preach and talk about feeding the
hungry, housing the homeless, etc.• They’ll want to participate because you’re
offering them an opportunity to act upon the teachings of their faith
2. Make it easy and accessible
• Tasks should be concrete, manageable and structured
• Have reasonable expectations • Offer a variety of ways for the members to be
involved • Have the answers to their questions• Don’t ask volunteers/congregations to handle
discipline, crisis management, etc. • Don’t ask clergy to take the lead
3. Find a Champion
• Find lay leadership to help navigate the congregation
• Or a member who can help open the doors to them
• Expect slow timelines• Follow the lead of your champion
4. Address the fear factor
• Let people acknowledge what they fear• Bring examples of success• Clarify safety procedures and other protective
mechanisms
5. Definition of success
• Be clear of what “success” means so you can avoid setting them up for disappointment
• Their efforts won’t end poverty, end homelessness, etc.
6. Relationships and Trust
• Like all recruitments and partnerships, this is all about building relationships and trust
• Don’t beg, thank them, etc.
7. Why your program?
• Be convincing and respectful of the congregations’ right to choose
• They have many things on their plate• Explain why they should choose your project
over others when resources are limited
Housing and Hope
• Permanent housing• Affordable and supported• On-site case management• $4.25 million capital campaign– Buy and rehab buildings– Forever Fund