FAMILY PROMISE OF BERGEN COUNTY

New leaf/new life transitional housing program: homelessness is a complex situation with many causes and underlying issues. After a thorough screening and assessment period in the bridge program, client families who show particular motivation and need additional time to address their personal, financial, and employment goals have the opportunity to live in one of the apartments that family promise rents and manages. Family case managers offer guidance and support to families as they assume these independent living situations. Families may remain in an apartment for up to two years as long as they are working toward their goals. Families in this program are able to avail themselves of all of the services family promise offers including:- job training and educational advancement in order to qualify for better paying jobs- childcare and transportation assistance removes common barriers to successful employment- financial education improves money management skills. With the help of professional financial coaches, families are given the tools they need to address their particular financial challenges.- participation in a mandatory savings plan to create an emergency fund to be able to face unexpected challenges once they leave the program- personal empowerment workshops help families increase their knowledge and gain confidence. When families become empowered, they begin operating from a standpoint of optimism and self-determination as they advance toward their goals. Interview and soft skills training, communication and assertiveness, positive parenting, and relaxation techniques are examples of topics that are explored.

The bridge program - since covid, working families experiencing homelessness are housed in local efficiency hotels in order to address their immediate needs of housing and safety. Families meet with a family case manager and explore the issues that contributed to them losing their homes and together, create a plan to address them. All families participate in financial education and other program to help them overcome obstacles to self-sufficiency. Families are in this program for one to three months, eventually moving into permanent housing, one of our transitional apartments or into other programs better suited for their needs.

Camp lots of fun - this two-week end of summer camp offers children experiencing homelessness a respite from the stress associated with not having a permanent place to live. Children 5 - 12 years old enjoy the fun and attention of paid staff and volunteer counselors from the organization's youth council for the homeless and other teens. Acknowledging that many teens have to work during the summer, the organization offers a stipend to attract counselors from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Advocacy - board members, staff and qualified volunteers address the community, congregations, clergy, businesses, members of community organizations and students to educate them about the prevalence and causes of homelessness and the challenges that homeless families face. The goal is to educate the public to assess policies and the impact they might have on working, poor families.