Bethany House Services Inc

Bethany House offers two types of Housing Stabilization programs. Housing Stabilization includes a combination of Rehousing upon exiting shelter and Prevention to help maintain housing and avoid homelessness.Rehousing programs are funded by the local HUD Unified Funding Agency and includes:Rapid Rehousing - This programs provides case management to assist families in identifying appropriate affordable housing as quickly as possible to minimize the trauma of the homelessness experience. Housing social workers guide the parent through a process of recognizing and overcoming their barriers to obtaining housing, connect them to mainstream benefits, identify ways to increase income, provide referrals to community mental health and other service providers, and stabilize the family in housing. The program includes short-to-medium term financial assistance to utility assistance payments and rental deposits. Children in high-risk families are followed by housing case managers to ensure they are enrolled and attending school. Permanent supportive housing - programs are available to homeless families when at least one member has a permanent disability or serious, persistent condition. Permanent supportive housing is a combination of housing and services intended as a cost-effective way to help all people live more stable, productive lives. Case management services are more intensive in this program to meet the greater needs of the families and although rapid rehousing program assistance is time-limited, permanent supportive case management and financial assistance services are not. In 2024, BHS served 259 families, 943 individuals, and 621 of them children across all rehousing programs.Prevention programming is funded through federal, state, local, and private funding and includes:Shelter Diversion identifies immediate permanent housing and provides case management and rental assistance for families at imminent risk of homelessness. Shelter Diversion is more cost-effective than entering an Emergency Shelter, plus the family avoids the trauma of homelessness. In 2024, BHS served 89 families, 240 individuals, and 143 of them children. KEYS is a different shelter diversion program for youth age 18-24. BHS works with parenting youth as our specialty in the national youth homelessness project, working with individuals in the age range who are often doubled up and at risk of becoming fully homelessness if not for our intervention toward housing stabilization and increased income. In 2024, BHS served 20 families, 48 individuals, and 27 of them children.Aftercare provides a safety net for families who have left shelter but experience an emergency situation that threatens their housing stability. No matter how long it has been since the family experienced homelessness, Aftercare provides landlord mediation, emergency financial assistance, connections to relevant community agencies - whatever it takes for the family to keep their home and prevent another episode of homelessness. In 2024, BHS served 89 families, 359 individuals, 252 of them children.In 2024 BHS Housing Stabilization programs combined served, 457 families. These families included 1,582 individuals, 1,030 of whom were children.

Bethany House Family Services Department programs address the multi-generational aspect of family homelessness by providing parents with the life skills for positive parenting and by teaching children to make healthy choices.The Positive Parenting, Family Nights, Nutrition, Health, and Safety programs are some of the activities facilitated by the Family Services department or community partners, and are designed to promote stronger relationships in addition to the core content. Bethany House staff emphasize the importance of education and regular school attendance, which is vital if the multi-generational cycle of poverty and homelessness is to be broken. In 2024, 164 therapeutic groups held in Kidz Zone; 216 children were identified as special needs and 55 were diagnosed dual diagnosis; 807 referrals including 4C for Children, JFS for Childcare, Safe Keep/Pack & Play, CAA Headstart Homes based program, Cradle Cincinnati, Every Child Succeeds/Help Grow, Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank, and Kaleidoscope-Co Stars to mention a few; and 23 outing with 331 combined parent and child participants.In combination with one-on-one case management support, Life Skills group programs provide a foundation for prevention of future episodes of homelessness. These educational sessions are taught by experts from the community and BHS staff. Speakers address topics such as financial literacy, budgeting, parenting, developing healthy relationships, healthy choices, nutrition, yoga and tenants' rights. Job-related skills such as resume writing and interviewing are also taught. In 2024, 839 life skills groups were held.Through the nutrition program, families are provided three meals and two snacks per day.

Bethany Homes is a 24-unit apartment building for economically challenged individuals and families, most of whom are supported by a single female working provider. Every family who comes into the shelter needs permanent, safe, affordable housing. Since 2000, Bethany House Services has been the lead agency for funding of case management services for the homeless families in Cincinnati. The level of collaboration among the three agencies within the Family Housing Partnership (FHP) is unique in Cincinnati's social services arena, and today the partnership is stronger than ever. In 2024, the FHP Agencies, Bethany House Services, Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cincinnati, and YWCA Greater Cincinnati, made great strides in the implementation of Solutions for Family Homelessness (S4FH), the community-wide plan to make family homelessness rare, brief and a one-time event. In addition, all employees participate in an evidence-based Trauma Informed Care training.