Interfaith Family Services

FINANCIAL COACHINGInterfaith clients are required to complete on average 15 financial coaching sessions. Our financial coaching program is supported by two groups: our paid success coaches (case managers) and our volunteer financial coaches. Our full-time success coaches conduct the first four financial coaching sessions. First, they pull and review credit reports. Second, they help the client develop a reasonable budget. Third, savings and debt-reduction plans are established. Lastly, a post-Interfaith budget is created after graduation. Thereafter, clients are transitioned to a weekly, one-hour financial coaching session with volunteer financial coaches for the remainder of the program. Our clients experienced outstanding results last year, with 98% of Interfaith families graduating with employment at an average wage of $18.49 per hour. A full 84% of families saved an average of $830.11, 95% of families exited with permanent housing, 73% completed 15 required coaching sessions, and 72% reduced financial debt. The success is expected to last as 91% of families completing the program in 2022 remained employed one year later and 54% continued to save one year later. As a result, we save Dallas taxpayers approximately $5 million each year.We served 180 families (including 272 youth clients) through our transitional housing program and non-residential program. 98% of these families entered the program living at or below the federal poverty line.

YOUTH SERVICES:Program for School-Aged Children: Interfaith has a 37-year history of helping homeless children defy the odds through its Hope & Horizons Afterschool and Summer Program. Individual contributions and grants from foundations, churches and nonprofits underwrite our afterschool and summer program for school-aged children. During the school year, Hope & Horizons takes place Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 6:30 pm. During the summer, Hope & Horizons takes place from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Last year, an outstanding 85% of children in the Hope & Horizons Program exited with one or more grade level improvement in reading, and 81% improved one or more grade levels in math. The success is expected to endure as nearly 85% of 2023 students remained on the A or B honor roll one year later. Additionally, 85% exited the program with increased confidence and aspirations.