New Crisis Program Catches Families Before They Fall
Lilly was one of the lucky ones. Turned away from state shelters, she and her 10-year-old son Jacob accessed our new private crisis program for temporary housing and support to quickly reset and get their lives back.
Pre-pandemic, Lilly was working two jobs, paying rent on an apartment, and doing all right financially. In March, she lost one job and had hours reduced at the other. With her landlord threatening to evict her, Lilly sought out a temporary shelter stay until she could increase her work hours.
However, like 44% of families who apply, Lilly’s to-date income was too high to obtain beds at a state-funded Emergency Shelter. With the hopeless choice of either living in her car or living illegally with her aunt and another family in a one-bedroom apartment, Lilly chose the latter. The apartment was overcrowded and chaotic, with the living room serving as both their bedroom and Jacob’s virtual classroom.
When the stress of their living environment became unbearable and began impacting Jacob’s learning, Lilly reached out Jacob’s Boston Public Schools teacher, who in turn introduced her to FamilyAid Boston via our Boston Public Schools partnership.
FAB immediately placed Lilly and Jacob in our newly opened crisis program–shelter and services– where Lilly quickly began working with FAB case managers, hopeful for a change.
“Families in our crisis program simply need temporary shelter and some assistance to find permanent housing,” says FAB Crisis Shelter Coordinator Salihah Hanson. “Unlike traditional shelter programs where families often stay for 18 months or more, the average stay in our crisis shelter is 40 days, as families just need time to save some additional money, find another job or locate a place to live permanently. “
Funded for the next few years through a one-time $5 million dollar Jeff Bezos’ Day 1 Families Fund gift, the state-of-the-art crisis program and shelter focuses on two-generation, whole family success. Dedicated case managers work with families as they begin their temporary shelter stay, laying out plans to quickly move them from a housing crisis to a home while addressing children’s developmental needs.
“From our first introduction to a family, we focus on both their needs and their strengths,” says Hanson. “By providing our clients with dignity, respect, expertise, and resourcefulness, they remain highly motivated to get back up on their feet as quickly as possible.”
Hanson shared that support of families’ overall health is central to the new program. “When clients arrive, their temporary unit is clean, organized, and comfortable. Having to make so many decisions on top of worrying about basic needs such as food and shelter can be debilitating, so we make sure our families have laundry detergent, personal care products, a full fridge, dishes and utensils, and cleaning products, all distributed by our facilities team. We are setting families up for success, and success is what we have seen.”
“Typically, when I show a family their unit, their eyes light up. Parents are relieved to see a comfortable, supportive environment, where kids have the space to learn and time to play and be kids,” Hanson continued. “Families can relax more. Parents, no longer in fight or flight mode, can focus with us on the challenging process of finding permanent housing.”
Four out of the eight families that have entered the program since its October opening are permanently housed, and the other four will be placed by the end of the year.
“The fact that I got accepted there so quickly was the biggest help, especially with everything going on with COVID-19. It really helped give me some peace of mind.” says Lilly. She and Jacob have now been living in permanent housing for over a month, with the fourth grader once again excelling in school.
With more than 10 children and parents being turned away from high-bar Boston shelters each day, FAB’s new crisis program is proving to be an effective way to quickly stabilize and re-house families.
