Elijah Family Homes

The Transition to Success (TTS) program, case management in conjunction with housing, is the only local program that helps people past the early stages of recovery to continue to rise into true self-sufficiency. Our families are set on a path of improvement, so they can gain additional skills that will help them in the workplace and at home. Elijah Family Homes (EFH) calculates the tenants rent based on HUD guidelines (30% of income). This discount on rent provides the opportunity for the clients to address their debt and the potential of saving. They want to become financially sound, provide a safe and healthy environment for their families in order to break the cycle of abject generation poverty.
We endeavor to tackle these objectives in three ways. The first element is outreach and case management in which participants create new narratives to their personal histories. They have individualized support that includes goal setting through home visits and compliance monitoring. The visits are designed to keep the clients focused on personal growth steps, so they are better equipped to handle systematic barriers as they work to enhance their skills and abilities that lead to a sound financial future. The second component is recovery meeting documentation and the random drug tests that serve to hold tenants accountable. This helps them become a more desirable candidate for jobs and housing. The third aspect to the TTS program is a network of support and education provided during EFH community meetings, classes, workshops and family activities. The clients address parenting, budgeting, home maintenance, gardening and nutrition with experts in the fields and other EFH families. During these meetings the children’s groups are held, where the effects of the time of their parent’s active addition and the trauma of unstable housing is explored. Clients also have access to a mentor program. Staff discusses ways to assist each of the participating families on a weekly basis. Additionally, a committee will convene when compliance situations arise to determine how best to proceed.
The program initially served the tenants of the housing program; however, the agency saw a need and the services expanded to those waiting for opportunities in the housing program. EFH now offers the TTS program to tenants, and accepted applicants waiting for housing. Beyond the applicants, there is a waiting list for families that want to become involved with TTS, but we must limit the participation in order to maintain our high level of quality interactions.