Foundation for the Homeless (FFH) is a nonprofit organization that works with low-income children and adults who are experiencing or at risk for homelessness. FFH provides a range of prevention, emergency basic needs services and case management to prevent, end or reduce the suffering of homelessness.
During 2013, Foundation for the Homeless provided services that prevented, ended or reduced the suffering of homelessness for over 900 women, men, and children through two service centers and collaborations with more than 70 congregations and community organizations. Since 1993, FFH has operated one of the most effective family shelter programs in Central Texas, known as Family Promise-Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN). IHN has helped more than 730 families exit homelessness into safe, stable housing (transitional and permanent). Since 2009, we have also assisted people within 400+ households in keeping their housing through several homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing projects.
Volunteers: FFH engages volunteers from congregations, businesses and community groups work to guide people home--one family or one adult at a time. Each year, 3000+ volunteers provide service through FFH. Our volunteers provide caring presence and gain immense satisfaction. Volunteers are continually needed, and family members are encouraged to volunteer together.
Impact: Every person who exits or avoids homelessness saves our community an estimated $44,000* annually. By partnering homeless children and adults with our professional social services staff, faith and community groups, FFH provided more than $2M in donated goods, facilities and services to the Austin community and provided more than $200,000 in direct financial assistance to prevent or end homelessness. Through careful management of resources, FFH’s staff and volunteers leverage relationships to return $3 to $4 to the community for every dollar received by FFH.
MAIN PROGRAMS
DAY RESOURCE CENTER
Since 1997 our Day Resource Center has provided an intake center for all programs and a home-like space where IHN families can meet with program staff and use facilities, Monday-Friday and Sunday.
NEW HOPE PROJECT provides a part-time service center and temporary housing for up to 3 families. 51 households, including 61 adults and 93 children, accessed prevention or rapid re-housing benefits and 22 households received utility assistance.
HOUSING & ECONOMIC STABILITY SERVICES
Our case managers worked with low-income tenants and landlords to provide one-time and case-managed rent, mortgage, and utility assistance that prevented eviction and stabilized housing or rapidly re-housed 383 individuals, including 227 children within 107 families, and 15 single adult households. Over the last 12 months, we provided $153,125.01 in financial assistance.
SHELTER
FFH provided safe refuge, meals, transportation and supplementary services to 29 families/102 children and adults through two Family Promise- Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) shelter networks (est. 1993) of 26 host congregations and 30+ supporting congregations and community groups.
PASSAGES SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
Our case managers provided access to child care vouchers, job search, readiness and training, taught life skills classes, and access to transitional and permanent housing for 40 homeless families/135 individuals while in IHN and for up to 18 months after leaving shelter.
OTHER BASIC NEEDS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
Our case managers helped more than 100 persons with utility assistance through Austin Energy’s Plus 1 program and limited one-time rent assistance for Travis and Williamson Counties through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).
FEED MY PEOPLE
Our original program (est. 1987) provides a warm breakfast, hygiene services, eye care referrals, help with identification documents and caring presence for 250-400 single homeless adults each Tuesday and Thursday at First United Methodist Church in downtown Austin. Worship and Alcoholics Anonymous groups are offered after the breakfast.
*Source: 2013 Affordable Housing Campaign
For More Information: www.foundationhomeless.org
