Prevention & Diversion
Preventing families from becoming homeless in the first place with Shelter Diversion, Landlord Mediation, Rental Assistance and Transportation programs.
With more than 40% of Americans a $400 expense away from financial distress, the threat of crisis looms closely for too many families. Preventing families from spiraling into homelessness is an essential part of the Family Promise mission.
PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS
We provide a variety of strategies to ensure the people we serve do not fall into the cycle of housing instability that can devastate families and alter the course of children’s lives. These include administering  formal diversion programs, providing rental assistance and landlord mediation, and community-based approaches that keep families housed.
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Prevention
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When families experience housing insecurity, referrals to community resources can connect families to needed services to avoid evictions and homelessness.
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Diversion
Diversion is helping families at the shelter door find or maintain other non-shelter accommodations until permanent housing can be secured quickly. Families already experiencing homelessness, most often doubled-up in the home of family or friends or living in a motel, can often be diverted from shelter to avoid trauma and yet another move or relocation. If the family can negotiate (with help) to stay where they are for up to 30 days, our goal is to help them secure permanent housing, or a path to it, without any need to bring their children into a shelter stay.
Diversion services include
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Case management to provide support and resources;
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Mediation services with family, friends and/or the landlord to extend permission to stay for up to 30 days;
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Expediting of applications for public assistance like SNAP (i.e., food stamps), Childcare vouchers, Medicaid etc.;
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Agency referrals and transportation to secure other services, including health evaluation and treatment (physical/mental), job search, housing search, etc.;
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Advocacy with landlords to fight through barriers to housing; and
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Financial assistance to secure permanent housing when needed, including but not limited to first month's rent, security deposit, and/or utility deposits.
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At thirty days, a family should either have a permanent housing plan in place and not need shelter, or they are reserved for the next open space in Family Promise of Butler County shelter. If permanent housing is secured, families are then engaged in our Family Promise After Care program immediately for up to one year to help retain or improve that housing.
Diversion helps families with children avoid the trauma of a shelter stay, while saving shelter capacity for those most in need.
For more information or determine eligibility, call 513-444-2033 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or email info@familypromisebutlercounty.com
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