by Whitney Hicks, Development and Communications Associate
Â
While some individuals and families experience homelessness time after time, the recent economic downturn has exacerbated the number of families who experience homelessness because of a loss of wages or a temporary disability. For these families, short term assistance can help steer them back into independence.
Â
Ms. Pearson had three strokes in 2007 that prevented her from working a full time job. Without a steady income, she and her son were evicted from their home and had to move in with her sister. The Pearsons had no privacy; they were sleeping on the floor in the living room and sharing the apartment with six animals in addition to her sister’s family.
Â
Because of a 2007 tax problem, the government had started to garnish Mr. Williams’* wages. He couldn’t afford to pay his rent and support his three children and fiancé on his reduced salary. The Williams family ended up at DC General, the large homeless shelter for families in DC.
Â
Community of Hope launched its Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) in December 2009. This program provides short-term rental and utility assistance and case management to those individuals and families who are at imminent risk of being homeless or are already homeless and need assistance to obtain housing just like Ms. Pearson and Mr. Williams. In 2010 COH’s HPRP program prevented homelessness for 56 families and individuals and re-housed 52 families. All of these families remain stably housed to this day.
Â
Both Ms. Pearson and Mr. Williams received subsidizes and case management for close to one year, helping them pay their rent while they get back on their feet. Making dinner, job hunting, getting your children to school – all of these can be extremely difficult for families without a place to call home. The HPRP program helps families achieve stability so that they can focus on their long term goals. Thanks to the HPRP program, Ms. Pearson, Mr. Williams, and their families are once again well on their way to self sufficiency.
Â
*Name and identifying information have been changed to protect the client’s privacy.
