Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches

Senator Philip D. Lewis Homeless Resource Center (HRC)The Organization is a partner agency of Palm Beach County's Homeless Resource Center (HRC), which opened in 2012. The HRC serves as Palm Beach County's "front door" for access to homeless services. The Organization operates the family division and provides homeless families with assessments, case management, access to mainstream resources, vital shelter and housing services, and permanent housing. The HRC family division receives funding from multiple sources, including Palm Beach County, HUD, private foundations, and partnering agencies. Over 4,500, calls were received by the HRC family division resulting in 2,015 individuals, of whom, 734 were adults and 1,281 were children, receiving services during the fiscal year. 86% of families who were housed by the HRC maintained stable housing after one year as evidenced by not re-entering the homeless system.

Housing Stabilization ProgramThe Housing Stabilization Program provides homeless prevention services to families who are at imminent risk of eviction and homelessness. Families receive case management, financial assistance, and other supportive services to help them remain in their home. This program prevented 178 Palm Beach County families from becoming homeless and allowed them to remain stably housed during the fiscal year. In addition, 85% of the families served in the prior fiscal year remained stably housed after agency assistance.

Day 1 Families FundThe Day 1 Families Fund provides a new significant investment in the agency's efforts to end family homelessness in Palm Beach County. This program significantly increases the Organization's capacity of three core interventions - diversion, emergency shelter, and rapid re-housing - through direct client assistance dollars, expanded staff, and strengthened infrastructure. A total of 440 families were served through the Day 1 Diversion program's unique case management style where solutions to ending homelessness quickly and without need for shelter or housing services are explored. 40 families were provided emergency shelter in which 72% exited to a permanent housing solution. 13 families were housed through the rapid re-housing program and long-term stability outcomes will be reported next fiscal year.

Project GrowProject Grow is the agency's licensed afterschool/out-of-school program serving children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Most children attending are formerly homeless and reside in one of the agency's housing programs. The program is customized to meet the unique needs of formerly homeless children and focuses on building the children's social, emotional, and educational skills. 90% of the children attending Project Grow were promoted to the next grade level during the school year ended during June 2023.

Service Enriched Housing (S.E.H.)The Service Enriched Housing program offers affordable housing to low-income families who are on the path to homeownership. The program consists of 30 two-bedroom apartment units located adjacent to the Organization's Family Resource Center. Rent is based on 30% of the family's gross income. The Organization captures the first $600 as the base rent with all additional funds placed in escrow and used for credit repair, home ownership activities, and general wealth building. Collectively participant families saved $55,777 during the fiscal year.

Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2)The Organization, in partnership with the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), was one of 56 awardees in 2010 to receive funding through HUD's NSP2 competition. The goal of the program was to stabilize neighborhoods through the acquisition and rehabilitation of foreclosed properties. The Organization rehabilitated and constructed a total of 41 housing units in the City of Lake Worth as a result of this opportunity. A total of 17 units were sold by the Organization to income-qualified households between 2010 and 2014. Twenty-four units were retained by the Organization and are currently being used as affordable, defined as below fair market rent rates, rental properties for low-income families. In accordance with HUD's national grant guidelines, the units are deed restricted, protecting their affordability for 20 years from the date of completion of construction. The program maintained a 94% occupancy rate during the fiscal year and served 84 residents.

Community Land Trust Program/Wiley Reynolds ApartmentsThe Organization's Community Land Trust Program combined with the Organization's Wiley Reynolds Apartments provides affordable homeownership and rental opportunities to income qualified households. For one homeownership unit, a land lease model is used in which the Organization retains ownership of the land while the purchaser owns the improvements. Rental opportunities primarily consist of the nine-unit Wiley Reynolds Gardens apartments. The units offer low-income families and families experiencing homelessness housing that is priced below 50% of the fair market rent rates. 49 residents were served during the fiscal year and 100% of the heads of household of participating families were employed full time during the fiscal year.

Program REACHThe Organization operates Palm Beach County's main emergency shelter serving families with minor children experiencing homelessness. Program REACH (REACH) provides 19 apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms. Families receive up to 90 days of immediate and safe housing paired with supportive services and resources to seek a permanent housing solution. Families enter REACH through the HRC. 386 individuals were assisted during the fiscal year with REACH. 100% of families remained housed for three months after successfully exiting the shelter.

Julian PlaceJulian Place is the Organization's newest affordable housing facility designed to provide programing that will improve children's educational outcomes through the provision of stable housing. Julian Place offers 14 two-, three-, and four-bedroom townhomes and a community center in Lake Worth, Florida. The program partners directly with Highland Elementary School, a Title 1 school located three blocks from Julian Place. Resident families must have a child enrolled in Highland Elementary at program entry. The Organization tracks educational outcomes for all students in the household. The program offers tutoring, mentoring, mental health services, parenting classes, financial literacy training, case management, and enrollment in Project Grow. The program offers case management to all 14 families. The Youth Success Program is held at the Julian Place community center and serves youth in grades 6-12 residing in one of our housing programs or community children who were former Project GROW graduates. On average, seven youths participate in each group activity.

Project S.A.F.E. (Stable, Able, Family Environment)Project SAFE is a permanent supportive housing program for homeless families partially funded by HUD. The program consists of 32 units of agency-owned housing and is currently the largest permanent supportive housing program in Palm Beach County for families experiencing homelessness with a head of household living with a disability. The program offers intensive case management and supportive services to all 113 residents. 93% of participating families remained stably housed during the fiscal year. 74% of the 38 adults participating in the program increased or maintained their income during the fiscal year.

Mental Health WellnessThe Mental Health Wellness Program's (MHW) primary goal is eliminating barriers to mental health services for the Organization's high-need participants and to improve their mental health and family functioning. Though many families served by the Agency are in need of mental health services, a significant portion of the Organization's families do not engage with therapists due to barriers such as lack of transportation, acceptable health coverage, financial requirements, and provider availability. In addition, the onsite therapist is available for crisis intervention and de-escalation, and provides guidance to case managers of the families. 56 individuals, including 15 children, engaged in therapy during the fiscal year. 95% of the clients enrolled in the program have shown improved mental health based on scores in the DSM-5 Cross Cutting Symptom Measures tool. The Building Your Future job coaching program was created to assist clients in preparing for and increasing employment as well as setting up goals to obtain training and education. 43 new clients engaged in services with the Job Coach Manager this year.

Connecting Youth to Opportunities (CYTO)CYTO is a Rapid Re-Housing program for families experiencing homelessness, whose head of household must be 18 to 24 years old at program entry. The program is one of the HUD-funded programs administered out of the HRC. The program offers intensive case management and supportive services to all residents, as well as a declining rental subsidy to assist clients while they work towards being able to sustain their housing costs independently. A total of 32 families, or 76 individuals, received services and 52% of the families participating in the program increased or maintained their income during the fiscal year.

Connecting Youth to Opportunities 2 (CYTO 2)CYTO 2 is a Rapid Re-Housing program for families experiencing homelessness, whose head of household must be 18 to 24 years old at program entry. The program is one of the HUD-funded programs and is administered out of the HRC. The program offers intensive case management and supportive services to all participants, as well as a declining rental subsidy to assist clients while they work toward being able to sustain their housing costs independently. A total of 30 families, or 83 individuals, received services and 42% of the families participating in the program increased or maintained their income during the fiscal year.

Youth Establishing Stability (YES)YES is a Permanent Supportive Housing program for families experiencing homelessness, whose head of household must be 18 to 24 years old at program entry and must have a disability of long duration. This is one of the HUD-funded programs administered out of the HRC. The program offers intensive case management and supportive services to all 36 individuals. 100% of participating families remained stably housed during the fiscal year.