Retooling Transitional Housing: A Community Story

1. Retooling Transitional Housing: • A Community Story Marla Brown, MPA Director, Families In Transition Agape Child & Family Services, Inc. 111 Racine Street Memphis, TN 38115 901-323-3600 www.AgapeMeansLove.org

2. THE MISSION • To be a Christ-centered ministry that is dedicated • to providing children and families with healthy homes. • THE VISION • Agape will serve children, families and communities by sharing God’s love throughout the Mid-South. With excellence, we will connect people to God’s mission by: • uniting children with loving families, • strengthening homes and communities with intentional relationships, and • linking servants to service. • Approved by Agape Board of Directors • January 25, 2013

3. Background • Christian-based non-profit, serving the Greater Memphis (TN) community since 1970 • Served over 10,000 children and families with community-based, counseling and adoption/foster care services. • Began our Families in Transition (FIT) transitional housing model in 2002 – initially serving 6 homeless, pregnant women and their children. • Grown to now simultaneously serve 50 homeless pregnant and parenting families, some of whom are fleeing domestic violence and abuse. • Transition in Place model began in May 2010.

4. Sharing Homes: Where We Started 6 Midtown Church of Christ Units

5. Sharing Homes: Where We Are Now 54 units in two apartment communities

6. Sharing Homes: Where We Are Now

7. Share Homes Memphis has a significant challenge with homelessness. Through Families in Transition (FIT), we are investing in homeless women and children. Agape is the only agency in Memphis that provides a long-term solution for homeless, pregnant and parenting women and their children.

9. Traditional Transitional Housing Model Transition-in-Place Model

10. Transitional Housing vs. Transition-in-Place Transitional Housing: Moving homelessness individuals and families into permanent housing within a reasonable amount of time (up-to 24 months). Transition-in-Place (TIP): Homeless families can remain in the scattered-site apartment complex, if not the same apartment unit, at conclusion of services as participants in a transitional housing program. Agape’s place-based strategy also provides for ongoing support, after “leaving” the TIP program.

11. FIT Transition - in - Place Model

12. The mission of Powerlines Community Networkis… …a place-based strategy to connect at-risk neighborhoods with the resources they need and want for children and families to be successful

13. 10+ Education/ Tutoring/Homework Assistance Partners Over 150 Church Partners • 100% Major Economic Development Partners 7 Safety Partners Memphis Police Dept. Safeways Family Safety Center Neighborhood Watch Community Pride Memphis Fire 7 Apartment Partners 100% Area Elementary thru High School Partners 15 Corporations/ Businesses 10+ Health/ Mental Health Partners 50+ Major Non-Profits Partners • 1,800 Volunteer Partners SERVING YOUTH, FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES

14. Overall Transition-in-Place Challenges/Opportunities Challenge: Changing Paradigm for Board, Staff, Participants and Supporters Challenge: Participant behaviors can jeopardize apartment owner willingness to continue investment in process. Opportunity: A more Efficient and Effective Service Delivery model Opportunity: Funding and Agency Capacity

15. A Client’s Perspective “Why would I want to leave my (traditional transitional) housing after 2 years when I finally have people around me that care about me, my kids are in school and don’t have to move, and I feel stable?”

16. Sharing Homes: Grandmother with Custody of 5 Grandchildren Successful Program Completion

17. Sharing Homes: Single Mother of Four Successful Program Completion

18. Challenges/Changes for Staff • Move to a lower barrier model – client self determination • No longer have staff residing at apartments/campus • Clients will stay, in general, less than our average of 12 months…moving to 3-6 months, while continuing to support via the place-based model

19. Next Steps for Agape through the Transition in Place Model • Using model for similar populations with specific focus areas • Strategizing in Memphis to move model to become more scalable (within apartment communities served via Powerlines Community Network)

20. Steps to consider “Transition in Place” model • Do what you are doing now • Contemplate your mission and strategic plan • Look at your data and the needs in your community • Talk with your decision makers and funders • Your Board • HUD • Address barriers • Permanent structures/buildings • Anonymity, Safety and Security • Process the above information with your staff

21. What Agape FIT staff have to say “One of the things that has assisted the women with feeling comfortable with their transition out of the program is the after-care services they can take advantage of.  We have women coming back to us to give donated goods, request job listings, and even take advantage of goods that we supplied while in the program. “

22. Sharing Homes, Sharing Family, Sharing Community, Sharing Life