Retooling Transitional Housing: A Community Story

Marla Brown, MPADirector, Families In Transition

Agape Child & Family Services, Inc.111 Racine Street

Memphis, TN 38115

901-323-3600www.AgapeMeansLove.org

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 DirectorsJanuary 25, 2013

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.

Sharing Homes: Where We Started

6 Midtown Church of Christ Units

Sharing Homes: Where We Are Now

54 units in two apartment communities

Sharing Homes: Where We Are Now

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.

7 Year Average Permanent Housing %

2003-2011 74%

Transition-in-Place ModelPermanent Housing

%

2011-2012 90 %

Traditional Transitional Housing Model

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.

Transitional Housing vs. Transition-in-Place

WRAP-AROUND SERVICES

SHEPHERDING

TEACHINGADULT TO ADULT

COACHING

MENTORING

SUPPORTACCOUNTABILITY

GOAL SETTING

FIT Transition - in - Place Model

The mission of

Powerlines Community Network is…

…a place-based strategy to connect at-risk neighborhoods

with the resources they need and want for children and families to be successful

7 Apartment Partners

Over 150 Church

Partners

100% Major Economic

Development Partners

100% Area Elementary thru High

School Partners

50+ Major Non-Profits

Partners

10+ Health/Mental Health

Partners1,800 Volunteer

Partners

15 Corporations/Businesses

7 Safety PartnersMemphis Police Dept.

Safeways Family Safety CenterNeighborhood Watch

Community PrideMemphis Fire

10+ Education/ Tutoring/Homew

orkAssistance Partners

SERVING YOUTH, FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES

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

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?”

Sharing Homes: Grandmother with Custody of 5 Grandchildren

Successful Program Completion

Sharing Homes: Single Mother of Four

Successful Program Completion

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

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)

Steps to consider “Transition in Place” model

1. Do what you are doing now2. Contemplate your mission and strategic plan3. Look at your data and the needs in your community4. Talk with your decision makers and funders

a. Your Boardb. HUD

5. Address barriersa. Permanent structures/buildingsb. Anonymity, Safety and Security

6. Process the above information with your staff

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. “

Sharing Homes, Sharing Family, Sharing Community, Sharing Life