Acceptance & Rejection of Resident Candidates
Now that we have reviewed and discussed FRC’s intake application and our organizations acceptance process:
What are a family’s first steps to enter FRC’s as residents and as program participants?
When a family meets all requirements for admission they sit down with the Program Manager for their final interview. The entire family must be present at the meeting and interview with the Program Manager. At this point they are presented with copies of all the requirements and rules of the program and they are discussed with the family. All of the adults are required to sign the that they have received the requirements and understand them and then affirm that they agree to follow the requirements. Then they are sent for a final drug screening which must be negative. Once the agreements are signed and the drug screening come back negative the family is admitted into the program. The client receives the key to their apartment and often time see it for the first time. Clients are not considered tenants but program clients.
- What happens at FRC when we receive a new resident family?
The apartment is readied for the new family. If it requires any repairs it is done once the last family moves out. The apartment then has a deep cleaning to ready it for the next family. Furniture is replaced when necessary by our Thrift Store. Deland maintains a storage unit stockpiling donated furniture (unit provided free of charge by a local storage company). The apartment is staged and the beds are made and toys are provided that are age and gender specific to the children. Each family’s food situation is reviewed and food is provided when necessary.
- Who is responsible for what so a family can “settle into” our program?
Orienting new families is the responsibility of the individual campus program staff. The Program Manager continues to review the rules of the program. The Program Assistant gives them a tour of the apartment and the campus. They are introduced to their neighbors when possible. Part of the tour includes showing families where the onsite laundromat is located. The program staff identifies any specific need each family has and attempts to address the need as soon as possible.
Also, let’s take a look at those individuals who do not qualify for our program. Do they have an opportunity to re-qualify? If so, on what basis do we judge their qualifications?
Families who do not qualify may be the result of residency requirement, a positive drug screening or presence of criminal record.
- What part of the intake procedure is repeated?
Because the final application is not competed until the client clears the first hurdles then we don’t waste time and effort in the event someone doesn’t successfully progress through the process. Families may be returned to our wait list once they correct any deficiencies.
- What changes does a family need to make to qualify for FRC?
Clients who fail for anyone of these issues listed above may be reconsidered after a wait period. Residency after a documented 3-month residency proof. Drug screening after a 12-month sobriety and a negative screen result. We are exploring the possibility of reducing this to 3-month wait period if the person who tested positive goes for documented drug counseling and tests negative for a follow-up drug screen. Clients with a documented criminal background history may try to have it expunged or reduced and we will reconsider at that time.
What other opportunities are available in Volusia County for homeless families with children?
- How are these programs similar to FRC?
Currently, there are only two other agencies in Volusia County who provide services to homeless families with children. These are federally funded housing programs. HUM manages Hope Place which is a 90-day housing program for homeless families with children. The Neighborhood Center maintains a small emergency shelter capable of housing homeless families with children. This is a limited program and is for emergency sheltering only. Both programs are federally funded and are required to use Housing First protocols which don’t allow entrance barriers.
- How do these programs differ?
The main difference is that FRC is a restoration program with a housing component and provide intense case management. The other programs are classified as housing programs and have limited case management services. FRC utilizes a comprehensive application and screening process where the other programs utilize a no barrier Housing First admission process.
FRC tracks client success rate at 96% success for continued employment and stable housing. The other programs don’t track their success and there are no published success rates.