The Dwelling Place defines success as a family's return to independent living -- with a job, an apartment, a support system and a sense of self-respect and dignity. In order to give each participating family an opportunity to make that successful return to self-sufficiency, the program incorporates the following features:
Support
The Dwelling Place helps the family obtain rental housing where they live while they work to overcome homelessness. Each month the family contributes 30% of their income to help pay a portion of the rent.
Time
Serious change takes time. A family can stay in the program for up to two years while its members gain new skills, build confidence and address the specific issues identified in their Personal Growth Plans.
Focus on Life Skills
Life skills including money and time management, parenting, communication skills, and nutrition education are addressed through community resources and weekly workshops. Programs for children also use community resources. Special events and activities are presented by volunteers.
A Goal of Self-Sufficiency
Vocational training, literacy training, effective networking techniques and interviewing skills are all part of the program. Overall, the employment-related focus is on building marketable skills so that adult family members can provide the income that independent living requires.
Underemployed parents work to identify skills and resources for acquiring marketable skills that will provide the income necessary for independent living.
As they succeed, parents become role models for educational achievement in their children. With the easing of family tensions, youngster's school performance improves along with grades and test scores.