Since its creation in 1984, Transition House has provided aid to local homeless families by offering shelter for those in immediate need and by teaching the life-skills necessary to step out of the downward spiral of poverty, become self-sufficient, and return to permanent housing.
In addition to the Three-Stage Housing Program, our Homelessness Prevention Program gives financial aid and intensive case management to families in imminent danger of losing their existing housing.
Emergency Shelter Homeless families enter Transition House’s Emergency Shelter where food, shelter, and transitional case management lasting up to 120 days are provided. Families are stabilized, career goals are identified, and strategies to reach them are implemented. Clients participate in employment and/or educational programs. Children are enrolled in school or quality childcare. Transition House’s McCune Family Shelter houses between 18 – 20 families (up to 70 people), and all meals are provided. Some families are given “rapid rehousing” assistance including cash for security deposits. This program aims to return families to housing as quickly as possible.
Transitional Living Residence “Firehouse” Some families need a longer period of support services and significantly subsidized housing. These families can move on to transitional residence and services at our second-stage facility, called the Firehouse, where they live for an average of six months. Career counseling, financial management, and educational enhancement continue. Transition House case management monitors progress toward long-term financial and life-skills goals that will one day lead to lasting economic stability. Life at the Firehouse also provides families the opportunity to build friendships and support networks with other families in preparation for the time when they return to permanent housing. A total of six families live in Firehouse where they share a common living room, dining room and kitchen. Families prepare their own meals and share in household chores. Each family has private sleeping quarters and a portion of income (30% and below) is paid in rent.
Permanent Affordable Housing “HOMES” Transition House families with long range goals of achieving lasting economic self-sufficiency can apply for placement in one of 35 low-cost, service rich apartments owned by Transition House. Services including career monitoring, case management and educational enhancement continue to be provided. Families follow the HOMES program with the help of case management, the goal of which is to achieve housing independence. In most circumstances, the family reaches an income level that enables them to move to market-rate housing. Heads of the household become fully invested in jobs they care about. Savings accrue. The family becomes self-sufficient.
Children’s Programs
Transition House conducts ongoing programs for homeless children who are living at our family emergency shelter, or past clients depending on need. The programs serve approximately 250 children per year, and include a free licensed infant daycare, evening homework help and tutoring, Technology and Literacy for Children (TLC), our teen program, and full scholarships for summer camp. All programs, except infant care, take place at the emergency shelter in a space reserved specifically for children’s programs. The space includes a children’s library and computer room, as well as an area for the children to read stories and participate in arts and crafts activities. The infant care center is located in its own building next to Transition House’s administrative offices, which are near the shelter.
Our Family Centered Services include: