HomeStart Supportive Housing Program
Last year, HomeStart provided supportive services to 54 households consisting of 72 adults and 102 children.
HomeStart is selected for VA Homeless Services Pilot Program
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has selected Doorways’ HomeStart Supportive Housing Program to be one of only four homeless service providers statewide to participate this year in a Homeless Services Pilot Program. HomeStart and the other grantees were selected because all programs utilize progressive models for transitional housing that allow families to “transition in place.”
HomeStart’s unique programming and structure allows families to retain the housing of their choice during their participation that they can sustain even after their program participation concludes. More traditional transitional housing programs place participants in rental units owned by the program, from which they have to move at the end of a program. HomeStart‘s approach prevents this kind of disruption for formerly homeless families who have already experienced instability in their lives.
Virginia State officials described the HomeStart model as being “progressive and ahead of the curve.” Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development will collect data from the four pilot programs to use in facilitating the coming shift in federal and state policy (and funding) for how transitional housing is provided.
HomeStart Programs and Services
The HomeStart Supportive Housing Program offers homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing and long-term supportive housing for families who need assistance to leave Doorways’ shelters, as well as those who are at risk of becoming homeless.
HomeStart offers housing stability (through rental subsidies) and intensive support (through weekly home visitation) focused on skill building to prevent the recurrence of homelessness and domestic violence. If a family cannot immediately qualify for a lease, Doorways signs the initial lease and sublets the unit to the family. As the families’ stability increases, they are able to take over the lease themselves. All HomeStart families receive rental assistance that progressively decreases as their income increases.
Since 1996, HomeStart has built partnerships with area landlords to provide stable, affordable, and independent housing. As the need for affordable housing and assistance in Arlington increases, we continue to look for ways to expand our services.
HomeStart Helps Stabilize Families
- Sets goals with families toward achieving a self-sufficient future of permanent housing with staff supporting every step;
- Clients work intensively with their Financial Educator on budgeting, money management, debt reduction and other vital financial skills;
- Children’s Service staff ensure that all children are receiving the services they need;
- Become introduced to other needed services in the community;
- Provide access to donated household and personal care products to offset families monthly spending; and
- Enhanced parenting skills with staff support.
