HomeStart Supportive Housing Program
The HomeStart Supportive Housing Program offers short- to long-term supportive housing for families exiting our shelters into apartments of their own. The program provides housing location and rental assistance, as well as guidance, support and opportunities to learn and grow.
Like our shelter programs, HomeStart clients receive Doorways’ children’s, financial and counseling services. HomeStart staff, in partnership with clients, begin by developing a Housing Goal Plan, focusing on goals to secure and maintain housing, as well as working toward maintaining stable housing after graduating from HomeStart. These goals address issues such as increasing income, paying rent on time, adhering to a budget and participating in services to strengthen family safety and wellbeing.
In order to support families in achieving their goals and making progress, HomeStart staff offers a variety of services, which Doorways clients have found to be critical in achieving stability, maintaining housing and becoming self-sufficient. These services include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Housing location and stabilization
- Supportive counseling
- Children’s services
- Economic empowerment services
- Education and training
- Employment services
- Mental health support
- Domestic violence support
- Legal assistance
- Safety planning
Since 1996, HomeStart has built partnerships with area landlords to provide stable, affordable and independent housing. As the need for affordable housing in Arlington increases, we continue to reach out to landlords and property managers in an effort to advocate for our clients’ housing needs and find a home for those families with the highest barriers (criminal histories, past evictions, housing debt, low incomes and poor credit) to housing stability.