Family Bridge Program
BEDS Plus, Inc. Family Bridge Program
This month, we’re highlighting our Family Bridge program, which provides interim housing families experiencing homelessness.
Family homelessness accounts for about 28% of the entire homeless population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our family bridge program was created as a better, trauma-informed way to support homeless families. Out of necessity and the availability of funding, we learned that families need normalcy and support to overcome the challenges or homelessness. We couple homeless families with intensive case mangement who live in inconspicuous apartments, paid for by BEDS Plus. Each family member works on goals while BEDS Plus provides the support of rent, food and service connection.
How Common Is Family Homelessness?
The national 2023 Point in Time (PIT) count found 28.4 percent (185,482) of people experiencing homelessness were in families with children. For perspective, that’s more than 11 times the population of our hometown La Grange, IL. Families experiencing homelessness commonly live in family and friends’ houses, motels, vehicles, tents, storage units, abandoned homes/buildings, and other places not meant for human habitation. All members face homelessness’ common health, mental/behavioral health, justice system involvement, and violence and crime risks, and the National Alliance particularly highlights effects on children, including:
- Higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems;
- Increased risk of serious health problems;
- Are more likely to experience separations from their families; and
- [More] school mobility, repeat[ing] a grade, be[ing] expelled or drop[ping] out of school, and hav[ing] lower academic performance
Research also shows how“homelessness [is] associated with the break-up of families.” An earlier study suggests this results from the stress and “strain[ed] relationships between children and parents” caused by traditional “shelter environment[s].” As you’ve seen over the past few years, we’ve transitioned from a group shelter program to a client-centered motel-based shelter and interim housing model.[1] The Family Bridge model grew out of this shift. In the end, the program helps keep families together during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
How Does Family Bridge Work?
Family Bridge is a step along a longer path for families to regain independent housing. Families come to us through referrals from schools, hospitals, and churches throughout our communities. They enter through our Summit Walk-In Center and initially stay in our Cicero Avenue Transitional Shelter. Families partner with our Family Case Manager to identify pathways back to independent housing and enter the Family Bridge program, which offers extended residences in master-leased apartments. Bridge provides:
- Dedicated family case management
- Referrals to healthcare, behavioral healthcare, and human service providers
- Support to help families move from jobs to careers, which may include limited financial assistance for training and certification
- Assistance with childcare subsidy applications and locating quality childcare
- Income building and saving to prepare for emergencies
- Connections to independent housing
We currently offer 12 Family Bridge units; last year, the program sheltered 119 individuals, including 44 adults and 75 children. Clients come from diverse situations. For example, a newly arrived family that includes a two-year-old daughter with a serious health condition that cannot be treated in their home country. Bridge Housing gives them a stable residence to access healthcare, follow their care plan, and reduce their child’s exposure to pathogens. The program also gives the parents time to complete the asylum application process, which can take upwards of six months. Another woman had been approved for a new apartment and paid a security deposit with her savings before the property manager gave the unit to another applicant and absconded with her money. At the same time, her daughter was fleeing an abusive relationship. The Family Bridge program gave her an opportunity to find an apartment that could accommodate the household.
Again, each family is different, and we strive to recognize their unique strengths and barriers to housing to minimize their risk of returning to homelessness. Bridge clients move on to different destinations including our Rapid Rehousing program, Permanent Supportive Housing programs, and other stable destinations.
How Can I Help?
You can make a direct financial gift to our Family Bridge program here and in-kind gift here. You also can “adopt” families in Family Bridge housing and other programs. Click here to learn more or contact Development Manager Erin Molek at molek@beds-plus.org. Your support helps families manage the causes and effects of homelessness and regain and sustain housing.
[1] BEDS began as a group shelter program that grew to fifteen area faith-based organizations and a thousand volunteers at its height. Churches, volunteers, and staff helped hundreds of families experiencing homelessness stabilize and regain housing. Group shelters have unavoidable negative effects on families experiencing homelessness including a lack of privacy and sleep deprivation. Our shift came about due to the COVID-19 pandemic when our organization moved to a motel-based model, which offers dignified and private spaces for all.