WISH’s 10 Step Empowerment Program (Year 1 of the Program)

The WISH Program is designed as an empowerment program where selected families are given a defined set of steps which can lead them from homelessness to self-sufficiency.  Each “step” in the WISH process involves client responsibility and action but the next step rewards the family with a supportive service to empower them toward self-sufficiency.  Supportive steps are earned not provided upfront or randomly. Each family will “step” through this program at a different pace.  We estimate an average of two to five years for the completion of these steps.  Some families (hopefully not many) will choose not to complete an action step. In such a case, we will terminate our WISH contract with the family and refer them to another appropriate agency or program.  

Estimated action/supportive steps during our family’s first year include the following:

 Action Step 1 – Proactive Actions While Homeless: WISH’s first step involves the actions a family takes while homeless before they are actually selected for the WISH Program. When a family becomes homeless (for whatever unique circumstance), they are provided eligibility information by a referring social worker, who presents the qualification requirements for the WISH Program. If a family takes the prescribed proactive measures while in the shelter they move to the top of the WISH waiting list. During the WISH approval process, the steps taken once the family becomes homeless are considered more important to their ability to move to self sufficiency than the circumstances which led to their homelessness. Examples include maintaining employment while in the shelter, budgeting and eliminating “non-essential” items and saving a percent of each paycheck.

 Supportive Step 2 – Rapid Re-Housing:  Once approved for WISH, the corresponding “supportive-step” for a family is to be quickly moved from the shelter environment into a decent and safe apartment home.  Our WISH team is experienced at working with quality landlords who will accept our families back into rental housing because of our “one of a kind” supportive services program.  WISH will provide the landlord with a moderate rental subsidy guarantee to gap the difference between our family’s ability to pay and the discounted rent provided by the landlord.  We will also provide the appropriate utility and/or security deposit guarantees. WISH and its volunteers also provide quality furniture and moving services to facilitate this rapid re-housing event.

 Action Step 3 – Family Support Social Work:  The third “action-step” is for our families to meet on a regular basis with their assigned Family Support Social Worker.  WISH believes that intensive case management is the key to driving our families toward self-sufficiency.  Our social workers devise a custom “tough love” Family Support Action Plan that has to be followed closely by each family.  Our social workers spend the first 60 days of the program developing a relationship with the families and creating this customized action plan.

 Supportive Step 4 – Hope Team Supports:  Once the family has positively responded to Step 3, they are matched with a Hope Team. Hope Teams (groups of 5 – 8 people from churches who want to provide assistance in the form of friendship and advocacy to a family) provide WISH families with “unconditional love” by building long-term peer to peer relationships. Hope Teams are the perfect compliment to the WISH Family Support Social Workers who oversee the “tough love” component of WISH mentioned above.

 Action Step 5 – Income & Expense Budgeting:  The fifth “action-step” involves setting realistic goals for the family as it relates to spending and saving.  Each family’s circumstances are different and this required step involves a subjective decision on the part of the Family Support Social Worker (with advice from the Hope Team).

 Supportive Step 6 – Transportation Assistance:  This “supportive-step” involves providing transportation assistance for our families as they strive to improve their employment and economic independence. The funds for this support come from Goodwill’s “Cars for Work Program” and are transferred to WISH to provide transportation assistance in the form of matching funds for car purchase, car repairs, bus passes, car insurance, gas cards, etc.

 Action Step 7 – Employment Stabilization:  In month six of our program, our Family Support Social Worker will work closely with our families to drive employment stabilization, positive work habitats and coping skills.  Our families should be ready to consider the next level of employment by the ninth month.

 Supportive Step 8 – Connectivity:  WISH believes strongly that our families should be able to communicate in the same manner as middle/upper class families and that their children should be able to do their studies in the same manner.  Along this line, we will place an in-apartment computer lab for each family upon the completion of Step 7.  We are working with several agencies and volunteers to help provide this supportive step.

 Action Step 9 – Online Nightly or Weekend Job Training Classes:  Since our families work during the day, it is impossible for them to take the traditional job training classes so that they can improve their wages/job position. We will tailor a program for each family so they can obtain additional training. This step also involves meeting with an appropriate job training counselor selected by our Family Support Social Worker.