Frequently Asked Questions

What is W.I.S.H.?
Workforce Initiative for Supportive Housing (W.I.S.H.) is a non-profit, faith-based empowerment program where selected working-poor families are given a defined set of steps which can lead them from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

W.I.S.H. is designed for those families in Charlotte earning less than 60% of Area Median Income or AMI. Priority is given to homeless working families with children. Each family and/or individual is supported by a Family Support Social Worker, Hope Team, and rental subsidy throughout their duration in the Program. W.I.S.H. is not just a housing program. Participants are given a year to initiate change that results in progression, if no progression is made – the participant will not be renewed a second year.
 
What are the eligibility requirements?
1) Must be employed and work at least 30 hours per week – applies to any applicant over 18 in the household. Total household income must be less than 60% of AMI. (Verified by the last 30 days of pay stubs)
2) Must be homeless
3) Must never have committed and/or been convicted of a felony within past three (3) years unless the offense date for the original charge is seven (7) years or greater. Must never been convicted of a violent crime, and is not a sex offender. (If criminal charges are pending, W.I.S.H. will not initiate a housing search until the charges have been dismissed.)
 
What documentation is required at time of referral?
1) Copy of Driver’s License or state/government issued ID for anyone 18 or older in the household
2) Copy of Social Security card for all members of the household
3) Proof of employment (30 days of pay stubs)
4) Latest bank statement (if applicant does not have a bank account, they will be required to open one, if approved into the Program)
5) Signatures of applicant/witness on all parts of the referral where it is required
 
What does W.I.S.H. provide?
1) A Master's level Family Support Social Worker
2) Hope Team – Supportive faith-based volunteers
3) A rental subsidy based upon income/expenses
4) Step/reward system including: job training, budget counseling, transportation assistance
 
What is involved in the W.I.S.H. approval process?
1) Referral from partner agency is submitted.
2) Review of all required documentation to verify applicant is eligible (criminal background check ordered). If not eligible, written notification sent to Referring Partner Agency.
3) Applicant meets with the W.I.S.H. representative for a face to face interview.
4) W.I.S.H. representative supplies a recommendation to W.I.S.H. Review Committee.
5) W.I.S.H. Review Committee renders a decision with necessary conditions to be met.
6) Partner agency is contacted and given written decision of conditional approval, including all conditions the participant must meet prior to signing a lease, i.e. savings for entry into housing, etc. Written decision provides names of the Family Support Social Worker (FSSW) and Housing Resource Coordinator (HRC) assigned to the participant.
7) FSSW contacts participant to set up initial meeting.
8) At initial meeting, FSSW reviews paperwork, exchanges contact information with participant and sets up future meeting schedule.
9) Once half of the required savings amounts are verified with a bank statement, HRC begins housing search.
10) After viewing appropriate properties, the participant chooses one and completes a rental application.
11) Once applicant is approved by the landlord, a lease date is set and the HRC informs the participant of money orders needed prior to signing the lease.
12) The lease is signed and participant moves themselves into their apartment.
13) The FSSW continues meeting regularly with the client to work on service plan goals.
14) Hope Team assignments are made on a case-by-case basis, according to participant needs.
15) Annual reviews of participants are made to render decision of renewal vs. non-renewal.

What is expected of an applicant once approved into W.I.S.H.?
--To meet with my Family Support Social Worker and partake in regular home visits (Assigned after applicant has been approved into the W.I.S.H. Program)
--To utilize the support and guidance of a Hope Team (if assigned)
--To be motivated and willing to work on goals as outlined in my service plan
--To maintain full-time employment and provide pay stubs as requested
--To maintain a bank account and provide bank statements as requested; be willing to discuss my personal financial information including my monthly budget, debt reduction and savings goals
--To maintain a residence that is safe and drug-free and follow the rules of the property management throughout my duration in the Program
--To attend Getting Ahead workshops (10 week course)
--To continue relapse prevention plan, if history of substance abuse

How can a W.I.S.H. participant utilize the agency’s resources to gain self-sufficiency?
- Make an effort to increase your income by seeking higher paying employment, attending vocational or educational programs, attending employment workshops
- Agree to a savings amount and work with Hope Team or budgeting workshop to reach your goal
- Decrease non-essential items to minimize expenses; i.e. eating out, expanded cable, expanded cell phone plans, weekend trips
- Learn and apply life skills and problem solving techniques to daily dilemmas
 
How can a participant become terminated from W.I.S.H.?
Failure to comply with the W.I.S.H. Program’s eligibility criteria will result in early termination as well as the following:
1) Failure to maintain a safe and drug-free home
2) Unauthorized and/or non-qualified occupant residing in residence as stipulated in North Carolina Leasing Law (i.e. Resident agrees not to permit any person other than those listed in Paragraph 1(A) to reside in the Premises. A person shall be presumed to reside in the Premises if they are an overnight guest for 10 consecutive days, or for any 14 days during any 60-day period.)
3) Failure to comply with landlord requirements including signed lease agreement
4) Received at least three (3) eviction notices from property
5) Failure to comply with home visit schedule; ex. no calls/no shows/missed appointments
6) Failure to meet the minimum 30 work hours per week as required by each individual in the household over the age of 18 and complete the five weekly work searches per week
7) Failure to provide pay stubs and/or bank statements to Family Support Social Worker
8) Failure to comply with savings/debt reduction plan as outlined in the service plan
9) Failure to comply with relapse prevention plan
10) Failure to comply with W.I.S.H. Program workshop requirements
11) Failure to comply with Expectancy Contract requirements
12) Failure to give authorization to work with partner organizations via Crisis Informed Consent Form
13) Assaulting W.I.S.H. staff and/or volunteer(s) (either physically or verbally)