MODEL

Bridge of Hope seeks to end and prevent homelessness-one church and one family at a time. This program matches trained, church-based mentoring groups with single mothers and their children, one of the most vulnerable groups to experience homelessness.

Most families are referred to a local Bridge of Hope program from shelters, transitional housing units, domestic violence centers, drug/alcohol rehabilitation programs and churches. Eighty percent of these families successfully complete the program and achieve permanent housing and financial self-sufficiency through employment, while building self-esteem and stability through ongoing mentoring friendships.

To accomplish this, the local Bridge of Hope trains a group of eight to 12 Christians from one Protestant or Catholic church and matches them with one homeless or "at-risk" single mother and her children. The mentoring group provides friendship, practical help, emotional support and spiritual nurture to the family they are mentoring. Professional staff from the Bridge of Hope provides ongoing support to the mentoring group while the family is in the program. The goal is for mentoring friendships to continue after completion of the 12 to 18 month program.

The Bridge of Hope staff provide the family with case management services, including help with goal setting, budgeting and parenting skills. A service contract outlines basic expectations of the program and an individualized service agreement is also developed with the participant to identify her goals and action steps for finding housing, securing employment or job training, working towards financial self-sufficiency and growing in physical, emotional, social and spiritual health.

The Bridge of Hope staff and the mentoring group help the family find housing in the vicinity of the church and the mentors. Rental assistance from the Bridge of Hope is also available to families on a decreasing basis over nine to 12 months.

Bridge of Hope's model of a three-way partnership works: one family, one mentoring group and a professional staff member. Staff provides professional expertise and needed accountability. Mentors are freed up to be "just" friends, providing a vital network of support. Single mothers find long-term solutions to poverty and homelessness for their families.