Family Stability Initiative

[RCCAtl]

The Siemer Family Foundation is proudly partnered with United Way and other nonprofit organizations to implement the Family Stability Initiative (FSI) platform to create a new and innovative way to help assist children and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.  Since its inception in 2012, 35 families have been served.  So far this year, an additional 14 families have been served and four have been permanently housed in just one month alone!

The target population area for this initiative are families living in the Clarkston/ Stone Mountain areas.    To be eligible for this FREE service, a family must meet the following criteria:

1. Have a child(ren) attending Clarkston High School and/or any of the feeder schools: Jolly Elementary, Indian Creek Elementary, Allgood Elementary, Dunaire Elementary, or Freedom Middle

 

2.       Be experiencing homelessness as defined by the Department of Education, McKinney-Vento Act. This definition includes families:

• Residing in extended-stay hotels
• “Doubling up” – living with other families/friends
• “Couch hopping” – temporarily staying with others
• Living in cars, parks or other non-permanent locations

 

3.       Have income and/or government assistance

 

As part of the Program, families will partner with a Case Manager to develop an individualized service plan.    This plan will focus on getting the families into permanent housing or remaining in their current residence.   It has been highly successful in preventing homelessness in the community and has also been an added resource for the DeKalb County school system, various apartment complexes, and hotels and motels.

In addition to ensuring that families are stably housed, the Initiative takes a holistic approach and has developed alliances/ partnerships to focus on medical care, gaining or maintaining employment, educational support, and housing stability.    

Siemer Partners and their focus area include:

• Oakhurst Medical Center- – improve overall health
• Decatur Cooperative Ministry- increase housing stability   
• Jewish Community Family & Career Services-  increase financial stability
• Communities in Schools- improve academic success

For more information about the Initiative or to refer a family for services who meet the criteria, please contact:

Latanga Montgomery

Siemer FSI Case Manager

Decatur Cooperative Ministry

404-377-5365 ext. 103

[e-mail]