CHN's Family Development Program helps low-income families break the cycle of poverty, find opportunities for employment, and build a better future for their families.

THE FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM

CHN's Family Services program began in 1990 in response to a growing concern about the needs of welfare dependent families and their eventual ability to assume the responsibilities of homeownership. Since 1990, more than 600 CHN families have evolved from welfare to work through participation in CHN employment programs. Another 200 CHN families have progressed off welfare through other county and foundation-sponsored employment programs. Rather than measuring success through cycling families off welfare, CHN's Family Service initiatives are based on helping families create long-term, lasting solutions to poverty by removing educational, environmental, and life-style barriers.

Families that no longer receive welfare require a broad range of services such as childcare, transportation, housing assistance, job training and referrals, and emergency funds for unforeseen needs. For those reasons, CHN continues the work of supporting low-income working families as they leave welfare and travel on the road to homeownership through our Family Services program.

Through the Family Support Initiative and Eviction Prevention programs, CHN families receive the following ongoing support:

· Information and referral to vital community resources (i.e. health care, child care, transportation, utility assistance, and career advancement opportunities)
· Advocacy assistance at County and State Hearings to acquire vital benefits such as health care, child care, child support, social security benefits and other cash benefits
· Free tax preparation services, budgeting classes, and classes to improve credit
· Rent and utility assistance to prevent an eviction and/or utility disconnection
· Short-term emergency case management to assist families in crisis
· Adopt-a-Family Holiday Programs

CHN's Family Services Department also plays an integral role in coordinating support to formerly homeless families through our Transitional Housing programs - Supportive Housing Program for Homeless Families with Disabilities (SHPD), and Supplemental Assistance to Facilities Assisting the Homeless (SAFAH). With services designed to lead to a higher level of family self-sufficiency, Transitional, SHPD, and SAFAH assist formerly homeless families in a smooth transition from homelessness to permanent housing. The programs have provided permanent housing coupled with supportive services to over 250 formerly homeless families.

Private funding for the Family Services program is provided by the Sisters of Charity Foundation, George Gund Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, O'Neill Charitable Trust, Murphy Family Foundation, Abington Foundation, Eva L. and Joseph M. Bruening Foundation, Deaconess Community Foundation, Saint Ann Foundation, Thomas White Foundation, and TJX Foundation. Cuyahoga County, the State of Ohio and HUD contribute contract and grant funds to the program.