Homeward Bound Overview
Homeward Bound's mission is to help families achieve economic independence; secure long-term, safe, decent, and affordable housing; and break multi-generational cycles of homelessness, welfare dependence, and domestic violence.
History
Founded in 1990 by a grassroots committee of community activists, Homeward Bound is recognized as Arizona's largest provider of transitional housing for families who are homeless, working poor and/or have experienced domestic violence. Homeward Bound owns and operates 155 housing units. Annually, Homeward Bound assists over 250 families, representing 800+ individuals, including 500 children.
Since its inception in 1990, thousands of individuals have graduated from the Homeward Bound program and have become self sufficient and contributing members of society.
Comprehensive Program – Housing Plus…
Homeward Bound assists families with a “A Hand Up Not A Handout.” Each family participating in the program must contribute 30% of their adjusted gross income for housing, utilities, and support services.
In addition to transitional housing, Homeward Bound provides a 24- to 36-month comprehensive social services program, including:
- Case Management
- Employment Services
- Mental Health Services for Adults
- Kids in Trauma(KIT) - Mental Health Services for Children
- Affordable and Accessible Childcare
- Emergency Services (food, clothing, baby items, household pantries)
- Adult Programs, including life skills programs, such as budgeting, time management, home maintenance, parenting, self-esteem classes, as well as a diversity of other workshops and seminars
- Specialty Programs for Children, including art and music programs
Additionally, Homeward Bound believes that employment, which will sustain long-term market housing, is a key factor in stabilizing families and breaking multi-generational cycles of welfare, homelessness, and domestic violence. To accomplish this, Homeward Bound offers employment services such as assessment, job placement, interviewing techniques, and resume writing, training referrals, and GED classes.
Families Discover
- Living in your own home is more attractive than repeated evictions
- Working is more fulfilling than welfare
- Poverty is a condition not a culture
- Freedom is earned by hard work and by taking on the responsibilities of adulthood – even when the family is headed by someone just out of childhood
- The difference between merely surviving vs. growing, prospering, and being self-sufficient
Eligibility for Homeward Bound
To be eligible for participation in the Homeward Bound program, a family must be:
- Homeless, facing impending homelessness, or fleeing a domestic violence situation
- Earning less than 50 percent of the area median income ($32,950 for a family of four)
- Have children under the age of 18
- Employed or motivated to seek employment
- Free of drug and alcohol abuse
- Motivated to change patterns of behavior
What is Success?
The effectiveness of Homeward Bound is measured by a family’s transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency in 24 to 36 months. The success of the Homeward Bound program is measured on a family-by-family basis. Homeward Bound measures success as:
- Recognizing and working to achieve a healthy character
- Employment and education adequate to sustain market housing
- Addressing barriers to maintaining employment including childcare and transportation
- Practicing healthy living habits, including remaining drug- and alcohol-free
- Learning to effectively budget limited resources
- Reducing debt and establishing good credit
- Establishing checking and savings accounts
- Having approximately $1,500 in savings to move to market housing
- Having approximately $5,000 in savings to move to home ownership
- Addressing medical, dental, legal, and mental health issues
- Developing a core of healthy personal relationships
- Practicing patterns of effective parenting
- Being motivated to be responsible for yourself and your children
Interesting Facts & Figures
- Homeward Bound Properties: 155 housing units
- 80 two-bedroom apartments at the Thunderbirds Family Village (TFV)
- 75 single-family homes/townhouses (scattered-sites - SS)
- The average stay of each family is 18 months
- 14,000 bed nights per month (average)
- $355.00 average rent per client ($300 TFV & $420 SS)
- 95% collection rate of rent, measured monthly by case managers
Financial and Funding Sources*
- Annual Operating Budget: $4,214,984
- Income
- 25% Cash contributions
- 5% Individual
- 15% Corporate
- 5% Foundation
- 20% Special events (A Derby Affair, Old Bags Luncheon)
- 14% Client program service fees (rent)
- 8% Family and child sponsorships
- 11% Government Grants**
- 10% Kids Corner Learning Center
- 11% United Way (Primary Partner, Helping the Working Poor, Donor Designated)
- 1% Interest and other
* According to 2009-2010 Operating Budget
** Government Grants Include:
- City of Phoenix CDBG (childcare)
- City of Phoenix Block Watch (security)
- City of Glendale HOME (utility assistance)
- HUD Supportive Housing Program (direct services)
- City of Scottsdale CDBG (direct services)
- City of Tempe CDBG (direct services)
- City of Peoria CDBG (utility assistance)
