| Who
are the families?
Our adopted families are usually homeless mothers and their
children who have been victims of domestic violence or poverty.
These are mothers who are struggling to provide housing, food
and even clothing for their children—women who want
to become self-sufficient but lack the financial means to
pay for rent and the education to obtain the kind of jobs
that will allow them to provide for their families.
While the circumstances surrounding their housing crises differ,
there is one universal truth—they are deeply concerned
about their children and truly believe that, with assistance,
they can provide a better life for them. Families Helping
Families provides housing, mentoring, and supportive services
with the end goal being self-sufficiency and overcoming the
vicious cycle of several generations of abuse and poverty.
Who is eligible?
Only families that are drug free and have removed themselves
from their domestic violence situation are eligible for our
services. They are screened by licensed social workers from
Bridge Communities, Inc. a 501(c)(3) that serves as our umbrella
organization. Each mom signs a contract, renewable every 3
months, with Families Helping Families, agreeing to adhere
to the rules of our program. Goals are reviewed and revised
quarterly as well. The average stay in our program is 2 years.
What do they receive?
Our FHF families live in apartments in DuPage County that
our program provides. We gather gently used furniture, bedding
and kitchen items— all the tools needed to start a new
life. Then the real work begins— helping a family move
from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
What services are provided?
Each family works with two FHF volunteer mentors, as well
as a professional case manager. The mentors, who have completed
a training program preparing them for the challenge, meet
with their clients weekly. They help each mom enroll in college
or trade school or ESL or GED classes. Mentors work with clients
to establish budgets and repay debt. They work with the local
schools in order to advocate for the client’s children.
Most importantly, the mentors provide guidance, encouragement,
and emotional support. Local dentists, attorneys, CPA’s,
car repair shops, etc provide their services to our clients
free of charge.
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