Organization: ONE FAMILY INC
Mission: ONE FAMILY'S OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO FIND PERMANENT SOLUTIONS TO FAMILY HOMELESSNESS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
Activities: THE ONE FAMILY SCHOLARS PROGRAM SUPPORTS SINGLE PARENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, HELPING THEM TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE CAREER AND HOUSING STABILITY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE COACHING AND GUIDANCE ALONG WITH FLEXIBLE FINANCIAL AID, AND THE COMBINATION YIELDS INCREDIBLE RESULTS: ONE FAMILY SCHOLARS GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AT A RATE OF 81%, COMPARED TO ONLY 8% FOR SINGLE MOTHERS NATIONWIDE. THIS LEADS TO LONG-TERM CAREER SUCCESS, ASSET-BUILDING, AND HOUSING STABILITY, AS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT 9 OUT OF 10 OF OUR ALUMNI NOW HAVE SECURE HOUSING.
THROUGH CREDENTIAL TO CAREER COACHING (C2C), ONE FAMILY HELPS PARENTS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED ENTER CAREERS THAT WILL SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. LOW-INCOME PARENTS OFTEN LACK THE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION NEEDED TO ACCESS EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES. C2C FILLS THIS GAP. WE START BY IDENTIFYING EACH PARENT'S SKILLS AND INTERESTS, THEN HELP THEM IDENTIFY FAMILY-SUSTAINING CAREERS. BY THE END OF THE INTENSIVE THREE-MONTH PROGRAM, EACH PARTICIPANT HAS A DETAILED PLAN TO OBTAIN THE CREDENTIALS THEY NEED, AND TO ENTER THEIR CHOSEN CAREER. ON AVERAGE, NEW JOBS SECURED THROUGH C2C LED TO AN INCOME INCREASE OF $21,381 - NEARLY TRIPLING THE AVERAGE INCOME AT ENROLLMENT - WHICH CAN TRULY CHANGE A FAMILY'S FUTURE!
THROUGH OUR PUBLIC POLICY WORK, ONE FAMILY STRIVES TO CHANGE THE RESPONSE OF GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE AGENCIES FROM SOLELY PROVIDING SHELTER TO ACTIVELY PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS AND CREATING PATHWAYS FOR FAMILIES TO AFFORD STABLE HOUSING. TO THIS END, WE WORK TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES AND EXPERIENCES OF THE FAMILIES WE SERVE IN PARTICULAR THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY TEAM, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF CURRENT AND PAST PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. WE ALSO ADVOCATE FOR FAMILY HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION STRATEGIES THAT BREAK DOWN THE SILOS BETWEEN HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND CAREER SUPPORTS, AS THESE ARE THREE ESSENTIAL AND INTERTWINED ASPECTS OF FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
NTEE category: Housing & Shelter
Secondary category: Human Services