BEYOND SHELTER PROGRAM

In partnership with the Connecticut Coalition to end homeless            
and the Connecticut Department of Social Services.         

                
                   What is Beyond Shelter

   A program to prevent the recurrence of homelessness
   by providing coordinated follow-up services to property
   owners and households leaving shelters for permanent
   housing.  A voluntary partnership between family and
   landlord which has an average success rate of 90%
   since its introduction in 2000.

   A "Housing Coordinator" is the primary service provider,
   who begins by screening households that wish to participate.
   The household must have income to meet housing costs and
   be willing to work in partnership with the Housing Coordinator
   and their landlord.

   The Housing Coordinator works to foster housing stability
   through early intervention in problems that could result in
   homelessness and by teaching tenants the skills they need
   to retain housing.  Beyond Shelter households will benefit
   from the varied menu of community resources already in
   place to overcome past housing barriers.

   

Assisting Households

     Once accepted into the program, a household may
    be assisted in their housing search, to negotiate 
   a lease, and to obtain household furnishings.     
   Supportive services are considered toward          
   achieving a good quality of community life and   
      can include tenant education, money management,
    child-care resources, medical care, career            
    development.  Each household will be encouraged
    to use self-advocacy and develop a positive social 
     network.  The Housing Coordinator will follow up 
    with home visits that are respectful of time and  
   individual schedules.                                          

 

  Assisting Property Owners

The Housing Coordinator will also work directly
with property owners to discuss tenancy and     
lease issues that threaten housing stability.      
They will establish a process for early dialogue  
   about concerns and work with individual property
  owners to create a positive history of problem     
resolution.                                                        
  Landlords will receive assistance in matching      
   renters to units and benefit from tenant               
   education on landlord/tenant rights and                
  responsibilities including timely payment of rent.

               How Beyond Shelter Works                                                       

     Beyond Shelter participants and the Housing Coordinator 
     develop a practical, realistic case action plan, discuss
     tenant/landlord responsibilities, conduct housing search,
     develop personal budget, plan for pre/post moving day 
     issues, establish utility accounts, acquire household items,
     make referrals for medical, mental health, education,
     employment, child care, legal counsel, and other needed
     services that can effect the success of independent living.

     Everybody Should Have A Home