Rapid Rehousing

Written By Lesa Gould

What We Provide

We are here to help. If you are homeless and in a Baltimore County shelter, we may be able to assist you.

For 12 months we provide:

  • Housing Assistance

  • Rent subsidies

  • Group counseling

  • Financial literacy and budget education

  • Goal setting and life skills attainment training

  • Job search assistance

In return, we ask that you work with us for 12 months and make lasting changes to transform your life. If you are ready to work hard to make a shift from living in fear of homelessness to celebrating stability, then read our qualification requirements.

Requirements

Part of our vision is to help create a community in which families are able to make a shift from just surviving to flourishing. However, at the present time our resources are limited and we only take families referred from shelters since we are unable to assist everyone who needs our help. To be considered for assistance, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  • You are homeless and currently stay in a Baltimore County shelter

  • Have at least one dependent child in your custody

  • Have a source of income and fall below the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s moderate income level

Process

First you will need a referral from a shelter case manager. Then you will complete the application/intake form provided and an interview will be scheduled.

What to bring to the initial interview
We want our initial interview with you to be productive. Therefore, we request that you please
come prepared with the following documents:

  • A completed application/intake form

  • A photo ID of all adults in the household

  • Income verification, such as pay stubs, child support statements or temporary cash assistance statements

  • Proof that at least one dependent child resides with you, such as an income tax statement or school records.

What to expect at the interview
The primary purpose of the interview is for us to review your documents with you. You will be asked a series of questions so they get to know you and better understand your personal circumstances. Within two to three weeks, your information will be presented to our Intake Committee. The Committee will review all potential participants’ information on the same day. You will then be notified by phone regarding whether or not you are accepted into our program.

If you have questions, please call Jennie at 410-252-4465, x115 or email:  jennie@stfrancismd.org

Expectations

We expect our program participants to work hard at making permanent changes in their lives. This includes attending mandatory cohort evening meetings twice per month for 12 months.

What you need to know about the meetings

  • The meetings are a key part of our program.

  • Each participant is assigned a case manager from our staff. The case manager and participant meet each month to work on goal setting, financial literacy skills and budgeting.

  • We offer group counseling at the other monthly meeting. Some previous topics included stress management and parenting skills.

  • The meetings are 90 minutes long.

  • Childcare is provided at the meetings.

  • All meetings are held at locations in Timonium and Dundalk.


Our expectations of program participants

  • We expect 100% meeting attendance or prior contact with our Program Coordinators if there is a justifiable reason for being unable to attend.

  • We expect our participants to work hard at achieving their goals.

  • We expect our participants to communicate their concerns to us.

Lesa Gould
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