Housing Stabilization Program

 Helping you to become the solution…

The Housing Stabilization Program was developed by SEVCA’s Family Services staff to address longer-term cycles of homelessness and housing instability in households facing a host of complex issues at the core level. The focus of our Housing Stabilization Program (HSP) is to provide intensive interventions to stabilize households with persistent barriers to maintaining their housing, and thus prevent homelessness before it happens. Our Housing Stabilization Counselor works with struggling tenants and homeowners in their homes to address their complex needs and preventing homelessness by striking at the source.

The HSP program targets households who have exhibited several significant and persistent barriers to maintaining housing security, including unmanageable debt, lack of resources and/or asset-building capacity, lack of life and planning skills or education, and/or physical or mental health issues. The program can also expand eligibility for services for households, such as the “working poor,” who may not meet the more stringent income guidelines of publicly-funded programs but could be spiraling into downward mobility due to economic hardships.

The program addresses 3 core problems:

• Financial instability / downward mobility – People who are homeless or on that precipice are at risk for further downward spiral into chaos that could set them back for years without stabilizing intervention
• Lack of resources – The HSP can identify multiple needs and gaps in service and provide the crucial link to; any needed services that the household may be eligible for by collaborating with other service providers
• Poor financial management skills – Clients participate in the process of achieving security by learning to make wise economic choices and developing money management skills.

In addition, our enhanced program model increases the likelihood of long-term success by working with the household to solve another critical barrier, the lack of prospects for sustainability. The HSP Counselor analyzes and addresses root causes of poverty and/or instability within the household by exploring core issues facing the household and the individuals within it. Relationships and dynamics relative to self-esteem, potential, skills, education and personal choices are explored on the road to setting achievable goals. Participants are encouraged and supported through a planning process beyond budgeting, to find solutions and stepping stones to long-term stability.

Our HSP Counselor serves as a case manager, resource broker, advocate, and guide to bring program participants through the process of stabilizing their lives and maintaining or attaining affordable housing. Voluntary participants who are self-directed and willing to make the necessary life changes are identified and referred to the program by FS workers, other SEVCA programs, or other service providers. Once enrolled, the program unfolds in stages as progress is made over an expected 6-month period:

1. Assessing and Prioritizing Needs (utilizing a Risk Matrix to identify appropriate preventative and responsive goals)
2. Goal-setting (6-month, 1-year, 5-year)
3. Building External Resources
4. Strengthening Internal Resources
5. Maintaining a Budget
6. Taking Steps Toward Long-term Sustainability

Ramp-down and follow-up. You can contact our HSP Counselor at (802) 722-4575 or toll free (800) 464-9951 x-125 for more information