FAMILY LIFE SUPPORT CENTER, INC. Louison House
Providing Transitional and Permanent Housing Solutions for the Homeless
Programs and Services
Representative-Payee Program
The Representative-Payee Program is designed to help Social Security recipients who are required by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to have an individual or organizational payee manage their finances. A representative payee is appointed by the SSA to receive SSI/SSDI benefits for enrolled clients. The main responsibilities of a payee are to use the benefits to pay for the current and foreseeable needs of the beneficiary and properly save any benefits not needed to meet current needs. FLSC contracts out this service to independent contractors, who work with these clients on an individual basis. In 2012, FLSC served a total of 50 clients through this program.he Representative-Payee Program is designed to help Social Security recipients who are required by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to have an individual or organizational payee manage their finances. A representative payee is appointed by the SSA to receive SSI/SSDI benefits for enrolled clients. The main responsibilities of a payee are to use the benefits to pay for the current and foreseeable needs of the beneficiary and properly save any benefits not needed to meet current needs. FLSC contracts out this service to independent contractors, who work with these clients on an individual basis. In 2012, FLSC served a total of 50 clients through this program.
Transitional Housing Program
The Louison House is a 22-bed Transitional Housing Shelter that has been in existence for over twenty years. This type of program can house families and individuals for up to two years even though most exit the program within 3 months. In order to be eligible, all clients must meet the federal standard for being considered homeless and also have documentation such as an eviction letter. As a condition of acceptance into the program, all clients must accept supportive services provided by the FLSC staff and follow their Individual Service Plans. A range of services are offered that include: case management, budget/financial counseling, education/career planning, job/housing search assistance and life-skills training. The purpose of the Transitional Housing Program is to help our clients stabilize their housing situations and also assist them to transform their lives by reaching their goals. Last year, 102 clients were sheltered at the Louison House. In terms of outcomes, 71% of our exiting clients were able to secure permanent housing upon exit and 96% maintained or increased their income during the year.
Permanent Supportive Housing Program
The PSH Program houses homeless families and individuals in leased apartments for an unlimited period of time. These units are fully subsidized by FLSC and include basic supports such as case management services. This program targets chronically homeless families and individuals who are currently homeless and ready to live independently. Last year, FLSC served 10 chronically homeless families and individuals through this program, and 100% of these clients were able to either remain in or secure permanent housing during this time. In addition, 83% of our PSH clients were either able to maintain or increase their income during the year. Since 2010, FLSC has increased the number of PSH units by 100% and the overall PSH bed capacity by 600%. Overall, FLSC has increased its total bed capacity by 95% since 2009.
Louison House in Adams, MA
Permanent Supportive Housing Unit in North Adams, MA
Supportive Services Only Program
The Supportive Services Only Program currently provides supportive services to Berkshire County clients that have exited our housing programs or are at-risk of becoming homeless. Services, such as case management, are provided at the residence of the client until the household (family or individual) is stabilized and practical goals (i.e. GED attainment) have been met. The purpose of the SSO program is to prevent these clients from experiencing chronic homelessness, which is often the product of a lack of outside supports. The SSO program is actually constructed in part from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) SSO model. The general goals of SSO type-projects are to help at-risk clients: 1) achieve/maintain housing stability, 2) increase their skills and incomes, and 3) become self-sufficient. Housing Coordinators and Residential Counselors are responsible for providing these supportive services. The cost of funding SSO programs is much less expensive than operating housing programs because they have limited operational expenses and no leasing costs associated with it. In fact, a SSO program is the most cost effective way in addressing homelessness, as it only costs $5 per day to keep an at-risk client housed in their current housing versus $35 per day at the shelter. For 2013, FLSC anticipates that we will serve 30-40 clients during the year.
