In this Spotlight:   Serving Homeless Families

Georgia Home Visiting Program Resource Spotlight April 2018, Vol 2 No 2

When a family is homeless, or worried about becoming homeless, it is difficult to focus on anything else. As a home visitor you may be wondering what you can do to help. What resources are available to prevent homelessness or help find a stable home? More than you think. Keep reading!

Locating Services in Your Area

Rapid Re-Housing Assistance for Homeless Families Financial assistance is available for qualifying families in urgent need of immediate housing. Assistance includes short term rental support with aid for security and utility deposits, food, transportation, coping skills, employment assistance and job training. Action Ministries serves the following areas: Atlanta Metro, Baldwin, Bartow, DeKalb, Columbia, Floyd, Fannin, Gordon, Gwinnett, Morgan, McDuffie, Newton, Putnam, Pickens, Polk and Whitfield. Housing Intake Line: 404-881-1991 EXT. 5608 Housing Referrals: [email protected] Click on the brochure above to learn more about services through Action Ministries, or talk with someone about housing assistance for a family in the county you serve. Call Action Ministries: 404-881-1991 Visit Action Ministries Online .

Georgia Housing Gateway The Georgia Housing Gateway assists individuals with housing resources through an easy to use online portal.

Resource Tip Forge partnerships with local housing and homeless organizations to address the specific needs of the families in your area. These may also be great places to meet and screen new families.

Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness Provider Network Click on the map to access the provider network for the Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness . This free service provides access to over 1,100 homeless service providers throughout Georgia. A service specialist is also available from Monday to Friday from 9:00am - 6:00pm at the Homeless Info Hotline: 877-540-4671

Do you know about Aunt Bertha? Aunt Bertha is a partnership with the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA) and helps people connect with social services in the US such as housing, food pantries, medical services and job training. Visit Aunt Bertha .

Housing and Financial Counseling Directories in Georgia

Click on the buttons and icons below to access the following resources:

The Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA) directory of counseling agencies in Georgia The US Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing directory of counseling agencies in Georgia The HUD directory of foreclosure avoidance counseling agencies in Georgia

Georgia Rental Housing Search Free online rental housing listing and locator service: www.georgiahousingsearch.org 877-428-8844

The Georgia Dream Home Ownership Program Assistance is available for families looking to buy an affordable home through the Georgia Dream Home Ownership Program . Families can learn more about the Georgia Dream Home Ownership program by enrolling in a free e-class at www.ehomeamerica.org .

Understanding Housing Status Definitions

Though it may seem obvious, the term homelessness can have different meanings. In general, homeless persons are individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Here are some of the common situations in which some families may find themselves. Literally Homeless Sheltered Homeless Persons: People who reside in an emergency shelter or in transitional/supportive housing for homeless persons designated to provide temporary living arrangements. Unsheltered Homeless Persons: People with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground. Imminently Homeless People wh o are facing loss of housing within two weeks, have no subsequent residence identified, and lack the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing. Other situations People who are in jail, a hospital, or detox program may also be considered homeless.

Did You Know?

A homeless child experiences traumatic stress that can lead to social, emotional, educational and developmental challenges as well as learning disabilities.

Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act , early learning programs such as Early Head Start must prioritize families who have been identified as homeless. Third party verification of homelessness status is often required and home visiting programs may qualify to provide this verification. Find a local Early Head Start program.

Other Resources for Home Visitors

Visit the GHVP website

The Georgia Home Visiting Program The Georgia Department of Public Health's Georgia Home Visiting Program (GHVP) is supported by the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant, Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant and other sources. Home Visitors visit families of children from prenatal to five years of age and coordinate a wide range of support services to ensure families have the information and support they need to help their children get a great start in life.