Housing and Stabilization

Housing stability is the overall goal of all Family Promise of Essex County (FPE) programs.  Using a housing first approach, FPE believes families experiencing homelessness cannot resolve their crisis until they are stably housed.  Every family that comes to FPE is assigned a Case Manager to help the family find and move into permanent housing as quickly as possible.  Sometimes providing a security deposit or first month’s rent is all a family needs to get back into permanent housing, other families need a little more help.  Once a family has moved into permanent housing FPE provides training and other opportunities for families to continue to improve their household income, support networks and overall wellbeing.

FPE maintains a resource center in Montclair, where our professional social service staff provides ongoing case management, workshops and activities for FPE program participants, both adults and children.  The workshops and activities cover a range of topics including job search and interviewing, budget management, landlord/tenant relationships, parenting, and healthy lifestyles.  Youth are provided with academic tutoring, after school enrichment activities, educational and community building field trips and summer camp opportunities. In addition, FPE provides school supplies and, when possible, clothing as well as birthday and holiday gifts.

The Circles program includes a specific youth track that is designed to enhance a child’s love for learning while offering activities that promote creativity and problem solving.  It covers the core themes the children’s parents will study:  building relationships, respect and financial literacy and other topics such as bullying and learning habits.