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Major Programs & Departments
Beyond Shelter employs over 80 staff members and has a year 2008
operating budget of approximately $5.1 million.
Beyond Shelter's key programs are:
"Housing First" for Homeless Families
Homeless families are referred to Beyond Shelter's "Housing
First" Program by over 60 agencies from throughout L.A. County. Once enrolled,
families are assigned a case manager, who works closely with the Housing
Resources Department to move families directly into affordable rental housing in
a residential neighborhood of their choice. Once in their new housing, the
formerly homeless family is introduced to their new neighborhood – its shopping,
transportation and community services, and school-age children are enrolled in
school. During the six to 12 months after the move, the case manager
provides individualized, supportive social services to help each family move
toward stability and independence.
Housing Resources
Department
Beyond Shelter's Housing Resources Department assists homeless
families enrolled in the "Housing First" Program to access and move into
permanent, affordable housing. Housing Resources Specialists seek out property
owners and managers willing to rent to families who might not otherwise qualify
for leases. Staff assist with lease negotiations, educate tenants regarding
their rights and responsibilities and maintain relationships with landlords so
that crisis intervention can occur immediately and a recurrence of homelessness can be averted. Both
the City and County of Los Angeles allocate Section 8 rental assistance vouchers
to Beyond Shelter each year for families in need of an ongoing housing subsidy.
Rental Assistance Department
Beyond Shelter’s
Rental Assistance Department serves as the Central Coordinating
Agency for numerous rental assistance programs throughout Los
Angeles County. Over 60 agencies refer eligible clients to Beyond
Shelter for emergency funds offered through two main programs: the
Emergency Housing Assistance Program and the Rent to Prevent
Eviction Program. The Emergency Housing Assistance Program,
sponsored by the Emergency Food and Shelter Board, has two
components: (1) move-in assistance for homeless families and
disabled individuals, and (2) move-in and rent-to-prevent eviction
assistance. As part of the Rent to Prevent Eviction Program
sponsored by the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA),
Beyond Shelter coordinates funds for families and disabled
individuals who are currently in housing, but are at risk of
becoming homeless.
Employment Services Department
In an era of welfare reform, Beyond Shelter's Employment Services
Department seeks to help families become self-sufficient and off of
government assistance. In addition to job placement support, an
array of services is available to help clients reach their goals,
including access to job listings, computers for their job search,
and tutorials in typing and basic skills. Under Beyond Shelter's
"team approach," a case manager and employment counselor work
collaboratively on a client's behalf. This methodology was part of a
30-month
Welfare-to-Work Demonstration Project
by the U.S. Department of Labor from 1999-2001.
Courtyard Apartments Family Shelter
Opened in 2001, the Courtyard Apartments Family Shelter provides
35-40 homeless families per year with safe, temporary emergency
shelter for 60-90 days, until permanent housing is found. Each
family living at the shelter occupies one of 14 one- or two-bedroom
units available, which are equipped with a private kitchen and
bathroom. Courtyard features an outdoor play area, central
courtyard, food pantry, clothing closet and laundry facilities.
Service-Enriched Housing
Service-enriched housing represents the incorporation of "services
coordination" into affordable rental housing for the low-income population
at-large, not necessarily targeted to those who are at-risk or with special
needs. Beyond Shelter's service-enriched apartment complexes located in Central
and South Los Angeles have provided the agency with a "laboratory" to test and
refine this methodology. The properties include access to social services
provided by an services coordinator, who oversees the provision of crisis
intervention and case management services. Additionally, each service-enriched
site has community rooms for classes and meetings. Resident management
committees actively participate in many areas of operation and in the
coordination of activities.
Broadway South Neighborhood
Revitalization Project
Beyond Shelter is leading a major Neighborhood Revitalization
Project in South Los Angeles, which developed after the Civil Unrest
in 1992, in response to critical housing and social services
shortages in the area. In 1993 Beyond Shelter initiated the project
with the development of Umoja Apartments (House of Unity), a 30-unit
service-enriched housing complex which opened in 1996. In 2001,
Beyond Shelter opened Broadway Village I, a one-stop, multi-service
center which includes the Beyond Shelter Family Services Center, the
Drew Child Development Center and a newly built 16-unit
service-enriched housing complex which opened in July 2004.
In 2006, Beyond Shelter opened Broadway Village II - a 50-unit
service-enriched, affordable housing unit for low-income families, which
also includes a library and conference and community
rooms.
Beyond Shelter Housing Development Corporation
The Beyond Shelter Housing Development Corp.
is the development affiliate of Beyond Shelter, developing, managing
and operating affordable housing and neighborhood resource centers
in low-income neighborhoods, with a focus on service-enriched
housing. BSHDC has developed several service-enriched and mixed-use
housing projects primarily in Central and South Los Angeles, with
additional projects in early stages of development. Each housing
site offers a variety of programs for adults and children, including
parenting and adult education seminars, as well as tutoring,
enrichment and after-school activities.
The Institute for Research, Training and Technical Assistance
Beyond Shelter's Institute for Research, Training and Technical
Assistance conducts national and regional workshops; provides
training and consulting services; and develops and distributes
Beyond Shelter publications to share information with others and to
promote systemic change. |