A-F.I.R.S.T.
Permanent Supportive Housing Project

The Alliance for Children & Families (ACF) plans to break ground in the Spring of 2010 on a 10-unit Permanent Supportive Housing complex located at 110 W. Cambridge St. in Alliance.

A-F.I.R.S.T. will serve formerly homeless families and individuals.  Stark County's Interagency Council on Homelessness (SCICH)'s 10-year plan to prevent homelessness in Stark County requires the development of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for children and families.

A 2007 study of Stark County's needs by the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) illustrated a need for 175 PSH units (10 for families and 165 for individuals).  Currently there are no PSH units available for children and families in the entire Stark County area.

ACF aims to reduce the homelessness rate in Stark County for children and families by providing 10 units, which will provide for up to 43-48 persons annually.  We will also provide wrap around services and support for the families while they are residing in the complex.

Description

The 10-unit Permanent Supportive Housing Project will create a campus-like community that will take a holistic approach in its treatment to homeless children and families. This approach will provide for the entire family within a community setting in a manner sensitive to the needs of homeless persons and their families.

Included in this PSH project will be an area for case management, homeless specialist, medical services, legal aid, special programs area, tutorial and education instruction for adults and children, clinical counselor/licensed social worker, chemical dependency counselor, early childhood development assessments, playground area, laundry, and security.

Goals

Goals include the provision of wrap-around services and support to the families while they are residing in the complex, through working collaboratives established throughout the community.  For example: 

• Clinic hours provided by the Alliance Health Department, Mount Union College, and Western Stark Medical Van.
• Mental Health Counseling provided by Community Services of Stark County and Quest Recovery Services
• Job Training services from Pyramid, Alliance Development Foundation, and Alliance City Schools
• Learning areas for children and adults with McKinney-Vento funding.
• Learning site for Mount Union College students to do field studies, placement experiences, and early childhood development lab experiences.

Operating Support

The program will be sustained with a combination of operating support utilizing HUD subsidized rental assistance, TANF funds, and McKinney-Vento and State of Ohio's Department of Education neglected & dependent funds for children's educational and tutorial services.

Staffing will be funded through supportive service dollars from the Ohio Department of Development, HUD, Mental Health, Medicaid, Social Security/Disability funds, Grants, Internships, Volunteers, and City Development Block Grants.  Because the site will be providing space and has established working partners for collaboration, other social service and medical providers have pledged to provide their services without cost to the residents of the PSH families.  ACF has excellent community support for this, as well as other agency projects, which produces generous in-kind, material, and financial contributions.

Donations

Donations to the A-F.I.R.S.T. Capital Campaign can be made to

Alliance for Children & Families
624 Scranton Avenue
Alliance, Ohio 44601

Please make your check payable to
Alliance for Children & Families
Please designate "A-F.I.R.S.T." in the memo area of your check.

Development Team