Fresh Start for Children and Families, Inc.

Fresh Start’s primary focus is helping families achieve long-term self-sufficiency through a nine-month residential and educational program. Our Mission is: To share love and compassion through a comprehensive educational, vocational, and economic housing program to help homeless families achieve self-sufficiency.

WE ARE A HAND UP, NOT A HAND OUT. Our goal is to help families with children who have, for whatever reason, ended up homeless. Divorce, abuse, loss of a job, addiction, it happens to the very best of people. Not many people get a do-over, an opportunity for a fresh start. We do that here for those that are willing to put in the work. Our life skills classes cover everything from self-worth, to parenting, budgeting to meal planning.

Fresh Start operates three major programs: two are housing and education programs for homeless families; the third is open to the public and is our primary funding source for the housing and education programs. 

Our Transitional Housing Program is a nine to 12 month  educational program that includes housing. We have ten (10) two- and three-bedroom units available in the program. To qualify, residents must be: (1) A family (one or more adults with custody of children, (2) drug and alcohol free (tested upon entry and randomly), (3) employed 4-6 weeks upon entry, and (4) able to pay monthly utilities for their apartment. Residents must participate in 3 mandatory weekly activities: (1) Wednesday night group classes (1 hour), (2) investment to the family savings plan (10% of household income) and program fees (20% of income), and (3) weekly appointments with Life Skills & Education staff, work on individual (family) development plans, and the goals established therein.

Our Affordable Housing program is a one to two-year step-up housing program. The program is for those who have completed of our transitional housing program who are ready to be self-sufficient but may require reduced rent while they recover and build their financial and rental credit history.

Our Repeat Street Thrift Store is a revenue source for Fresh Start’s housing and education programs as well as furnishes and outfits our apartments. The store inventory is donated by generous citizens and businesses. Once inventory is received, it is cleaned, repaired, priced and sold by volunteers in the store.

Our campaign is a game changer. In todays economy, finding a place to love once time is up in our program has become near to impossible. The average cost of rent for a family of 4 is $1700, and HUD vouchers have become few and far between. HUD says a family should not pay more than 30% of their income on housing. Using that rule, a family would need to make $60K per year. Most of those who come to us are single parent households and the average income we get them up to is $40K per year. We will offer a scholarship program to graduates of our transitional program to attend 2 year certificate programs at our local tech school or colleges while in our affordable program. Our clients all qualify for full tuition aide and we have set it up with Career Source to expedite the process for our clients. The scholarships will cover the price of half their rent, utilities and daycare, so that the parent can work part time while they attend the 2 year course. Our clients can come out of school, use the Career Source Placement service and get good paying jobs such as welding, electrician, LPN, mechanic, IT Services, Hair Stylist, Esthetician, and many many more. We will monitor their progress and report on each individual and the strides they are making.  

HELP US HELP THESE FAMILIES! NOT WITH A BAND-AID OR A HANDOUT, BUT LETS BREAK THE CHAIN! WE HAVE 3 INDIVIDUALS READY TO START NOW!

 "FEED A MAN A FISH AND HE EATS FOR A DAY, TEACH A MAN TO FISH AND HE EATS FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE"

To learn more about us: http://freshstartfl.com/