Healthy Start House: Bridge Housing
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Healthy Start House provides transitional housing for up to 18 months for women who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. Women may be residents of Healthy Start House if they are pregnant or have young children. They may have up to four children 10 years old or younger.
The primary goal of Healthy Start House's bridge housing program is to provide a supportive and structured living environment for women and their children. Healthy Start House provides safe and low-cost housing with sensitive and effective social support services to help women move into independent residential living. Staff members assist bridge housing residents as they develop plans, identify short- and long-term goals, and evaluate the achievement of their goals.
Healthy Start House staff members assist residents to identify needed health and human services and assess educational, job training, and child care options. They assist residents in securing permanent housing and provide advocacy as needed. Residents are provided with access to a business telephone, daily newspapers, postage, photocopying services, and the computer resource center.
Healthy Start House bridge housing residents must be at least ninety days free of active addiction. Non-pregnant residents must be employed or enrolled in school within two months of entry. Pregnant residents must be employed or enrolled within two months of childbirth. They must also pay 30% of the monetary support they receive each month to Healthy Start House for room, board, utilities, and the cost of the social services provided to the woman and her family. Upon successful completion of the bridge housing program, 15% of the total amount paid is forwarded by check to the resident's new rental agent.
Upon leaving Healthy Start House, women and their families are linked with health and social services in the community in which they will reside. They are also encouraged to continue to participate in Healthy Start House's education programs and special events. To safeguard against situations that might lead them back into homelessness, these women receive follow-up services for a minimum of six months.
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