2009
Families in Transition Named Recipient of $500,000 Grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Combined $1 Million will Fund New Approach to Help the Homeless
September 22, 2009 (MANCHESTER, NH) - Families in Transition (FIT), one of the leading housing and service providers for homeless families in New Hampshire, has received a $500,000 matching grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) with an additional $500,000 to be provided by local funding partners to offer an enhanced new approach to serve homeless children and families.
With local support from the Cogswell Benevolent Trust, the Endowment for Health, the Jessie B. Cox Trust, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation, the combined funds will create The Family Place, an innovative program designed specifically to serve homeless children and families facing multiple stressors including a history of trauma, substance use disorders and/or mental illness. This new programming at The Family Place will address the specific issues that these families face utilizing an integrated approach which focuses not just on the needs of parents, but also those of the child, and most importantly, the family as a single unit.
Families currently represent the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, accounting for as much as 40% of all homeless people nationwide. Unfortunately, many of these families share a common path to homelessness, one characterized by mental illness, trauma and chronic substance use disorders. The primary goal of The Family Place is to prevent the long-term family disruption and separation too often caused by the combination of these complex and interrelated factors. By reducing common barriers to care faced by vulnerable families, an estimated 40 to 50 children and families will access services at The Family Place each year.
Core programming at The Family Place will focus on family-strengthening therapeutic treatment designed to serve the needs of each unique family through the use of evidence based techniques. Additional programming components will include academically-enhanced afterschool programming, family and parent advocacy to improve coordination of care, and an unparalleled collaboration of services with agency partners including the Division of Children, Youth and Families, Child Heath Services, Catholic Medical Center's Poisson Dental Clinic, the Healthcare for the Homeless Program, The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, The Elliot Physician Network, the State of New Hampshire Department of Education, The New Hampshire Food Bank among others.
"We are honored to have been chosen by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and our local funding partners to advance this coordinated approach to working with homeless families and their children," states Maureen Beauregard, President of FIT. "As a leader in providing housing and comprehensive social services to individuals and families who are homeless in New Hampshire, it has become clear that the time has come for us to further engage with our community and offer these imperative services to our kids."
The Endowment for Health nominated Families in Transition and The Family Place to the Local Funding Partnerships (LFP), a partnership program between RWJF and local grantmakers which seeks to support innovative, community-based projects that improve health and health care for vulnerable populations. Out of 136 total applications from across the nation, FIT is one of only 11 agencies to receive LFP funding in 2009.
As the nominating organization for this national program, the Endowment for Health has committed to partnering with local and regional foundations on behalf of FIT to raise the local match of $500,000 and sustain the programming beyond the grant period. "The Family Place will serve some of New Hampshire's most vulnerable children and families," said Endowment for Health Program Director Kim Firth. "It is our hope that the model can be sustained and replicated across the state and perhaps the country."
Located at 394 Second Street in Manchester, The Family Place has the goal of becoming a national model for best- practice service provision to all families who are experiencing homelessness. For more information, about The Family Place or how to support Families in Transition, please call (603) 641-9441.
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2008
Families In Transition Receives Grant From The Endowment For Health For Child And Family Mental Health Care At The Family Willows
Manchester, NH - July 14, 2008 - Families in Transition is proud to announce that it has received a $256,256 Theme Implementation Grant from the New Hampshire Endowment for Health, New Hampshire's largest health foundation. The award is one of 30 new grants recently given by the Endowment. Since 2001, the Endowment has awarded more than 600 Grants totaling $26 million support a wide range of health-related projects in New Hampshire.
This award will be use to support integration of behavioral health care into an important service delivery system that serves a high-risk, vulnerable population of children and youth. "Homeless families often suffer from the effects of trauma and co-occurring substance use disorders. Sadly, these families frequently fall through the cracks of our existing safety-net systems," said Endowment for Health Program Director Kim Firth. "Families in Transition is a leader in New Hampshire on this issue and has developed a model that will inform the field in the state and nationally."
These resources will be used to implement evidence based assessment and interventions for high risk children and youth suffering from the effects of untreated trauma. The Family Willows project, one of the latest achievements of Families in Transition, encompasses permanent supportive housing and intensive supportive services to help individuals and their children who are homeless and also suffering from co-occurring substance abuse and trauma.
"This is a perfect opportunity for us to partner with a leader in child and family mental health care in New Hampshire," adds Maureen Beauregard, President of Families in Transition. "We are thrilled and honored to have received this generous award which will help us support homeless children and their families".
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President of the National Low Income Housing Coalition to Keynote Families in Transition Annual Meeting
Manchester, NH - June 9, 2008 - Families in Transition is pleased to announce Shelia Crowley, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition as the keynote speaker for its Annual Meeting on June 12, 2008 at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester. A national policy and advocacy organization, NLIHC is committed to pushing for key improvements in federal housing policy and funding that will help ensure decent, affordable housing for everyone. NLIHC is the only national organization whose sole mission is to end the affordable housing crisis in America.
NLIHC is concerned about the housing circumstances of all low income people, but focuses most particularly on solving the housing problems of the lowest income people, including people who are homeless. NLICH relies on state and local partnerships to help accomplish its mission. NLIHC has formed partnerships with statewide housing and homeless organizations in 37 states, including New Hampshire.
Crowley joined the staff of the National Low Income Housing Coalition in December of 1998. She is a social worker with a bachelor's, master's and Ph.D from the School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is an adjunct faculty member for the VCU School of Social Work and for George Mason University Department of Social Work, teaching social policy, social justice, policy advocacy, and community and organization practice.
"Dr. Crowley is a leader in the fight to solve the affordable housing crisis for low-income people around the country and we are honored to have her presenting at our Annual Meeting," said Maureen Beauregard, President of Families in Transition.
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NH Senate President To Receive NH Award To End Homelessness
Families in Transition will honor Senator Sylvia Larsen with the 6th Annual Award to End Homelessness on Thursday, June 12, 2008, First Lady Dr. Susan Lynch to Present
Manchester, NH - June 5, 2008 - Families in Transition (FIT), a nonprofit agency that provides affordable housing and services for homeless individuals and families in New Hampshire will be presenting Senator Sylvia Larsen with the 6th Annual Award to End Homelessness at its Annual Meeting on June 12, 2008 at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester from 4:00 - 6:00pm.
Governor John Lynch (invited) and First Lady Dr. Susan Lynch will present Senator Larsen with the award at the Annual Meeting. The NH Award to End Homelessness is based on the belief that having a safe place to live is a basic human right. The recipient of this award is honored for their compassion, dedication and willingness to help individuals and families overcome the challenges brought on by homelessness.
At a time when the Concord, NH community had no programs available to provide assistance to a homeless, 18 year old mother of two, Senator Larsen made it a point to help the young mother and knew the problem needed a systemic solution.
As a state senator, Larsen heard testimony about NH homeless issues and knew about Families in Transition, a program in a city 30 miles away that had an 80 percent success rate in lifting women out of homelessness and providing them with marketable skills.
Larsen formed an advisory committee, served as Chair and brought Families in Transition to Concord, NH. Larsen met with city, state, and school officials to pave the way for approvals. According to her nominator, Roberta Tenney, "Senator Larsen smoothed the introduction of FIT into Concord by becoming its highly visible and articulate spokeswoman, educating the community on how Families in Transition supported families.
"Senator Larsen always followed through on the bills she sponsored. If she sponsored a bill, she would fight for it even if it meant it was a long shot," said Martha Yager of the American Friends Service Committee and past NH Award to End Homelessness recipient.
According to Maureen Beauregard, President of Families in Transition, "The world would be a very different place if each of us championed one cause in the way that Senator Larsen has championed Families in Transition." "The 35 families, 13 single women and 49 children who have been served since Families in Transition came to Concord in January of 2004 reflect the program's success", added Beauregard.
"As one of six female Senate Presidents in the nation, Sylvia Larsen has broken the glass ceiling but continues to hear the voices of those with shattered lives. She uses her time and talent to provide solutions for the needs of our community. Sylvia Larsen makes a difference in our community and in our state," Tenney also remarked.
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New Affordable Housing Facility Grand Opening With Families In Transition
Families in Transition Celebrates the Completion of the Family Willows to be Held Monday, May 19th at 161 South Beech Street in Manchester, US Senator John E. Sununu to Present
Manchester, NH - May 12, 2008 - Families in Transition (FIT), a nonprofit agency that provides affordable housing and services for homeless individuals and families in New Hampshire will celebrate the completion of their most ambitious and innovative project The Family Willows, located at 161 S. Beech Street in Manchester, with a Ribbon Cutting & Open House Celebration on Monday, May 19, 2008 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Family Willows is a recovery center that serves women who have substance abuse issues and a history of trauma and consists of 29 affordable housing units, clinical and administrative offices, and a second retail space for the Family Outfitters Thrift Store.
According to Maureen Beauregard, President of Families in Transition, "The Family Willows is a unique project that will allow mothers to live in stable housing with their children, while they receive innovative therapeutic and substance abuse services, and ultimately an opportunity for a healthy future. Far too often, families are torn apart due to a lack of available services and The Family Willows will address this need."
As part of the presentation, United States Senator John E. Sununu will offer his remarks on the project. Manchester Mayor Frank C. Guinta will relate the importance of this project to the City of Manchester and Dee Ann Pouliot of the NH Housing Finance Authority, will speak on behalf of the statewide affordable housing community.
This project was completed with support from many funders and each will be acknowledged. They are: New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority; City of Manchester; Community Development Finance Authority; US Department of Housing and Urban Development; Citizens Bank; New Hampshire Community Loan Fund; TD Banknorth, N.A.; Greater Manchester Charitable Trust; Cogswell Benevolent Trust; MTS Services; Boston Capital; Ocean Bank; Great Bay Foundation; Endowment for Health; NH DHHS, Bureau of Homeless & Housing; NH; NH DHHS, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Services; and Target. Great Bridge Properties, a co-developer of the project will be recognized along with other members of the Development Team which includes: Burnell-Johnson Architects, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, P.A., and Hutter Construction Corporation.
"This project is the result of the dedication and commitment of numerous individuals and agencies. We're pleased that so many of them have accepted out invitation to be a part of this special celebration, said Beauregard. The project and the presentation will close with a participant of Families in Transition sharing her personal experiences with homelessness and addiction. Tours will be given and refreshments served.
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For Sale: Tax Credits To Benefit Families In Transition
$145,000 of Tax Credits Still Available for New Hampshire Companies to Purchase
Manchester, NH - May 12, 2008 - Families in Transition (FIT), a non-profit organization providing safe, affordable housing and comprehensive supportive services to homeless individuals and families, was recently awarded $500,000 in business tax credits by the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) through their Community Development Improvement Program, which the agency must sell. The sale of these credits will net $400,000 in support of the Family Willows, a recovery center that serves women who have substance abuse issues and a history of trauma and consists of 29 affordable housing units, clinical and administrative offices, and a second retail space for the Family Outfitters Thrift Store.
"By purchasing CDFA tax credits, New Hampshire businesses have the unique opportunity to invest in a worthwhile project in their community while at the same time receiving a 75 percent state tax credit for the contribution," said Maureen Beauregard, President of Families in Transition. A donor making a $100,000 donation to the CDFA on behalf of the Family Willows will receive a state tax credit in the amount of $75,000, which many be applied against the business profits tax, business enterprise tax, and/or the insurance premium tax. Beauregard added, "This is a great opportunity for businesses to choose where tax dollars are targeted."
With the exception of the sale of Community Development Finance Authority tax credits, funding for the new facility has been fully secured. To date, Families in Transition has sold $355,000 of the tax credits to a variety of donors including TD Banknorth, Citizens Bank and MTS Services and Ocean Bank. The agency has $145,000 of tax credits still available for purchase.
According to Beauregard, "The Family Willows is a unique project that will allow mothers to live in stable housing with their children, while they receive innovative therapeutic and substance abuse services, and ultimately an opportunity for a healthy future. Far too often, families are torn apart due to a lack of available services and The Family Willows will address this need." Beauregard added, "It would be wonderful to see members of the community come forward and offer the resources that we need, and I am optimistic that this will happen." People looking to do so, can contact Beauregard directly at 603-641-9441.
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Families in Transition Announces Slate of Officers
Manchester, NH - February 26, 2008 - Families in Transition (FIT), a non-profit organization providing transitional and permanent affordable housing and comprehensive supportive services to homeless individuals and families, is pleased to announce the following slate of officers for 2008. Serving a two year term will be: Board Chair - - Joanne Edwards, Realtor of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage; Vice Chair - Sedra Michaelson, Sales Consultant, CCH, a Wolterkluwer business; Treasurer - David Goldman, Shareholder and Director of Howe, Riley & Howe; Secretary - Karyn O'Neil, Vice President of Citizens Bank; and Assistant Secretary - Joan Reische of Manchester, NH.
Also serving: Dick Anagnost, owner of Anagnost Investments; Judy Bergeron, Vice President, MTS Services; Theresa Dolloff, Retired Marketing Professional & Community Volunteer; Pauline Ikawa, Vice President, TD Banknorth, N.A.; Susan Grodman, Community Volunteer; Holly Heefe, MD, Elliot Hospital; Dana Neitlich, Community Volunteer; Eleanor Porter, Retired Public Relations Professional & Community Volunteer; Susan Underhill, Hewlett Packard and Diana Wieland, Attorney at Law, of Counsel to Sheehan, Phinney, Bass & Green.
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