Pathway to Diversion
Our Pathway to Diversion program empowers families experiencing
homelessness to avoid the trauma of the shelter system
Our innovative Pathway to Diversion program empowers families experiencing homelessness to avoid the trauma of the shelter system.
In Delaware, 1 in 30 kids experience homelessness each year. There is simply not enough shelter space for all of these families. This is why Family Promise NNCC started “shelter diversion” as a pilot in 2014. As the name suggests, this method “diverts” families from the shelter system by quickly identifying other interventions and housing opportunities. Families who are successfully “diverted” thus free up limited shelter spaces for other families experiencing homelessness.
Our Diversion program seeks to house families within 7-14 days by utilizing social resources and providing families direct assistance to secure housing. Diverting families from the shelter system is a cost effective intervention that acts quickly, thus preventing the trauma and the negative health effects associated with homelessness.
How It Works
In our Pathway to Diversion, we work collaboratively with other providers to identify families who are experiencing homelessness or are imminently (i.e., within days) at risk of becoming homeless. With our Pathway to Diversion, we prevent families who are experiencing homelessness from going into the shelter system by:
1) Helping them navigate personal resources they have for safe temporary housing — i.e., divert them from the shelter system to someplace safe and secure, albeit temporary, while we work with them on securing housing
2) Helping them secure permanent housing of their own
3) Leveraging existing resources in our community to provide an overall effective solution for families that help them resolve their housing crisis and prevent them from entering the shelter system.
Mental Health & Homelessness
Mental Health & Homelessness
Diversion is a unique homelessness intervention as works with families before they enter shelter. Staying in a shelter is a traumatic experience for families with children. Experiencing homelessness as a child is proven to be detrimental to a child’s overall development and mental health.
Children who experience being homeless, even for short periods of time are: 3 times more likely to be placed in special education programs, 8-9 times more likely to repeat grades, and seven times more likely to attempt suicide. The negative mental health affects homelessness has on children is painfully apparent and that is why we seek to intervene through diversion, and house a family before they enter the shelter system.
Your congregation or organization can join us in ending family homelessness! For more information, contact Andréa Cox, Community Engagement Manager, at andrea@familypromisede.org or (302) 998-2222 ext. 104.
Your donation will keep families together and help them overcome homelessness. We accept monetary donations (click here to securely donate online) and donations of needed supplies (click here for our current wish list). Questions? Contact Blaine Breeding, Development & Marketing Manager: blaine@familypromisede.org or (302) 998-2222 ext. 105.