Homecoming Family Reunification
Housing and stability for parents and children to reunify and become a family again.
Housing Reunification
Finding affordable and appropriate housing is often a primary barrier for children and families to be reunited together after parents complete all necessary requirements from the child welfare system. Homecoming Family Reunification is designed with this in mind. Utilizing Reliable Enterprises experience as an affordable housing provider since 2008, the program is uniquely prepared to assist families find housing. We can support families find housing, provide move-in support, and case management so children can come home to their families.
Extensive Case Management
Reliable Enterprises works with each family to create individualized, person centered plans for success. Our case managers focus on long-term stability as finding housing for families is just the first step toward success.
We assist families with financial resources such as rents & move in deposits, goal setting with progress benchmarks, reflecting on what success means to each family, and recognizing consequences before bad decisions are made.
Housing Support Services
Long-term stability is key to success for families as finding housing is only the first step in the process. Future steps include:
- Dedicated case management and deposit/rental support.
- Referrals for the In-Tot program for children ages 0-3 or Head Start for preschool services.
- Life skills training such as establishing basic household routines for cleaning, laundry, cooking and meal prep on a budget, first aid/CPR.
Frequently Asked Questions
We can receive referrals from the WA State Dept of Children, Youth and Families, Guardian Ad Litems, Attorneys, or Judges. Families must also have an open case with the child welfare system where they are eligible to get their kids back once they find stable housing. Families can receive services for up to 24 months.
Families must have at least one child in foster care who are awaiting return or through prevention services if children are about to be placed out of the home. Parents are required to participate in ongoing case management with trained Reliable Case Managers.
• Child Welfare Workers
• Lawyers
• Guardians Ad Litem/ CASAs
• The Courts
• There must be a consensus that the family is ready for reunification.
Services provided by the Case Manager and/or The Homecoming program include meal planning, budgeting, time management/scheduling assistance, fostering of Landlord/Tenant communication, advocacy, financial assistance – to obtain vital documents like driver’s license, birth certificate etc. as well as other emergent financial services.
When families graduate from Rent Well, depending on location, the landlord can apply for certain incentives that can guarantee rent and/ or damages within the first year of the rental agreement with a Rent Well Graduate. Rent Well also trains graduates to:
♦ Identify potential screening barriers.
♦ Understand how and why a landlord will screen them.
♦ Review important personal records; such as credit, civil, and criminal reports
♦ Create an individualized plan for stable housing
♦ Build a household budget that makes paying rent a priority
♦ Review rental agreements to understand common terms and expectations, including the importance of communicating with landlords about home repairs and how to effectively communicate those issues to ensure further damage does not occur.
♦ Understand the landlord’s perspective
♦ Communicate effectively with neighbors and landlords
♦ Move-in and move-out of rental units in a professional manner
♦ Understand the eviction process and how to avoid it
♦ Maintain a clean, safe, and healthy home
Are you a landlord interested in the program?
Wonderful news! We are always searching for landlords to partner with us to provide our families with housing. Our staff is committed to our families and their continued success and will work with them if issues arise. Together we can give families their best chance for stability and success.
For more information you can download the landlord packet or reach out to Debi Hood, Children & Youth Services Director.
