Columbia Family Shelter also provides transitional housing

The number of homeless families in the United States went down by at least seven percent with a little over 636,000 from 2011 to 2012. This figure was provided by the federal government’s housing and urban development office. Meanwhile, The National Center on Family Homelessness, partner of the American Institutes for Research says roughly 1.5 million kids live on the streets and comprises more than 30 percent of the country’s dispossessed populace. In the city of Columbia (South Carolina) alone, the 2011 homeless tally was pegged at 1,621 persons, 25 percent of which were families with offspring.

Family Shelter Concept

At the Columbia Family Shelter, the basic eligibility policy is that destitute parents with legal guardianship of no less than a single dependent can be accommodated by this safe haven. However, only adolescent girls not older than 16 years and boys less than 12 years are allowed in the shelter. Women who are beyond the first three months of pregnancy are not accepted because of insufficient staffing. The facility prioritizes families living in Lexington and Richland Counties.

Under the Shelter’s primary emergency platform, families can stay from two weeks to four months. This is based on the needs of families and compliance with the facility’s so-called transitional housing agenda. Qualified households may submit an application for residency in the transitional format. This means that the eligible family will be given an apartment unit from a minimum of six to 24 months.

Transitional Housing System

The Family Shelter in Columbia has eight apartment house units. These are allocated for those who were enrolled with the emergency shelter program and entitled applicants referred by collaborating agencies within the community. Families participating in the program are expected to become independent and stable in the long run. The monthly rent is very affordable and based on a descending scale. Moreover, families will still be given support services provided by the institution. The shelter has also put in place a referral system for employment, permanent housing, medical care, education, behavioral health services, childhood intervention, and credit repair.

The Family Shelter also implements and encourages Life Skills Training courses to nurture parents into capable individuals who can seek employment in the outside world. It develops their organizational skills and enhances communication proficiency along with decision-making abilities.

The facility is located at 2411 Two Notch Rd in Columbia, SC. For more information, you may call 803-771-7040. More information can be found at their website.