Genesis

Genesis engages the community in providing families and individuals with opportunities to achieve safe and permanent housing.  Genesis partners with the local faith community, service organizations, and businesses.  Homeless and at-risk of becoming homeless families and individuals are partnered with trained mentors. Mentors help Genesis participants set housing, employment, education and other long term stability goals.  Mentors work with Genesis participants to take steps to meet these goals, as well as complete financial literacy education and parenting curriculum over a period of 18 weeks.  Mentors also connect participants to resources in our community that will ensure their long-term stability. 

In addition to the supportive education, partners provide participants with a $1,000 stipend that is matched by Sioux Empire United Way.  The financial assistance is used by the Genesis participants for security deposits, rental fees, and expenses for furniture, education, or other basic needs.  A case manager works closely with the mentors and participants, ensuring goals are met, participants are connected with appropriate resources, and to provide support to the mentors.

Homelessness in the Sioux Empire

     *In 2007, a one day count of homeless individuals in Minnehaha County included nearly 650 people.

     *Within our public school systems, over 6,500 children qualify for free and reduced meals (income of $21,000 or less for a family of four).

     *According to the HELP!Line Center, families in our community seeking resources for budget counseling and money management are up 121% in the first nine months of

       2008 compared to 2007.

     *Over 2,000 households currently receive housing assistance through Sioux Falls Housing & Redevelopment Commission, but an additional 2,700 households are on a

       waiting list, and it can take as much as two years to reach the top of this list.

Impact of Being Homeless

Homeless families relocate 16 times more often than the average American family.  Effects on children include:

     *66% of students who miss 20 or more days of school during grades 1, 2 or 3 drop out of school

     *Suffer from anxiety and depression

     *Poor nutrition

     *Lack of sleep

And effects on parents/adults include:

     *Experience higher rates of depressive disorders

     *Homelessness frequently breaks up families

Genesis Goals

     *Provide families opportunities to achieve safe, permanent housing

     *Prevent evictions

     *Provide financial literacy and parenting education

     *Connect families to community resources to achieve long term success

Genesis Participants

Genesis engages the community in providing families and individuals with opportunities to achieve safe and permanent housing.  Genesis participants:

     *Are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless

     *Must have a source of income

     *Be willing to commit to lifestyle changes

     *Able to complete an 18 week financial literacy and parenting curriculum with their mentor team.

     *Referred to Genesis through a variety of sources, including Minnehaha County Human Services Department, Sioux Falls School District's Office of Homeless Education,

       and other organizations that work with these populations daily

How it Works

     *Partner with the local faith community, service organizations, and businesses.

     *Encourage participants to set housing, employment, education, and other goals to achieve long term stability.

     *Recruit mentors to provide support to participants.

     *Provide mentors financial literacy and parenting curriculum training to share with participants.

     *Utilize financial support from Genesis partners and Sioux Empire United Way to provide participants with housing assistance.

     *When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all.  Together we can create opportunities for a better life for everyone in the Sioux Empire.

Genesis Partners

Genesis works because it engages the entire community in assisting homeless and at-risk of becoming homeless families and individuals.  The faith community, service organizations, business, and other groups are encouraged to partner with Genesis in assisting a local family.  Genesis partners:

     *Provide a team of 2-8 mentors for participants

     *Provide a minimum of $1000 (to be matched by United Way) for security deposit, rent, additional housing support

     *Supply family with furnishings for home (utilizing community resources like Furniture Mission)

Genesis Mentors

A mentor team of 2-8 people provide the Genesis participant with support during their transition into permanent housing.  Mentors are trained and screened by The Community Outreach.  Mentors meet with the Genesis participant 12 times over 18 weeks, meeting with the participant in pairs.  Mentors choose what meeting to attend with the family, based on the family's needs and mentor's gifts.  Mentor teams include a team coordinator that sets the visit schedule with the mentor team.  Mentors must: 

     *Participate in program training through The Community Outreach.

     *Commit to 18 weeks of mentoring participants.

     *Provide participants financial literacy and parent education using provided curriculum.

     *Connect participants to community resources to ensure long term stability.

     *Provide positive support.

Complete the form below to express interest in volunteering for the Genesis program.