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.
Program Goals
- Provide safe, permanent housing opportunities for families
- Prevent evictions
- Provide financial literacy and parenting curriculum
- Connect families to community resources to achieve long-term stability
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 course with their mentor team
- Referred to Genesis through a variety of sources
- Set housing, employment, or education goals
- Complete financial literacy and parenting curriculum
Genesis Partners Include
- Churches
- Service organizations
- Businesses
- Individuals
Partners provide a team of 2 to 8 mentors who are trained by The Community Outreach and commit to an 18-week mentoring program. Partners provide a minimum of $1000 (to be matched by United Way) for participant housing support.
Mentors connect participants to community resources that will help them gain a sense of self-sufficiency.
Families will be offered six months of followup case management with The Community Outreach upon program completion.
