by KYW's Michelle Durham
A local program that gives homeless mothers the power to purchase their own homes is celebrating it's 20th year. Endow-A- Home's director says there is more to curing homelessness then just giving people a house. You have to put them in an position to get a higher paying job and the tools to succeed in life.
According to program director, Cynthia Brooks, mothers and children make up the largest population of homeless people. She explains how they wind up homeless:
"Domestic violence, drug and alcohol use, some criminal history are major contributors, but the largest factor is economic."
Endow-A-Home rules are strict: all women must have a section 8 subsidy, have a reference from a drug or alcohol program, if that's an issue, then the real work begins. The women work with affiliated realtors to find their own house.
"The housing that's the easy thing. If you have the subsidy, we'll get you a house. What is important about Endow-A-Home is the case management."
The program offers women mentoring, counseling, parenting classes and more. Brooks says it's essential to fix the reasons why the women became homeless in the first place.
http://www.rhd.org/programs/prg_detail.asp?progid=28
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