Formation 1984 Website Families-Forward.org | Executive Director Margie Wakeham Founded 1984 | |
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Membership 200 volunteers, plus counselors and part time employees | ||
Families Forward is an Irvine, California based nonprofit organization founded in 1984 by a group of community members in collaboration with the City of Irvine and the Irvine Company, with the goal of providing affordable housing for homeless and at-risk families. The agency began with only five apartment units and one part-time counselor. Families Forward has grown and now has twenty-eight transitional housing units, a food pantry providing food for over 5,000 people per year, and offers services to prevent homelessness in Orange County, California.
Contents
- Programs and services
- Housing support
- Job launch workshops
- Food pantry
- Life skills counseling
- Seasonal programs
- The Art of Giving annual gala
- Awards and recognition
- References
Families Forward's mission is to help families in need achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through housing, counseling, education and other support services. The group focuses on food insecurity, whereby a population of people don't qualify for federal food assistance programs, but still experience hunger because of heightened expenses.
The organization has over 200 volunteers, in addition to full-time counselors and part time employees.
Families Forward was awarded four stars by nonprofit evaluator Charity Navigator for fiscal responsibility, noting that 86.8% of donations are spent on its programs and services.
Programs and services
Families Forward offers programs and services targeting families who are at-risk of becoming homeless.
Housing support
The organization offers a Transitional Housing Program utilizing 28 homes located throughout the community to provide homeless families with housing. Clients work with masters-level case managers on individualized self-sufficiency plans.
The organization also partners with local apartment communities in its Housing First program, placing families in affordable apartments where the rent is paid in gradually increasing increments. Other supportive services available to families in this program include counseling, food, and career coaching.
Job launch workshops
"Job launch" workshops offering career coaching are offered at Families Forward to help individuals increase their financial stability through job acquisition or improving their earning potential. Career coaches assist clients in gaining knowledge of practical and effective job skills.
Food pantry
Families are provided with food and basic toiletries.
Life-skills counseling
At-risk families receive counseling and case management services for up to six months, working to increase life-skills in areas such as parenting, budgeting, communicating, stress management, debt reduction, and job retention.
Seasonal programs
In addition to these services, Families Forward also partners with a network of agencies to provide additional services not available in-house.
"The Art of Giving" annual gala
Families Forward hosts an annual fundraiser entitled "The Art of Giving".