TFG Charity of the Month

HOMEWARD BOUND
RAPHAEL HOUSE ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS AT-RISK CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
IN THE QUEST FOR A HOME SWEET HOME OF THEIR OWN

Established in 1971, Raphael House was the first
homeless shelter in San Francisco. Founded with
a mission of providing a safe haven for local families
experiencing homelessness while strengthening their
family bonds and personal dignity, this progressive
establishment ultimately seeks to help its inhabitants
to achieve stable housing and financial independence.
“Prior to Raphael House, there wasn't any place in San Francisco where families could go as a unit when they became homeless. Mrs. Ella Rigney, our founder, believed that families needed to be together—and not separated—during times of crisis in order to heal as one,” says Terri DiMartini, Raphael House Director of Children and Family Services.

Raphael House prides itself on the unique, diverse and comprehensive services it offers. Last year alone, the establishment served 73 families throughout its residential program. Between 2005-2006, the average length of stay for each family was 51.5 days; however, families can stay up to six months. DiMartini explains: "During their stay, families are provided case management services, three meals a day, nightly activities and a variety of other social services, such as an after-school program, school advocacy and financial management support. Over the last three years, Raphael House has implemented a 'Housing First' approach. As part of a grant through the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, we were able to provide families with move-in assistance (security deposits). This money is essential in reducing the average length of stay for families because saving up enough money for move-in costs can be a very lengthy process for families. This is such a successful program for our families."

She also says that even when families leave the residential shelter program, they are provided continued support and services through the establishment's AfterCare Program. The AfterCare Program offers a wide range of opportunities for more than 850 parents and children each year. Families supported by the AfterCare services showed improvement in housing stability, gains in family income, greater community involvement and an increased sense of personal control. “An indicator of the success of this program is measured by the fact that in our last two fiscal years, more than 95 percent of these families maintained stable housing and 80 percent made other substantial gains toward financial independence and family stability,” DiMartini adds. DiMartini reminds us that homelessness is something that can happen to anyone, explaining that some families come to Raphael House who have experienced domestic violence and who have left an abusive home, while others cannot afford to pay their rent due to a lost job. She also cites substance abuse and mental illness as additional causes of homelessness. “The one thing that we find consistently with many families experiencing homelessness is that they have a lack of an extended support system. This could mean that they do not have family or that perhaps their family is not in a position to be able to assist them into securing stable housing. Whatever the cause of homelessness for a family, Raphael House steps in to be a support for these families.” “At Raphael House, we believe strongly that the cycle of homelessness can be broken if we support the developmental needs of children and allow them the opportunities that they need in order to blossom into strong and healthy adults,” she says. The Raphael House's proactive methods continue to support the whole family once they have left the residential program, offering academic support, scholarships to extra-curricular activities, summer camps and even field trips and holiday celebrations. “It is unfortunate that in 2007 we still have a large number of families who are experiencing homelessness. However, there is hope. Through support programs that tackle the very problems that cause homelessness and by giving families the skills that they need in order to prevent homelessness, we can end family homelessness,” DiMartini adds. What can you do to help? Spread the word. “First and foremost, we ask that you help us tell our story to other people. Community awareness and support is crucial in continuing the work of Raphael House,” DiMartini says. Volunteer. Raphael House offers an extensive array of volunteer opportunities. Individuals and corporate groups can participate in almost every aspect of the Raphael House program from serving dinner to tutoring children to serving on the gala committee's board of directors. Donate. Raphael House relies solely on private sources, including civic organizations, businesses, individuals and church groups, to meet its annual budget. DiMartini says, “Financial support is essential. We do not seek or accept federal, state, or municipal government funding. While we qualify for a variety of local and federal funding opportunities, we choose to remain privately funded because we believe that private funding allows Raphael House to operate its programs founded upon the best practices that it has learned over the last thirty-five years of working with families.” We at THE FAMILY GROOVE are inspired and awed by the progressive and compassionate ways in which Raphael House works to not only end the cycle of homelessness, but empower the people who are currently stricken with it. THE FAMILY GROOVE donates a percentage of it revenue to its featured charity of the month. For more information, to make a donation or to get involved, please go to www.raphaelhouse.org. THE SECRET OF THEIR SUCCESS HERE DIMARTINI SHARES THREE INSPIRING STORIES OF TRIUMPH Lori came to Raphael House in December 2005 with her 7 month-old daughter, Hope, because of lack of family support for her situation. While at Raphael House, Lori enrolled in a medical assistant program at a local college and secured an apartment through the San Francisco Housing Authority. Lori graduated from her medical assistant program last month and has been hired in an OB/GYN clinic at California Pacific Medical Center. We went out to celebrate her success and, over lunch, she stated that it helped knowing that she had so many people (at Raphael House) rooting for her success and encouraging her on. She went on to say that we have not seen anything yet and that this is just the beginning of all of the things that she will accomplish. Theresa stayed at Raphael House with her mother twenty-three years ago. In October 2006, she came in for an informational interview with her two-year-old son. When asked why she wanted to be at Raphael House she said: “I remember how nice everybody talked to me when I was here. No one has ever talked to me like that since then. I want to feel that warmth again and I want my son to know that good feeling of someone caring.” Theresa had been trying to overcome an addiction to drugs for almost a decade. She had three previous attempts at trying to become clean and her sobriety never lasted more than four months. Today Theresa celebrates seven months of being clean and sober. She is living in a transitional housing program and her family continues to be active in our AfterCare Program. Amongst many other things, she credits the program with teaching her to how to think about the kind of life she wants to lead and what she needs to do to make these positive changes happen. Melanie has three young children under the age of seven. She had been evicted from her last apartment due to failure to pay her rent after she lost her job. Melanie was very hesitant to start her housing search because she feared rejection from landlords as a result of her credit report. During her second month at Raphael House, Melanie secured a well-paying job downtown with a catering company. When she was not working she spent all of her time searching neighborhoods in San Francisco and the East Bay. She approached every landlord that she could find in her efforts to find affordable housing. Many landlords turned Melanie away because of her eviction and poor credit rating. One day Melanie's luck changed and she met a landlord who was inspired by her persistence and who wanted to give her a chance. Through the Schwab Housing First Grant, Raphael House paid for Melanie's security deposit. At her good-bye party Melanie gave the following advice to the other parents: "I am going to tell you all how to find a home sooner rather than later: follow the rules. I spend my first month here fighting about the curfew, about keeping my room clean, and paying the program fee. One day I looked at my three kids and told myself that I could not keep on going from shelter to shelter. I had to make a home for us. That was the day that I really committed myself to the Raphael House program. I realized that following the rules was easier than fighting them, and after that, things stated to fall into place so quickly. I am scared to go out now into my own apartment, but I know I am not alone because I have all of these people here to help me make sure that my kids are safe and that I don't slip." Melanie has been in her home for four months. Her oldest children continue to attend the Raphael House After School Program. And best of all, her savings account continues to grow after her employer gave her a full-time position.

Click HERE to see some of the kids' artwork.