About Fellowship Housing
Who are we?
How does the Program work?
Stories
Graduates
Qualifications to enter the Program
Contract Case Manager Positions
Who are we?
Fellowship Housing Corporation is an independent, 501c3 non-profit organization that serves the needs of single moms and their children who are homeless or one small crisis away from homelessness. The mission of FH is to transform the lives of homeless or at-risk single moms and their children by providing safe, affordable housing and holistic mentoring to guide them from crisis to long-term stability.
The majority of our clients can be classified as the working poor. They are age 21 or older and fully employed. They are a diverse group from various economic, cultural, racial and religious backgrounds. Through a variety of circumstances, they are unable to afford independent housing and are either homeless or facing eviction. There are hundreds of such cases on any given day right here in the Northwest suburbs. FH continues to have a significant waiting list for our program. Out of nearly 450 intake calls per year, FH helps approximately 30 families each year.
How does the program work?
Once accepted into the program, each family moves into one of our apartments located in Schaumburg where they will live in community with other single moms in the FH program. This community environment helps create a sense of normalcy and stability for our families.
They then work individually with a case manager and develop a comprehensive goal plan to address each woman’s finances, employment, debt, emotional, parenting, spiritual and physical needs.
FH is also supported by many volunteers who work alongside the case managers to support and mentor the families as they work through the program.
Since its inception, FH has helped over 165 families and 92% of these families have successfully graduated from the program and gone on to independent living.
In addition, they have reduced their debt by an average of $8,700, increased their
savings by an average of $2,400 and increased their annual salary by an average of $5,400. Over 45% return to school during their time in Fellowship. In the last year, four Fellowship Housing families have qualified for a Habitat for Humanity house.
Our mission at FH is to move these families from homelessness to hope, one family at a time. We desire to be a catalyst to transform the lives of these single moms and their children. We strongly believe that if you change the life of a mom, you change generations to come. We work diligently to appropriately steward all that is given to us and to partner with individuals, corporations, churches and the local community to successfully carry out our mission.
Stories
Chantal was facing an eviction notice and one day, while grocery shopping, the locks on her apartment were changed with all of her belongings inside. Chantal and her children were forced to leave everything behind and move into a local homeless shelter. When Chantal saw her FH apartment for the first time, she burst into tears. "I can't believe that this is really mine," she said.
When Melanie first came to FH, it was clear that her spirit was broken and her circumstances had crushed her self-esteem. She is now full of life, motivated and continues to exceed every goal she sets for herself. She has reduced her debt by over $13,000 and is waiting for approval for a Habitat for Humanity home.
Shannon came to Fellowship Housing in a desperate situation. She was in the midst of an ugly divorce and custody battle while living out of her car. Shannon was unable to obtain custody of her then three year old son because she did not have a stable living situation and was unable to afford housing because she was drowning in legal fees. Fellowship Housing worked quickly to secure an apartment for Shannon and within one month she was granted custody of her son.
FH Graduates: Where are they now?
• Kendra, a June 2008 graduate, is renting an apartment in the northwest suburbs with her eight year old son with special needs. Kendra was recently elected the president of the Illinois Autism Society.
• Sophia, a May 2008 graduate, is currently living with her 11 year old son in her own home in the western suburbs. Sophia applied for and received a Habitat for Humanity home and after thousands of volunteer hours is officially a home owner!
• Renee, a September 2008 graduate, left with no debt and a savings of over $7,000! She was able to purchase her own home where she now lives with her two boys, ages 9 and 13.
Qualifications to enter the program:
• Applicants must be age 21 or older and have custody of the children living with them
• Have a full-time job with enough income to pay a reduced amount of the rent for their apartment
• Have transportation, an up-to-date drivers license and auto insurance
To get more information about our program, please contact our intake coordinator at 847.882.2511 ext 2112. She will be happy to answer all your questions.
Click here to find our more about out Contact Case Manager Positions now available
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