Prevention & Diversion

Prevention and Rehousing helps families avoid the trauma of homelessness by keeping them housed through providing small amounts of rental assistance. We can assist a family on the verge of homelessness with rental assistance or help with first month’s rent or deposit on a new lease. Assistance is one time. Follow up case management is also offered to support families as they maintain housing.

If you are in need of rental assistance, here are the guidelines:

• Families should call 865-245-8255 to be considered for rental assistance.
• Please leave your name, number, and a brief message.
• There will be a brief screening via phone to determine eligibility.
• If eligible we will schedule an appointment to complete application for our prevention and rehousing program.
• Please bring the following items to your appointment:
• ID of each adult in the household
• Children birth certificate
• Lease
• Utility Bill
• Proof of income (SSI/SSDI award letter, last 3 paystubs, Bank statement for last 2 months)
• Any funds provided will be distributed directly to landlord/utility company.
• we have a limited amount of funding, so we work on a first come, first served basis.

Diversion:

This program helps families experiencing homelessness identify quick housing options, with the goal of diverting families from the shelter system and into short term or permanent housing. Services may include family mediation, reunification/relocation, transportation assistance, and limited financial/rental assistance.

Diversion is a very short term intervention (the goal is 7 days), meant to quickly divert families from literal homelessness when our program is unable to provide shelter. This program is not meant to help families get rehoused, if they don’t have an immediate option for that.

If you are in need of diversion assistance, here are the guidelines:

• Families should call 865-245-8255 to be considered for diversion services.
• Please leave your name, number, and a brief message.
• There will be a brief assistant via phone to determine plausible options.
• If needed, we will schedule an appointment to discuss and begin work on the diversion method identified through the phone assessment complete application for our prevention and rehousing program.

Shelter Programs

When families have lost housing and reach out to Family Promise, we provide alternatives, including:

• Payments for rent in arrears, security deposits
• Landlord mediation and housing location
• Creative solutions leveraging a family’s strengths
• When needed, nighttime shelter is provided at a static site, where families sleep at the same location during their stay. Evening meals and hospitality are provided by volunteers from support churches in one-week intervals on a quarterly rotation.

Family Promise Day Centers

During the day, families work with professional Family Promise staff and interns to find housing and to work on related goals such as employment, transportation, education, and childcare. The day center serves as the base for families, offering a mailing address and providing laundry facilities, computers, playrooms, and showers.