What is diversion?  Diversion is helping families at the shelter door find/maintain other non-shelter accommodations until permanent housing can be secured quickly. 

The program doesn't divert a family from homelessness, as the family is already experiencing it, most often doubled-up in the home of family or friends.  It does divert a family from shelter to try to avoid that trauma and yet another move/relocation.  If the family can negotiate (with our help) to stay where they are for up to 30 days, our goal is to help them secure permanent housing, or a path to it, without any need to bring their children to a shelter stay.

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What services does the Diversion Program provide?  Working with ten families at a time, the case manager offers the following:

• Mediation services with family/friends and/or their landlord to extend permission to stay for up to 30 days;

• Expediting of applications for public assistance like SNAP (i.e., food stamps), CCDF vouchers (i.e., childcare), etc.;

• Agency referrals and transportation to secure other services, including health evaluation and treatment (physical/mental), job search, housing search, etc.;

• Advocacy with landlords to fight through barriers to housing; and

• Financial assistance to secure permanent housing when needed, including but not limited to first month's rent, security deposit, and/or utility deposits.

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