Branching OUT: The Power of Aftercare

When a family moves into a home of their own, it is a moment worth celebrating. But we also know that it is a moment that can bring trepidation and anxiety. It is the end of their shelter stay, but also the beginning of a new journey. And that is why our support does not have to end when a family leaves shelter. Through Branching OUT, our voluntary aftercare program, families can continue building the skills, connections, and confidence that help turn a new home into a lasting one. Families can participate in Branching OUT for up to 12 months after leaving shelter, giving them time and space to navigate the realities of maintaining housing while building towards their next goals.

Branching Out builds on the relationships and resources families already developed at FMF. Families have access to case management focused on self-reliance and stability, enrichment opportunities such as workshops, job fairs, and community health partnerships, and supportive services through community partners and individualized coaching. The goal is not to create dependence on services, it is to help families strengthen their own networks and learn to use skills and problem-solving tools so that when a challenge arises, they are more prepared to meet it. And national research on homelessness services shows that remaining available to families as they transition, helps minimize the threats to housing stability if changes to employment, benefits, transportation, or other challenges occur.

Our own data tells us the same story. Continued connection, during the first-year of housing, matters. Families that participate in Branching OUT are 2-3 times more likely to remained stably housed at the end of the year. Time and again, we see families use aftercare to move from simply maintaining a lease to building a future: strengthening employment skills, connecting with community resources, and gaining confidence in their ability to handle what comes next. As housing and other costs increasingly cost-burden families, skills and tools become adaptability and self-sufficiency.