The Salvation Army of North Texas recently received a grant from the Garland Housing Finance Corporation (GHFC) to assist Garland residents facing homelessness.
The funds will be distributed as part of the Salvation Army Garland Corps Home Sweet Home program. This unique program assists people at eminent risk of becoming homeless with necessary resources to become self-sufficient. Unlike programs that simply provide funds, the Home Sweet Home program includes education, monthly budgeting assistance and case management so that families receive the tools and information necessary to achieve independence while receiving assistance.
Currently, many North Texans are living in what the Salvation Army calls “survival mode.” They are struggling to meet rising rent and mortgage costs while keeping up with the increased prices of food, gas and other essentials.
During the check presentation, Samantha Wyman from the Salvation Army social services team told Garland Housing Finance Corporation representatives that the grant was designed exactly the way they would have designed it themselves.
“It’s such a great opportunity to get to provide a really transformational experience for families,” she said.
She added that their goal is to help families get to a point where they won’t have to be in that at-risk situation again.
This grant is specifically for people who are at eminent risk of becoming homeless. Because of the way it written, they have been able to help some families that they couldn’t help with other funding sources.
Wyman explained that some funding sources have numerous barriers in the form of documentation or limitations with eligibility criteria.
“With this program, we do have an income limit so that we are assisting those that are more vulnerable, but it is up to 80% of the area median income which is still pretty gracious,” she said.
In addition, some grants require legal citizenship or residency status. The GHFC specifically asked them to not include that requirement. Wyman also said that they are prioritizing seniors and veterans.
Because the Home Sweet Home program provides a comprehensive set of services, families will have the opportunity to put together a plan that will help them become financially stable. Hopefully, they will also be able to set aside some emergency funds.
The GHFC grant not only provides the funds for the families. It also helps with some of the support for the staff that provides case management services and financial coaching.
Wyman explained that one of the reasons that GHFC was interested in their program was that they are providing financial assistance with a “holistic approach to help the families move out of the crisis situation.”
To learn more about the Home Sweet Home program, visit SalvationArmyNorthTexas.org.
About Salvation Army of North Texas
The Salvation Army of North Texas provides a range of services to combat poverty, addiction, and homelessness at 17 centers of operation in Dallas, Tarrant and Ellis, Denton and Collin, and Rockwall counties. Faithful to our mission, The Salvation Army enables God-empowered transformations of individuals and society through food assistance, shelter, rehabilitation, counseling, spiritual support, mentoring and job placement, and more. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyNorthTexas.org.
About Garland Housing Finance Corporation
The Garland Housing Finance Corporation is dedicated to providing quality affordable housing for residents in Garland through down payment and closing cost assistance, neighborhood awards, affordable senior & multifamily housing, issuance of bonds and more. For more information, visit https://garlandhfc.org/.