Family Supportive Services (FSS) Originally divided into HOPE Advocacy and Project RUTH, FSS has united those services under one department in order to better serve the clients who seek support and understanding within it. Both programs encourage the creation of a stable home and family environment, reaching important life goals (such as obtaining a GED, drivers license, or permanent housing), and finding support in the community. To further this goal, staff members and clients in the entire program attend monthly support group meetings, often focused on a topic pertaining to self-improvement or better life management. The application and interview process for FSS is very involved and detailed, allowing case managers the opportunity to best assess the needs of the applicants as they begin their journeys. Just over half of our clients reside in Sharon - including those in Project RUTH who live in the housing rented by the FSS program and the Center - with the other half spread through the rest of Mercer County. Project RUTH The Project RUTH (Resources, Understanding, Training, and Homes) program started in May of 1999 to provide services to, and advocate for, the homeless of Mercer County. Participants are eligible for up to 24 months of support and training in basic life skills essential for living. Once a client has completed 24 months in the Project RUTH branch of FSS, he or she is able to transfer to the HOPE program for additional and continuing support. HOPE Advocacy The HOPE (Help and Opportunity for Personal Empowerment) Advocacy program began in August, 1996. It is a branch of FSS that provides long-term support (up to 24 months) for clients who live in established homes and the opportunity to learn basic life skills necessary for self-sufficiency and family stability through intensive case management and monthly support groups. Individuals or families struggling with the effects of poverty are eligible as long as they are committed to making a change in their lives and residing in Mercer County.
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 00:23:46 +0000
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