Family Housing Program In Jeopardy

By Candice Ludlow

Memphis, TN – As Congress struggles to pass a budget, both Democrats and Republicans are demanding deep cuts in social programs just as Americans struggle to get back on their feet. Candice Ludlow brings us this report about a program with an uncertain future. The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program is designed to help families avoid the crushing stigma of homelessness. It was funded with stimulus money that is dwindling.

As I pull up to the bungalow on a quiet street in the Cooper-Young neighborhood, a pick-up truck with an extended cab pulls into the driveway. Two ladies and two little boys climb out of the truck. Brandon Mathis opens his front door and walks down the stoop to greet me and to help lug sacks of groceries inside.

The Mathis family moved into this three bedroom a couple of months ago - after being evicted from their Bartlett home. Here's what happened:

Mathis, his wife, two boys, and his mother-in-law were leasing, making repairs and thinking about buying the house one day.

"We (were) renewing the contract. I paid the last payment," Mathis said.

And that's when he said the landlord called with the bad news. Mathis was told, "'You gonna receive a notice of eviction.' Eviction?" Mathis asked incredulously. "It's like I pay my payment and a week later I get an eviction notice."

The Mathis family moved out immediately and crowded in with Mathis' brother and his family. Mathis had paid $950 in rent the week before they were evicted, and their finances were suddenly a mess. They also lost out on the deposit, which was supposed to be their last month's rent. They were unable to put money down on a new place. And there was an eviction on their record.

This is where the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, or MIFA, and the rapid re-housing program come in. MIFA and the Community Alliance for the Homeless administer the program and the federal stimulus money.

"I mean kids are stigmatized by experiencing homelessness," Mary Hamlett says. She's the former director of MIFA's emergency housing program.

"Just the fact that I can't have a place to study at night. I don't have a place to wash my clothes so I can come to school clean like the other kids." Hamlett continues, "You don't speak out in class. A lot of times kids have to repeat a grade because they come to school sleepy, they come to school without homework, not to mention the drop-out rate is extremely high."

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sent a little more than $3 million dollars to Memphis and Shelby County to fund the program. The way the program works is it gives families up to $3,000 to cover first and last month's rent or help with their utilities, and help keep a roof over their heads.

Jane Hooks of the Community Alliance for the Homeless helps administer the money. "They just need that boost in the right direction," Hooks explains. "And with the economy the way it was the last couple of years..I think it's really helped a whole lot of people. And before this program there wasn't a lot, there was very little funding for preventive, for keeping people in their housing, to get them back on track if they were evicted or to get them re-housed if they were in a fire.

Hooks says without the rapid re-housing program, the Mathis family could have easily ended up in a shelter or moving from hotel to hotel.

Mathis says when he told Hamlett what had happened, she gave him a big hug and told him they could help.

"She instantly got right on it," Mathis said. "She was like, where do you want to go? We told her the area we wanted to stay in cause that's where our kids were staying in that area."

But Barlett didn't work out, and Hamlett suggested another place.

"Are you willing Midtown, you can get anywhere from Midtown. I think the next day Miss Hooks was at the house," Mathis said.

Everything seemed smooth to Mathis, but Hooks says it was a lot of hard work finding decent, affordable housing.

"They want to make sure that their children can go outside for at least a little while," Hooks said.

The bungalow passed inspection after the heating and air conditioning was replaced and the Mathis family moved in.

"My oldest son said, Well, Daddy. I like the other house, but this house right here, I got a whole backyard! I can be a bigger Spider Man here' You wonder because of them being so young, you wonder, did it really affect them because they're not able to express it like how we are. He told his Mama, I don't care about the house. I just care about us being together. I don't care where we move.' And when he told his Mama that, she just cried, 'cause she's like I wonder how it affected them' 'cause she moved all the time," Mathis explained. "I just laughed, and told her, Well, we're not going to be that family who move all the time. We're going to stay in one place."

The rapid rehousing program has helped more than 100 families since September 2009. Housing advocates are hoping to stretch the last of their funds to the end of the year.