Services
Emergency Shelter
The emergency shelter program is a fourteen (14) bed unit with the capacity to house up to four (4) families for 30 days. This program provides shelter and food for families while addressing the root cause(s) of each families housing crisis through case management services.
The rational of the emergency shelter program is if residents are given 30 days of a respite during a time of chaos and crisis they can then regroup and take the initial steps towards self-sufficiency. The structure and support this program affords each family the opportunity to evaluate their situation, develop an Individual Monthly Plan with a case manager, and take the necessary steps towards self-sufficiency.
The emergency shelter program also allows staff to assess the willingness of participants to obtain permanent housing through self-sufficiency. Participants who demonstrate a willingness and ability to become self-sufficient are encouraged to apply for the second step or transitional housing programs.
Domestic Violence Support Group
Emmaus House offers a domestic violence support group. Some of the women who participate in Emmaus House homeless program have to address housing barriers associated with being subjected to domestic violence. The domestic violence support group is open to women throughout the New Castle County area at large experiencing or who have experienced domestic violence.
Brown Bag Club
Emmaus House, in conjunction with the Delaware Food Bank, also provides a valuable service to low income families in New Castle County through the Brown Bag Club. The Brown Bag Club is a monthly food closet program that offsets the cost of food for 10 low-income families.
Transitional Housing Program
Homeward Bound developed an intermediate program within the transitional housing program, the Second Step Program. The Second Step Program is designed to provide residents up to an additional 60 days of case management services, shelter, and three meals a day as they take the steps required (to secure employment either full-time or part-time, establish a bank account, and begin to repair credit) to enter either the long term transitional housing program at Emmaus House or secure permanent housing.
The transitional housing program is a fourteen (14) bed unit with the capacity to house up to 5 families. This program is for residents who have secured full-time employment or part-time employment with job training. Participants are required to pay a nominal program fee, establish and maintain a savings plan and bank account, and continue to payoff any outstanding debt.
Upon leaving the transitional program participants are able to move into permanent housing with improved credit, money saved in the bank, and the skills to maintain an improved quality of life. The goal of the transitional housing program is for participants to have eight months to eliminate bad debt from their credit report, acquire money management skills, maintain employment, and get accustomed to paying for housing in the form of program fees, then they will exit Emmaus House with improved credit, money in the bank, steady employment, and prepared to maintain permanent housing in the free non-subsidized housing market.
Life Skills
A guiding principal of Emmaus House program is for families to obtain safe and stable housing while increasing their level of self-sufficiency. Emmaus House program includes three essential life skills components:
- Parenting classes
- Employment readiness
- Money management
