The STAR Program: Successful Tenancy Among Residents

Over the years, while we were always pleased to help our shelter guests move on to housing, we also were saddened when many subsequently failed in housing and became homeless again. We discovered that though they had achieved a great milestone in acquiring housing, their need for support did not end. Once in housing they still needed and wanted help with decision-making, coping skills, and other support, just as they had received while in our Readiness Project.

The STAR Program was initiated in 1997 to provide this "aftercare" support, to end homelessness by preventing it. For those who are transitioning from the Shelters into the community, the supportive services are seamless. The program is also available to those in the community at-risk of homelessness, even if they have not previously been homeless or connected to Operation Hope.

Our goal is to help individuals and families to increase individual stability and self-reliance so that they stay in housing. Action plans are crafted to provide an individualized response to household needs and designed to decrease in frequency and intensity as stability in housing and community supports is achieved.

Comprehensive services are provided by Master's level clinicians including needs assessment, crisis intervention, treatment and goal planning, counseling, skill development, referral to additional resources, advocacy with social service and health providers, and life skills and job coaching. Our staff alternate "home visits" with meetings in our offices at 338 Commerce Drive.

Some STAR participants may be moving into the community from the shelter after extended homelessness. Still others enroll in the program when they are faced for the first time ever with losing their apartment due to eviction or other problems. They work with our staff to achieve and maintain sobriety, to stabilize mental health disorders, to find and keep jobs, to improve personal relationships and generally to work to improve their capacity for income, housing and emotional stability.

Each year we have many success stories, which demonstrate the effectiveness of the program and the hard work of participants. On average, 80 households are served annually, more than 85% of whom maintain housing.

The STAR Program is part two of a continuum of services provided by Operation Hope, which assist individuals to achieve and maintain increased levels of self-reliance and housing and income stability, with the goal of preventing future homelessness. There is "no wrong door" and anyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness is eligible for this assistance.