Laurel Advocacy And Referral Services Inc

ENABLE HOMELESS AND LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN LAUREL TO ACHIEVE STABLITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY

EMERGENCY SERVICES:THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND REFERRALS TO LOW-INCOME, HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS.FUNDING COMES FROM A VARIETY OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GRANTS, AS WELL AS OTHER GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS. SERVICES INCLUDE SHORT-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT, ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING IDENTIFICATION CARDS AND BIRTH CERTIFICATES, AND ADDITIONAL HOMELESS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OPERATES A FOOD PANTRY. IN FY2021, CASE MANAGERS SERVICED 718 UNIQUE HOUSEHOLDS (2,189 INDIVIDUALS) DURING 3,962 TOTAL VISITS TO LARS' CRISIS CENTER. 52% OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS WERE SEEKING SERVICES FROM LARS FOR THE FIRST TIME. CASE MANAGERS AND VOLUNTEERS DISTRIBUTED 7,876 BAGS OF FOOD FROM LARS' FOOD PANTRY AND PROVIDED HOLIDAY GIFTS TO 395 CHILDREN. LARS ASSISTED 130 HOUSEHOLDS WITH RENTAL STIPENDS TO PREVENT EVICTION OR SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING. LARS CASE MANAGERS ALSO DISTRIBUTED 37,541 DIAPERS FOR 122 BABIES. *63 ADDITIONAL HOUSEHOLDS SAVED FROM EVICTION THROUGH LARS PARTNERSHIP WITH PG CO DSS TO DELIVER THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP).

PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING:LARS RECEIVES A CONTINUUM OF CARE (COC) GRANT THROUGH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) TO OPERATE A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SUBSIDIZED HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO 22 CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, DISABLED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT TIME-LIMITED. TWO LARS CASE MANAGERS CONDUCT WEEKLY HOME VISITS WITH ALL PARTICIPANTS, WHO RESIDE IN APARTMENTS LEASED BY LARS THROUGHOUT THE LAUREL COMMUNITY. PARTICIPANTS LIVE INDEPENDENTLY WITH SUPPORT AS NEEDED FROM LARS, INCLUDING LIFE SKILLS CLASSES, INDIVIDUAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, AND ASSISTANCE WITH OBTAINING TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HEALTH OR MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. LARS WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO PRIORITIZE PLACEMENT OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES INTO OUR PROGRAM ACCORDING TO THEIR LEVEL OF VULNERABILITY. LARS' PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM HOUSED 27 ADULTS AND 13 CHILDREN DURING FY2021. ONE PARTICIPANT EXITED THE PROGRAM TO INDEPENDENT LIVING AFTER SECURING A HOUSING VOUCHER FOR THEIR OWN APARTMENT.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM:LARS HELPS TO STABILIZE AND MOTIVATE PARTICIPANTS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH A LARS CASE MANAGER ON A LONGER-TERM BASIS (18 TO 24 MONTHS) TO MAINTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING, IMPROVE FINANCIAL HABITS, GAIN EMPLOYMENT, AND REMOVE OTHER BARRIERS TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM USES A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL "MOBILITY MENTORING" FRAMEWORK DESIGNED BY EMPATH OF BOSTON, MA. MOBILITY MENTORING-INSPIRED PROGRAMS ARE DESCRIBED BY EMPATH AS "METRIC-BASED, MENTOR-LED, INCENTIVIZED PROGRAMS THAT LEAD FAMILIES ACROSS THE ECONOMIC DIVIDE." THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF MOBILITY MENTORING IS COACHING THE PARTICIPANT IN PERSONAL PROBLEM-SOLVING, SKILL-BUILDING, AND PERSISTENCE TO ATTAIN THE LONG-TERM GOALS THAT SUPPORT ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE. THE MENTOR'S ROLE IS TO HELP PARTICIPANTS CARVE ENOUGH TIME OUT OF THEIR DAYS TO BEGIN TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES. 5 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN LARS' SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM DURING FY2021.