HamiltonFamilyCenter

Our permanent housing programs are designed to move families into permanent housing as quickly as possible and to assist families to avoid eviction.

• First Avenues: Housing Solutions for Families is a nationally recognized housing program that serves homeless families and families most at risk of returning to shelter or becoming homeless. Since 2005, First Avenues has prevented over 375 family evictions, assisted over 350 homeless families move out of shelter into permanent housing, and helped 125 families transition from the crisis of homelessness to the stability of a permanent home through an innovative short and medium term rental assistance program and intensive services to support families to stabilize in their homes, build social connections, and increase their income for long-term self-sufficiency.

“The three most important differences between homeless families and other poor families concern not their personal characteristics, but the resources they need to secure housing. First, homeless families have extremely low incomes… Second… access to housing subsidies…. Third, the social networks of homeless families are not able to provide sufficient help.”
- Mary Beth Shinn, Ph.D., 2009

First Avenues Housing Assessment Matrix


First Avenues Report on Families Served from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009




• The Dudley Apartments offers on-site services to formerly homeless families, extremely low-income seniors, and single adults with disabilities in a 75-unit permanent supportive housing program in partnership with Mercy Housing California. Staff help residents stabilize their lives and address issues including mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse, and physical disabilities. The Dudley Apartments is a crucial resource for chronically homeless families and offers them a permanent housing solution.

Family Success Stories

Lisa Matthews and her three-year-old daughter Aurora heard about Hamilton Family Center when they first became homeless in 2005. The family entered our Transitional Housing Program where Lisa learned budgeting, parenting, and other life skills. Once stabilized, the Matthews applied for and received a temporary rental subsidy from First Avenues: Housing Solutions for Families. Lisa and her daughter moved into an apartment in our permanent supportive housing program – The Dudley Apartments – in November 2007 and are doing well! The financial help she receives each month has allowed Lisa to maintain her housing and work to increase her income. She is attending the Goodwill job-training program and will graduate soon.

Misty Robinson and her three children applied for help from First Avenues: Housing Solutions for Families in January 2007, seeking assistance with housing and employment plans. Since she started working with our staff, Misty has found affordable housing in Oakland and obtained a full-time job working in an upscale specialty food store in San Francisco. Due to her hard work, Misty received a promotion and a raise at work, effectively increasing her income!