FAQS
1) Who comes to Home Start as a client?
Answer: Home Start serves homeless children
and their families. Families are headed by a single
mother, single father, both parents, or grandparents
raising children.
2) Does Home Start accept singles who may be
homeless?
Answer: Unfortunately, we do not. Our mission
is to transition homeless families into affordable,
sustainable and permanent housing. We refer singles
to the Lazurus Project of Roseville at
(www.lazarusprojectinc.org)
and the Salvation Army, Roseville
(www.tsatoday.org/www_roseville.nsf)
and PEACE For Families
(www.peaceforfamilies.org).
3) How long do clients stay at Home Start?
Answer: The program is one year in length. At
the end of the year, families receive assistance in
finding suitable, affordable housing. The second year,
living independently, families remains under our
supervision.
4) How much money does Home Start use for operations?
Answer: Home Start's management and expenses are
under 15% of its total budget. Most funds donated are
applied directly to program expenses. We can only do
this with extensive support from volunteers.
5) How many clients are living at Home Start?
Answer: We are rated as 99-bed facility with 28
housing units. This means that we accommodate up to 30
families and some 60 to 70 children.
6) Who refers clients to Home Start?
Answer: Clients are referred to Home Start by local
churches, Child Protective Services, the Courts, Welfare
Department, EDD and similar agencies. We also work closely
with Peace for Families
(www.peaceforfamilies.org),
a domestic violence shelter and clients are referred to us
by them.
7) What is the success rate of Home Start?
Answer: The success rate is high. Ninety percent of
the families that complete the program remain in permanent
housing for at least two years.
8) Are volunteers screened?
Answer: Yes, volunteers must undergo a background
check as well as provide fingerprints for the Department of
Justice. While this may be seen as unnecessary by some, it
is a requirement and we support it.
9) Where does your support come from?
Answer: Thirty percent of our budget is government
grants, 35% foundations and 35% private and individual
donations.
10) What types of volunteers do you need?
Answer: We always need educators for our GED program,
tutors, mentors and life skill teachers. From time to time
we have work days for moving, cleaning or small repairs and
painting.
11) If I don't have time to volunteer, how can I help?
Answer: Home Start always needs money. Given recent
disasters such as Katrina and Rita, grant money have been
particularly difficult to obtain. Donations are tax deductible
and we are grateful for them.
12) Do you accept other kinds of donations, such as
furniture or vehicles?
Answer: We do on a limited basis. We have very little
storage. If you have a vehicle in good condition and it would
be an acceptable vehicle for a resident or client, please call
us. We also accept, from time to time, furniture that we use
to assist clients moving to housing upon graduation.
13) What is the program at Home Start?
Answer: Programs are tailored for the different needs
of the families. Case management and therapy are provided, as
well as many self-help opportunities. Clients are required to
work if able, placed on a strict budget, required to save money
for a security deposit, attend Parenting, and GED classes if
not a high school graduate. A modest donation is also expected.
Again, this is a year long program with another year of supervision
following graduation.
14) How do I donate to Home Start?
Answer: Please call us at 916-782-6667 or E-mail us at
RhondaHomeStart@surewest.net
and we will be happy to discuss this with you and provide our
federal tax identification number.
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