The MATS Program

The Program

Areas of Ministry

Self-Sufficiency Program

This is the full program outlined below. This is the most common program for incoming clients.

All self-sufficiency residents are responsible for their own success, sustainable income, and permanent housing acquisition.

Winter Warming Station

Individuals who do not qualify or are not ready to work the self-sufficiency program can use the warming station on nights that the temperatures fall below 32*.

They receive a blanket, mat, and hot meal and are allowed to sleep in a separate area of the shelter until morning.

Transient/Stranded

Motorists Program

This type of resident is given 1-5 nights to stay while locating and acquiring resources needed to move to their chosen destination.

This could include obtaining a bus ticket or other transportation or working with other agencies.

Rapid Rehousing

Program

Participation in the Rapid Rehousing Program could speed up placement into permanent housing by an average of 30 days.

The primary goal is to stabilize a program participant as quickly as possible and provide wrap-around services after the family or individual

obtains housing.

Steps to Success

Potential residents go through an initial 15 to 30-minute pre-screen and coordinated assessment with a case manager on the phone or in person to determine initial eligibility, concluding in either acceptance to the program or a referral to another program where needs can be met. If eligible, a second, in-person screening process occurs before entry into the program.

New residents go through a full intake process with a case manager, working to identify the root causes of homelessness. Case managers will coach, mentor, and encourage clients to a mastery of soft skills which will serve to represent their approach to life and work, honing in on teamwork, problem-solving, work ethic, and interpersonal skills.

Residents wash and dry their clothes, receive bedding and hygiene items, take a shower, and receive a bed, locker, and chore assignment. This is the first step of teaching proper hygiene habits and cleaning skills, how to cook nutritious meals, how to launder clothing, and generalized character building to help increase independence and better deal with issues.

Residents meet with a case manager to create an initial budget. As part of the budget coaching process, we evaluate the client's financial health with them, which allows for mentoring and empowering them with a better undertanding of money management and saving techniques in order to increase confidence in their ability to prevent homelessness in the future.

Residents begin working their plan, with a requirement to find sustainable income within 30 days. Our job readiness program provides a 29-session training course that provides an introduction to the interviewing process, dressing for interviews, preparing for an interview, and mock interviews to give them a greater sense of confidence in gaining employment.

After gaining a job, saving money, and working the rest of their plan; the final step is finding permanent housing! Residents will continue to create budgets throughout the program and will leave with one tailored to their new living situation. Our ultimate goal is to reintroduce our clients back into their communities, self-sustaining and able to give back.