Common Ground’s HomeLink program is reducing family homelessness in Brownsville, Brooklyn—one of ten New York City neighborhoods producing the highest number of homeless families each year— by two-thirds over the next four years. By identifying families struggling to maintain their housing, and working with them to find the help they need, HomeLink contributes to solving homelessness by preventing vulnerable families from becoming homeless in the first place.

HomeLink services include:

• Housing Support Services – Working with Brownsville community organizations, City agencies, local churches and other institutions, Homelink identifies and offers help to families struggling to maintain their housing. HomeLink works with families to stabilize their living situations, and provides links to what families needto maintain their housing such as employment assistance, child care, counseling, psychiatric evaluations, continuing education, and drug and alcohol treatment. In addition, family service coordinators and case managers help families to manage family tensions (including those resulting from overcrowded conditions, substance abuse, and domestic violence) that can lead to homelessness. In certain cases, HomeLink is able to provide small grants or loans to help families avoid an eviction or help maintain their current housing. Since HomeLink began operations in March 2005, 40 families on the verge of becoming homeless were helped to remain housed, and another 244 families and individuals received help with less acute housing-related problems.
• Single Stop Services – HomeLink offers a Robin Hood Foundation-funded Single Stop program, which helps families and individuals to become more financially stable and better able to pay for their housing. A “benefits calculator” service connects families with food stamps and other income supports; tax preparation services help families to secure Earned Income Tax Credits, and legal assistance helps families individuals to resolve immigration issues, credit problems, and other matters that jeopardize their financial and housing stability.