Family Self Sufficiency Program - DHS Lee County, FL

Since September, 1997, the LIFT Program has been an important component in the comprehensive Homeless Continuum of Care for Lee County. LIFT is designed to provide case management and the initial funding required to access affordable housing for eligible individuals/families unable to lift themselves out of homelessness due to the high costs associated with initially securing a place to live. These costs are funded by HUD's Supportive Housing Program.

For the purposes of this program the definition of "homeless" includes an individual/family who either lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence or whose nighttime residence is a (1) shelter, (2) an institution that provides temporary residence or (3) a public or private place not designed for a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. Persons detained or imprisoned under an Act of Congress or State law do not qualify as homeless.

Since June, 2000, the Department of Human Services has provided case management and housing placement for homeless families through TFAHF. This program was initially funded by Florida's Coalition for the Homeless and most recently by the Workforce Development Board. TFAHF case managers assist applicants with employment counseling and appropriate referrals to make sure the family is "housing ready".

TFAHF assists only homeless families with children who may have fallen outside the scope of the homeless continuum. Most are newly homeless due to injury, fire or domestic violence and are able to return to a stable environment within a short period of time.