Mission: Provides high impact housing, youth development, employment, mentoring, and emergency services to 500 homeless and low income persons monthly to create opportunities for their success!
At Community Family Life Services, our mission is to give people living in poverty and homelessness the tools they need to move towards permanent economic and social self-sufficiency. Not only do we offer short-term crisis assistance, but we also empower families and individuals to change their lives for the better. Our dedicated staff and volunteers provide a variety of services in the following areas: Housing Services; Supportive Services & Community Outreach; and Youth Development & Advocacy.
CFLS was founded in 1969 by First Trinity Lutheran Church to address the needs of recently released ex-offenders and their families. Since then, we have grown and evolved to provide services to low-income and homeless families and individuals in the District of Columbia and now serve more than 5,000 people annually.
Results: FY2008-2009:
• PROVIDED housing and housing services for individuals and families:
— Provided 89 units of transitional and permanent housing;
— Transitional to Permanent Housing Programs for 19 families with 70% of families
reporting an increase in income and 100% moving to permanent housing;
— CFLS’ Trinity Arms Transitional Housing Program ranks # 14 of 60 Transitional and
Permanent Housing Programs in DC;
— Housing case management for 45 persons living with HIV;
• PROVIDED supportive services to 115 children including case
management, counseling and education; provided housing, tutoring and/or advocacy;
• ENROLLED 35 children in the academic based afterschool program and
50 children signed up for the summer enrichment programs with 92 % of children
in this program reporting an increase in academic performance;
• PROVIDED employability development and job placement for 102
chronically unemployed persons through CFLS’ Employment Development and
Placement Services;
• PROVIDED walk-in emergency food and clothing to 2500 persons
annually; and operated a volunteer component logging 8056 hours of volunteer
services;
• PROVIDED breakfast to an average of 75 homeless individuals monthly;
• DISTRIBUTED toys to 300 Families during the Christmas Toy Drive.
Programs: Our mission is to provide clients with the tools they need to move themselves beyond poverty and homelessness into permanent self-sufficiency. We have two primary goals: (1) to provide short-term crisis assistance, and (2) to empower individuals and families to change their lives over the long term. We achieve those goals through a web of interconnected services in three major areas: Housing Services; Supportive Services; and Youth Development & Advocacy. All clients have access to the full range of CFLS services, depending on individual circumstances. This holistic approach provides our clients with education, skills and support from a committed staff, empowering each client to pursue his/her goals.
This organization is doing an awesome job, transforming lives of those who are often forgotten about. They are some very dedicated individuals, who are making individual lives better each day at a time.
Community Family Life Services is a truly inspirational organization that serves the homeless and impoverished residents of Washington, D.C. The staff are genuinely invested in the success of each client that walks through the doors at CFLS. I have never seen a group of people so committed to improving the lives of others as I have witnessed in my experience with CFLS. Their programs provide a comprehensive approach to combating the many causes homelessness and work to end the cycle of poverty.