The Diversion Program is an answer to a family’s need when families are experiencing homelessness, but shelter would be traumatic and less than ideal. The aim of the Diversion from Shelter program is to provide a lighter touch of case management support for families as they shelter safely elsewhere, often with friends and families. Case management and referrals, along with some financial support, help with identified obstacles for that family to get back into housing.
The FPL Diversion Program launched in 2019. We were able to learn how to better serve our community through Diversion when we were selected for a Pilot Diversion Program through a generous grant awarded through The Synchrony Foundation and the National Family Promise Office. This program was launched at exactly the right time and was ramped up during 2020, as shelter bed space was quite limited during the pandemic.