County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined Freddie Mac Executive Vice President for Community Relations and Freddie Mac Foundation President and CEO, Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., to announce nearly $1 million in grant funding to two Montgomery County organizations serving homeless families. The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) will receive $450,000 from the Freddie Mac Foundation to continue the Partnership for Permanent Housing program, which relocates families directly from homelessness to permanent housing. The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF), operators of the Greentree Family Shelter, will receive $425,000 from the Freddie Mac Foundation to provide intensive services to some of the County’s most vulnerable homeless families --- to move them quickly to permanent housing.

“We are grateful that the Freddie Mac Foundation is helping these organizations with grant funding. The current economic climate we are experiencing is tough on everyone, especially those individuals and families who are homeless,” said Leggett. “The County Council’s leadership on homelessness, and especially the efforts of Councilmembers Leventhal and Knapp, has been a key component to Housing First’s progress in Montgomery County. Moving those who are homeless rapidly into permanent housing, and providing them with supportive services, is a key part of the housing first initiative,” said Leggett.”

“Housing stability coupled with comprehensive services is key: it allows parents to focus on building better lives and better futures for themselves and their children,” said Boyd. “We’re fortunate to have exceptional partners who have created a strong community partnership. The result is a systemic effort to help children and families thrive in stable homes.”

MCCH’s Partnership for Permanent Housing program began as a Housing First pilot project in 2003 to provide permanent supportive housing to homeless individuals and families. The Housing First model centers on providing homeless individuals and families with housing quickly and providing support services as needed to maintain housing stability. In Montgomery County, the homeless have historically moved from shelters to transitional housing programs with intensive case management for about 18 months, and then to permanent subsidized housing without any support services. The Partnership for Permanent Housing changes the equation, ending homelessness for these households by combining case management services with quicker access to permanent housing. The program has grown substantially since its inception and now serves 180 families a year.

“The Foundation’s continuing investment in the PPH program means that families’ homelessness is ended with a permanent place to live,” said Sharan London, MCCH’s Executive Director. “The services supported by the Freddie Mac Foundation ensure their ability to maintain that housing and provide a home environment for children to thrive. We are indeed fortunate to have supporters in both the private and public sectors that understand the vital importance and dramatic impact of what we do for families experiencing homelessness in our community.” 

The National Center for Children and Families will implement a new rapid re-housing program for homeless families who have not been successful in other shelters or who have circumstances that prevent a family’s rapid exit from the shelter. Twenty percent of the families served by the Greentree shelter last year were involved with the child welfare system and required specialized case management skills provided by NCCF therapists and counselors. The County is providing half of the funds for the program. The grant funding will enable NCCF to hire additional therapists, case managers and residential counselors. 

“This critical funding from Freddie Mac serves to level the playing field for children and their families which are struggling with ultra poverty, mental illness, drug addiction and lack of education and workforce sills,” said Dr. Sheryl Brissett-Chapman, Executive Director, National Center for Children and Families. “Freddie Mac shares NCCF’s vision to ensure the larger community’s ability to empower and support its most vulnerable members.”

The Freddie Mac Foundation is committed to funding programs that help children and their families thrive in stable homes. The Foundation invests primarily in programs that provide housing with comprehensive services to vulnerable families. The Foundation also invests in programs that improve young people’s academic performance and promote college attendance and career success. And, in addition, the Foundation funds programs to help get children in foster care adopted.