New Life Forward is on Mission to Prevent Homelessness
(PHOENIX, ARIZONA) -10/19/20: New Life Forward, a new nonprofit that focuses on providing assistance for low and no-income individuals and families on the brink of homelessness, announced the launch of the organization and its website newlifeforward.org today.
In response to some of the economic hardships faced by families today, New Life Forward was founded to prevent homelessness among individuals and families affected by loss of income, job and food insecurity. The organization provides a variety of services that assist clients in changing and improving their economic status so that they may thrive independently.
New Life Forward provides support that includes assistance in researching available resources, securing a new, stable living environment, food, and personal necessities for each family served. New Life Forward will work with other nonprofits to maximize the services that will help families find a home, prepare for a job, maintain current employment, or find new employment. The organization currently serves the Northern, Central, Southern California & Maricopa, Pinal, Pima, Coconino & Yuma counties in Arizona.
To begin its mission to prevent homelessness, New Life Forward formed a partnership with Loaves and Fishes of Sacramento.“By meeting people where they are, in a moment of crisis or despair, New Life Forward has [already] transformed lives. The flexibility and determination of their staff allow them to meet unique needs. I can alert them of a situation in our community, and they respond and take action right away. As a result of these actions, there are people in our community who are no longer experiencing homelessness and are creating new lives with solid foundations,” said Joseph Smith, Advocacy Director, Loaves & Fishes, and Board Member, Sacramento Street Medicine.
Access to resources and services that can help change the trajectory of a person’s life—rather than provide a stop-gap or give a hand-out—is scarce. To effectively provide personal assistance to families in need, New Life Forward is actively joining forces with a network of other providers (such as Loaves and Fishes) who have the expertise to respond positively to the needs of under-resourced families, whether it be to provide access to immediate shelter, food, job skill training, or drug rehab and mental health counseling services.
“We want to become a model for turning around the lives of people who have lost a job or suffered an economic impact due to uncontrollable circumstances,” said Founder Susan Hayer, Ph.D. “To us, it is about giving back, and once our constituents are on their feet, we ask them to pay it forward to others at risk,” added Dr. Hayer. Initially, California and Arizona states will be the focus, with plans for subsequent expansion to other states after a successful model and additional resources are established.
To request help, applicants can go to the website and complete an application. Once an applicant has completed the application, New Life Forward will process the paperwork. If applicants meet the qualifications for aid, New Life Forward will work with them to craft a strategy that will support them in their goals towards stability and self-sufficiency.
Donations for New Life Forward are accepted on its website, on a one-time or monthly basis. As a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, donations to New Life Forward are tax-deductible under U.S. tax law.
About New Life Forward
The New Life Forward mission is to help low-income families, including heads of single-parent households, who are at imminent risk of homelessness due to loss of income caused by economic challenges. The organization helps by intervening in practical ways to keep these persons in their homes, or by assisting them in finding other solutions. Recent practical solutions provided by the organization included assistance with the down payment and rent for an apartment, as well as basic necessities such as furnishing, food, and more.
An important goal of this nonprofit foundation is to emancipate these families from debt; therefore, in addition to providing a place to live, New Life Forward works with clients on career/job and financial skills training to equip them for a better future.
New Life Forward forges partnerships with other nonprofits and organizations to create a network that reaches out, lifts up, and provides the constituents with a clear path forward. Once a family has overcome their crisis, they are encouraged to pay it forward to other constituents. The pay-it-forward program operates on the premise that constituents will be willing to do acts of kindness for others in need, voluntarily. We recommend they donate food, water, additional resources, or when possible, a monetary supplement that could go towards helping someone else overcome their economic challenges and commence their New Life Forward.
To learn more about New Life Forward, visit the website: http://www.newlifeforward.org/