Family Reunification Housing Subsidy (FRHS) Program

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

The Family Reunification Housing Subsidy (FRHS) Program focuses on reunification of homeless families with children in out-of-home placement where the only barrier to reunifying the family is the lack of housing. This is the first Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) housing program in the County to house homeless families in an effort to be reunited with their children more expeditiously. To support reunification, eligible parents experiencing homelessness are directly connected to agencies and case managers with expertise in providing housing services. A housing subsidy is provided by the Program to enable the parent to secure the needed housing to regain custody of his/her children.The FRHS Program is currently funded through Los Angeles County Measure H and DCFS’ re-investment of cost savings resulting from families reunifying rather than children remaining in out-of-home placement. Additionally, this strategy has the benefit of ending homelessness for the parent(s) who has been dealing with the traumatic experience of homelessness. The success of the Program is a result of a strong partnership between the County Chief Executive Office Homeless Initiative (HI), DCFS, the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), and 211 Los Angeles County, a central source for providing information and referrals for all homeless services in Los Angeles County.