Housing Program

Carpenter’s Place Women’s Transitional Housing program occupies 4 two-bedroom apartments. There are 8 women in the program which is privately funded. Apartments are located in a healthy community neighborhood, on the bus route, close to shopping, hospital, addiction and mental health services, as well as educational, employment, spiritual, and recreational opportunities.

Participants in this program may remain up to two years. Participants share the apartment with a roommate to increase accountability and to avoid isolating behavior and loneliness.

A full-time case manager is responsible for the well-being and continued progress of current participants as well as those transitioning into or out of the program. The case manager assumes the primary role of relationship-building and accountability, including periodic assessment, monitoring, and advocacy for participants. The case manager meets weekly with all participants one-on-one and holds group meetings for all program participants a minimum of once a week. All apartment and rooms are inspected weekly.

In 2016, 549,928 people were experiencing homelessness. Of that number 7%, or 39,471, were veterans. (source)

With the support of our caring case managers, CP helps homeless veterans rebuild their lives through

• a complete assessment of their life and conditions
• the development of a life recovery plan with goals and a timeline
• accountability, monitored progress and  celebration of success
• services for employment, mental health, addictions, financial planning, budgeting, transportation, clothing and other specific needs
• housing complete with furnishings, utilities, food and veteran companions

Through a special Veterans’ Administration program along with private donations, Carpenter’s Place was able to purchase a three-bedroom brick ranch located in a northwest Rockford neighborhood for half the market price. This home provides transitional housing for three honorably-discharged homeless Veterans, giving them a safe, secure place to call home—-a place to get a fresh start and rebuild their lives in Rockford.

Partnering with the Homeless Veterans’ Program at CP is a wonderful opportunity to help restore freedom and hope to those who fought to give those same things to us!

Our mental health housing program is for homeless adults who otherwise have no access to mental health care. Through private donations, Carpenter’s Place rents two apartments, and each is shared by two participants who may stay up to one year. While they may not work, they do participate in the Internship Program at CP.  Participants meet with the HMHAP case manager, who oversees their life recovery plan and works with them to achieve their goals.

Carpenter’s Place provides housing to homeless men that are recently employed or have finished the CP employment readiness program.  Our Employment Program case manager oversees the housing of several participants and continues to build relationships of compassion and accountability with them.

If a guest completes their emplyment readiness program and is actively working to find a job or loses a job, they can stay in the housing program and participate in CP Internship Program.  Through this program, participants work at Carpenter’s Place, where they can grow in their abilities and skills, receive feedback and evaluation and prepare for the workforce. Carpenter’s Place is then also able to provide a reference for the participant as well.

This CP program received initial funding from HUD for a three-year period to provide Permanent Supported Housing for the Chronically Homeless. Guests considered chronically homeless have been homeless for a year or three times in the last three years.

The project leases a mixture of available open market housing units consisting of fourteen (14) one bedroom units that are utilized as Permanent Supportive Housing for chronically homeless adults. This program allows for a focus on specific Chronically Homeless sub-populations in need in the community, such as persons with mental illness, substance abuse problems, or dual diagnosis; veterans; or those with HIV/AIDS.

The program includes professional comprehensive and holistic Case Management services.