Solid Ground has three enduring, organizational goals: 1. To provide a supportive learning and living environment in which families with children can thrive. 2. To provide services which support families’ long term goals of economic stability and self-reliance. 3. To advocate for affordable housing, living wage employment and community services that support all families.

Upon entering Solid Ground programming, each family is partnered with an Advocate. The Advocate conducts an in-depth Family Assessment and then works with the parent(s) to develop an individualized goal plan. The plan involves two key goal areas: housing stability and economic stability. Plans may also include goals that address education/job training; independent living skills (parenting, budgeting, etc. ); improved health; and community connections. Advocates aid participants in accessing the appropriate community resources to assist them in attaining both employment/economic goals and housing stability. Participants meet regularly with their Advocate to monitor progress, address barriers that arise and make necessary adjustments to the goal plan to ensure the participant’s success.

Fifteen individuals serve on the Board of Directors of Solid Ground. Because we strongly believe in having program participants actively involved in decision making for the organization, the bylaws call for at least one board member to be a current or former Solid Ground program participant. The agency currently employs sixteen full-time staff and four part-time staff. Solid Ground makes extensive use of volunteers in the community and has a volunteer corps of 500+ individuals who serve as tutors, mentors, and childcare helpers; assist with short-term projects like our back-to-school supply drive; help out in the office; etc.

Housing Stability: 90% of families achieve housing stability in Solid Ground housing. 80% of families exiting from the program secure permanent housing upon exit. 75% of families graduating from the program retain permanent housing at six months of exit. Improved Economic Stability: 50% of adults have a job at year-end or exit. 50% of households have increased their income at program exit. Educational Advancement: 90% of school-age children have regular school attendance. 65% of adults who are enrolled in an education or job training program complete or actively make progress in that program. Improved Health: 70% of adults who abuse substances will work toward sobriety. 60% of adults with a diagnosed mental illness are receiving treatment. Community Connections: 85% of residents access resources and/or are involved in their community. Families are Strengthened: 80% of families achieve at least one parenting goal. 80% of families achieve at least one budgeting goal.

In 2017, the following were our program outcomes: Housing Stability: 98% of 88 families in Solid Ground housing achieved housing stability. 67% of 36 families exiting from Solid Ground housing secured permanent housing upon exit. Improved Economic Stability: 49% of 88 households were employed at year-end or exit 44% of 36 families increased their income at exit. Educational Advancement: 98% of 102 school-age children regularly attended school. 88% of 16 adults who were enrolled in an education or job training program completed or actively made progress in that program. Improved Health: 84% of 31 adults who abuse substances worked toward sobriety. 88% of 55 adults with a diagnosed mental illness received treatment. Community Connections: 75% of 342 participants accessed resources or were involved in their community. Families Are Strengthened: 96% of 50 families achieved at least one parenting goal. 98% of 50 families achieved a budgeting goal.