Working with Best Single Source Plus to support people experiencing homelessness

Written by SAFE

Recently, Ally and her children left their hometown in order to find a new beginning in Austin. Fleeing from physical and emotional abuse, Ally knew that she and her three kids deserved a better life.

She was ready to continue the nursing education that her abusive partner had forced her to abandon. But, with nowhere to go in a new city, she and her children had to squeeze into a small studio apartment with her brother. Ally knew this wasn’t a permanent solution.

Thanks to Best Single Source Plus (BSS Plus), there were options that would keep Ally from becoming homeless. Caritas of Austin, the lead agency for BSS Plus, met with Ally. She was referred to SAFE, a longstanding partner of BSS Plus, and connected by calling the SAFEline to get additional support from our advocates.

Ally began meeting with an advocate and case manager in SAFE’s Community Resource Advocacy program. They helped Ally conduct a housing search for apartments that she could afford, and Ally was active in following up with the resources provided to her by her advocate.

When searching for housing with her SAFE advocate, Ally insisted on calling the landlords to get a feel for them before deciding to move forward with the application process. Ally and her advocate worked on identifying local child care resources for her family. Once she decided on an apartment that worked for her and her children, Ally’s advocate was even able to coordinate with Einstein Moving Company to help move into their new home.

And since moving in, Ally has been accepted into the nursing program at a university! She said that the BSS Plus program’s financial assistance helped her pay for the large apartment deposit and first month’s rent, removing a huge burden while she concentrated on the well-being of herself and her kids.

She credits the support and funds from BSS Plus with helping her get back on her feet.

More about Best Single Source Plus and SAFE

BSS Plus is a collaboration of 12 Austin/Travis County nonprofits dedicated to housing people who are experiencing homelessness and preventing homelessness for residents at risk of losing their housing. Along with Any Baby Can, Caritas, AIDS Services of Austin, Meals on Wheels, LifeWorks, and more, SAFE works within the collaborative to ensure that we all can provide comprehensive case management and direct financial assistance to individuals and families. Together, we help people establish housing stability to both prevent and end homelessness. In 2018, BSS Plus served 1290 households and 2,896 clients.