IDENTIFYING AND DEVELOPING HOUSING ASSISTANCE STRATEGIES

Footsteps is the only organization in North America focused on supporting individuals from ultra-Orthodox Jewish backgrounds attempting to move beyond their insular communities. For Footsteps members who may be struggling to find employment, addressing complex custody issues, or having their first experience with secular education, New York City's competitive housing market can be daunting or out of reach. Footsteps enlisted a Capstone team to provide recommendations for how to better support the housing stability of its members. The team conducted a literature review, environmental scan, interviews, and a SWOT analysis of potential strategies. The final report included three case studies of housing supports, a set of recommendations for light-touch and in-depth strategies to locate housing, and a referral list of organizations to help individual Footsteps members with housing needs. The team's final recommendations included an evidence-based assessment of the client's needs that built on Footsteps' strengths and considered the organization's resources and capacities.