Programs

Community Outreach

Upward Transitions Case Managers provide a variety of services to clients. Case Managers will meet with clients to assess their needs and develop a plan to help clients become or remain self-sufficient. Upward Transitions currently provides the following services*:

Case Management
Utility and Rent Assistance
Retrieval of Legal Documents
State IDs
Food and Clothing Pantry
Non-narcotic Prescriptions for Clients who are Homeless
Linkage to other Services
Work Search Program for Clients who are Homeless (Call for hours of operation)
Transportation:

Assistance to Qualified Stranded Travelers
Relocation for Victims of Domestic Violence
Bus Tokens and Gas Vouchers for Work Search Program Participants

*Any individual who may be seeking services is encouraged to call in advance. No assistance can be guaranteed over the telephone.

Family Outreach

The Family Outreach Program has two components:

Component 1 -- Comprehensive Case Management and Transitional Housing

Comprehensive case management helps families who are homeless reintegrate into the community with emphasis on increasing and developing skills and income to prevent families from recycling back into homelessness. The case manager works closely with each family to develop an individualized case plan with outlined goals and objectives which addresses the specific needs of the family.

Transitional housing is utilized to reintegrate families who are homeless into the community and out of shelters. Transitional housing provides families in the program with safe and stable housing while they work to rebuild their lives. Families can remain in the program for two years.

Goals for families participating in the program vary but always include the following: residential stability (obtain permanent housing of their own after completing the program) and increased self-sufficiency (getting jobs, getting better paying jobs, increasing skills by getting GED, enhancing skills by participating in education opportunities such as college, vocational training, etc.).

Component 2 – Homeless Prevention Services

There are many families in Oklahoma City at any given point in time in danger of being evicted from their home or having their utilities cut off. Emergency assistance provided to these families, on the edge of homelessness, is very cost effective. A family that can remain in their home can avoid significant relocation charges in utility hookup fees and deposits and will require fewer social services compared to a family who is homeless needing an array of social services.

Homeless prevention is an important strategy in reducing the size of the homeless population in our community. Homeless prevention offers a short term financial bridge, in the form of emergency assistance, and linkage to community resources, which will enable families to access resources they need to stabilize their lives and strengthen their futures. Specific financial assistance includes help with rent and utilities.

The Family Outreach Program is funded by a special event, annual campaign and grants from the City of Oklahoma City, the Kirkpatrick Family Fund and the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency.

Travelers Aid Airport Program

63 volunteers assist the traveling public at Will Rogers World Airport by providing information about airport services and the Oklahoma City metro area. Trained volunteers assist travelers, military personnel, including new recruits, and international students with information, referrals and emergency assistance at the airport. To volunteer, contact Upward Transitions.