Housing Counseling

The Family Visions Outreach Housing Counseling Department consists of individual and group counseling as well as educational outreach and supervised by the Executive Director. Each program is guided by our agency's mission and a philosophy that values participant choice, promotes respect between staff and its participants, and utilizes a strength based approach to promoting housing stability while affirmatively furthering fair housing.

All agency housing counseling services are public on the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Georgia Department of Community Affair's website in addition to our agency site, social media, and various public service centers in the counties we serve. The services are provided in a safe and supportive environment.

Our counselors make contact with clients for the initial intake screening/assessment which allows for the counselor to obtain the client's goals and expectations in meeting those goals. lo assist with development of an action plan, a household budget and information on all sources of income, a credit history if applicable, and any financial barriers that may hinder progression.

After initial intake. each counselor attempts to schedule a follow-up appointment with the client within a 48 hour time frame via telephone, email, or text (client preference), detailing any additional information needed for the upcoming appointment.

For those clients, in which the counselor is not able to initiate contact with within (30) thirty days are notified in writing to contact the agency at their earliest convenience, if there is a continued interest in our housing counseling services.

All services are provided in a safe and supportive environment and accommodations are made for those clients with physical disabilities and or language barriers. The Family Visions Outreach, Inc. office is handicapped accessible and all facilities chosen to administer follow-ups are as well. Family Visions Outreach, Inc. also provides telephone counseling for those not capable of traveling, if a home visit is not permissible in the event of a language barrier between housing counselor and client, Family Visions Outreach. Inc. utilizes the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay).This is a federal government.

telecommunications service, which enables those who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities equal communication access.

Once established, clients will continue to receive both one-to-one counseling and group education services on an as needed basis inclusive of revisiting budgets, adjusting action plans,

and re-evaluating goals, or referred to an appropriate source, as interagency collaboration may be necessary