The program
The Dumas Wesley Community Center and the Baldwin Family Village Foundation are proud to announce the launch of Baldwin County’s first transitional housing program, the Baldwin Family Village (BFV). The program is operated by the Dumas Wesley Community Center, and modeled after its highly successful transitional housing program, the Sybil Smith Family Village. Sybil Smith enjoys an average success rate of 88% among residents who completed the program and remained permanently housed for two years. This figure is 45% higher than the national average, according to the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a data collection service which measures housing services and outcomes nationwide. In the last six years, 0% of SSFV graduates returned to homelessness, within 2 years of program completion, compared to the national recidivism rate of 19%.
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The Baldwin Family Village provides 12 months of housing stability and wrap-around services for up to 100 single women and women with children annually. BFV seeks to break the cycle of homelessness and help women and children re-establish and maintain self-sufficiency by focusing on accountability, case management, life skills and behavior modification.
According to United Way of Southwest Alabama’s crisis calls, in 2021, 1/3 of the calls received from Baldwin County are related to homelessness and/or housing assistance. Last year, the Baldwin County Public School System reported that 300 school-age children were homeless on any given night in Baldwin County.
Basic eligibility criteria for admission into Baldwin Family Village are:
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Must be at least 24 years old,
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Must be homeless or fleeing domestic violence (PFA must be obtained upon entry),
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Must be able to work and/or attend school (volunteer hours do not count),
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Must be drug and alcohol-free,
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Must be willing to live in a drug/alcohol-free environment (and take random drug tests), and
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Must be willing to participate in a case management plan.
Please contact Amy Abernathy, Director of the Baldwin Family Village, at 251-210-4045 or email aabernathy@dumaswesley.org for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures.
upon intake We will
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Meet the immediate need for stable housing so that residents may focus on becoming self-sufficient;
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Help residents obtain job skills and educational skills so they can financially support themselves;
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Help overcome other critical obstacles such as lack of affordable childcare so they may work outside the home;
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Help individuals and mothers with children recover from and avoid the trauma which homelessness and economic instability caused to their health, self-esteem, and emotional development; and
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Help secure and retain permanent housing upon completion of the BFV program.
why Dumas Wesley community center?
DWCC’s long history of enhancing its community and unparalleled success rate with respect to transitional housing makes them uniquely qualified to address the needs of the homeless in Baldwin County.
Founded in 1903, DWCC is recognized nationally for its expertise in working with the poor and addressing homelessness. Since 1999, DWCC has operated an effective and transformative transitional housing program in Mobile called the Sybil H. Smith Family Village. Since its inception, the program has served 2,390 individuals with an average Shelter Utilization Rate of 91% (beds in use) and has boasted an 88% success rate among residents moving into permanent housing, which is 17% higher than the national average, according to HUD statistics (success is measured by the women’s ability to continue living independently six months following graduation from the program).
DWCC intends to replicate this proven blueprint of care and establish it as a lasting resource for Baldwin County through BFV.
Find out more: About – Dumas Wesley Community Center
What will it cost?
Start-up costs are currently estimated to be $70,650. The annual operating budget is $540,150. For a list of start-up costs and budget items, click the button below.