"New Beginnings" Transitional Housing

The name "New Beginnings" represents the chance for women and their families who have fled homes where domestic violence threatened their lives and emotional stability. Often these women need an opportunity to start over, by learning how to be own their own, making their own decisions and securing a new home.

Berks Women in Crisis owns several apartments and townhouses to help our clients who meet the criteria to qualify for transitional housing. Women who are residents of the BWIC shelter have precedence in the selection process.

Applicants must:

• Be a victim of domestic violence and a client of BWIC
• File and maintain a PFA (if staff determines this is necessary for her and other residents' safety)
• Maintain full-time or part-time employment or have other income sufficient to cover housing fees
• Be willing to comply with responsibilities of the entire program
• Work with a case manager to establish and regularly evaluate a self-sufficiency plan
• Attend support group and housing meetings
• Participate in individual counseling at the BWIC offices
• Participate in life skill education opportunities

Goals of the Program

New Beginnings aspires to establish stability in our clients' lives. Some of the goals of the program include:

• Maintaining an abuse-free lifestyle
• Maintaining part-time or full-time employment
• Developing money management skills
• Enrolling in an education or job-training program
• Building self-esteem and self-awareness
• Creating a safe environment for the victim and her children

Requirements

Requirements differ depending on the specific apartment or townhouse available at application time. Some units are eligible for Section 8 Housing and others are part of the Next Step program. Details are available from the transitional housing office to our clients.