Housing has always been one of the main goals of ELI. This program helps families find safe and secure housing. While enrolled in the program, the head(s) of household will attend monthly coaching meetings. The goal of coaching meetings is to establish a monthly budget, set goals, improve credit score and provide counsel. For those who meet the requirements, a monthly housing subsidy may be available (up to $200). Monthly subsidies are determined by income, family size, and program participation. All subsidies will be reviewed yearly.

Coaches can also assist families who want to pursue home ownership by helping develop plans to secure a down payment and obtain a home mortgage. While involved with the program, clients will have access to continued benefits. Benefits may include food market access, utility assistance, diaper bank access, etc.

The changing face of employment paired with the uncertainty of school and childcare for the population we work with has been the catalyst for program expansion. In order to help our families explore career options, training opportunities, post-secondary education, and certifications for advancement to meet their employment goals; we hired a Workforce Development Coach as a full-time staff member. This coach offers parents more intense workforce development help and also manages our HUSTLE Micro-grants, which offers parents $1000 in seed money for business start-ups.

One requirement for participation in our program is financial literacy training. In 2024 we began partnering with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Alabama A&M University and offering FLIP: Financial Literacy in Progress classes to our participants. These classes are designed to empower our clients with essential financial knowledge and skills.

Through our partnership with The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; our coaches have access to a new tool designed to help workers understand the timing and magnitude of benefits loss. Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecaster (CLIFF) informational dashboards inform how benefits cliffs intersect with career advancement in specific geographies and local in-demand career paths. These dashboards show the financial tradeoffs associated with career advancement, the net gains to the taxpayer when workers advance and simulate policy and programmatic solutions. Core to this initiative is the development of an interactive financial planning tool designed to inform individuals about benefits cliffs along a career path. The tool enables users to design a customized career path involving multiple steps of education and career advancement. We know that a determinant of economic success is career advancement that allows individuals to rely less on government assistance over the course of their program. One goal set by many of our families is to no longer rely on government assistance. A Workforce Development Coach can walk through a variety of options when participants have a desire to advance a career or further their education. The CLIFF tool allows individuals to forecast at what points in their career they will be able to receive decreases in government assistance and the importance of saving money and being prepared as to not “fall off the cliff”. The online tool suggests training strategies in some cases. For example, a nursing student may find that the extra time to study to become a registered nurse is far more beneficial than a smaller step to be a licensed practical nurse.

Thrive Coaching is typically the primary step our families take in the Thrive Together program. During this initial step, families are linked to a wide range of resources. This coaching process provides families with a stable foundation helping families thrive in their community (healthy relationships) before they move on to other areas of coaching such as Workforce Development and Housing. In the Thrive Coaching step, we also ensure families attend the required Financial Literacy in Progress classes which gives them the tools to practice budgeting and goal setting.

Serving You Ministries offers emergency utility assistance for Alabama Power, Spire, and Trussville Utilities. Financial assistance is available twice a year for eligible clients. For more information on utility assistance, visit https://www.servingyou.org/need-help.

The Barrett Elementary Tutoring Program, a collaboration between ELI and Christ Church, is on a mission to empower students in the East Lake community of Birmingham. Our dedicated tutors partner with children at Barrett Elementary, providing weekly tutoring sessions typically lasting an hour. These sessions, scheduled at various times during the school day, create a supportive learning environment for students.

Tutors have the opportunity to make a lasting impact in a child's academic journey. Our tutors commit from fall to the end of the school year, ensuring consistent support for each assigned student.

If you're passionate about education and eager to contribute to a brighter future, we invite you to join us in this rewarding endeavor. For more information about volunteering with the Barrett Elementary Tutoring Program, please contact Martha Knight at mck7@bellsouth.net or 205.516.5716.

Our garden is open to families in our program to have access to fresh vegetables.

Serving You Ministries operates a client choice food market for families needing emergency food assistance. To make an appointment, call 205.777.3653. For more information on eligibility and what to bring to your appointment, visit https://www.servingyou.org/need-help.