Local nonprofit helps families find footing for a positive future

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - A local nonprofit organization that helps families find their footing for a positive future celebrated 13 more graduates on Sunday.

Families Flourish was co-founded by Amy Klaben in 2016. She still runs the organization as CEO. It was born out of her experience in the professional world.

"What I saw was that families didn't have a choice and saw that we needed to use housing as a means to economic opportunity,” Klaben explained Sunday afternoon at Wyman Woods Park in Grandview. “And what that meant was creating a whole new model. And so what we do is combine life coaching with programs for three years with rental support, so families have access to higher resourced communities where their jobs are located in grocery stores, and the kids can go to higher performing schools.”

Since its founding in 2016, Families Flourish has helped more than 100 families find a path to sustained success. 

"Many of our participants have gone back to school or gotten certifications,” Klaben said. “Getting promotions, increased credit score, increased health and wellness, for both themselves and their children. One of the women who just graduated told us that her income has tripled since she joined the program.”

The program works by placing families, often single parents with kids, into housing in better, safer neighborhoods, close to grocery stores and other resources while helping pay the rent. Additionally, the kids then attend higher quality schools, are partnered with mentorship opportunities, and the parents get access to life coaches and education opportunities.

"Our promise to our families that we will not run out of money to pay for the rental support and their coaching and programs,” Klaben said. “We now have 23 private landlords who are partnering with us to open up access to their private and market-rate apartments.”

Other similar programs may provide housing vouchers, but Klaben said Families Flourish is unique in the resources they provide the families.

"What they don't do is have coaching and programs for the adults to really help the adults navigate the system so that they can improve their economic positions,” she said. 

Thirteen families graduated from the three-year program on Sunday. One of those graduates is Jameka Humphries. Humphries started the program with her now 10-year-old son during a tough time in life.

"I had just lost my dad and the only thing that I really had to hold on to at the time was this program,” she said. “I mean, I was going to do it for me. It was like my first month in the program. So, I graduate today with my son, just recently losing his father, but I'm not scared. I'm beyond brave at this point.”

Humphries credits the other women in the program for bringing their best to make their lives and their kids' lives better from day one.

"The women came in strong,” she said. “They came in very, very, very intentional, impactful, and transparent. So, it just made our journey together just like very, very worth it today.”

Three years later, Humphries is so happy with her decision to apply to the program. 

"It made me a better parent and made me be able to be more hands on and be more emotional, tapping into some of the things that he has going on,” she said. “Having those outside resources that set him up for success. I was receiving a life coach. My son was getting a big brother from the Big Brother Big Sister program. I was taking monthly classes that built on top of each other. Just being able to have a friend walk this journey with you and be able to get a different perspective. A lot of times our life coaches are from different walks of life. Some have lived experience in some areas where some don't.”

The program is only offered through donations and applications, meaning families must apply and be accepted. There are requirements for getting into the program. All that information and the application is available here.

“Run, don't walk,” Humphries said. “Show up. Show up for yourself. When you hear about family stories, don't be scared. Take that leap of faith.”