Save the Family's Transitional Program was designed to promote self-sufficiency and stabilize family lifestyles with the community through intensive job training, life skills and counseling.  It was quickly discovered that as these families entered into employment after training, their entry level wages were often not enough to obtain and maintain housing that was in line with their wage earnings.  The lack of affordable housing for these families, often headed by single women heads of households, seem to perpetuate the cycle of homelessness.  The A.R.M, therefore, was developed as another stepping stone to self-sufficiency where clients would be able to pay below-market rates for their housing.

The A.R.M. of Save the Family is an acronym for the Affordable Rental Movement. This organization, which is an affiliate of Save the Family, was incorporated as a separate, nonprofit entity whose purpose was to develop affordable rental for low and very-low income families with children.

The mission of the A.R.M. Program is to aid families in maintaining self-sufficiency by bridging the gap between subsidized rent to fair-market rent or homeownership, through decent and safe housing that is well below market rate rents.

Since 1994, A.R.M. has purchased more than 75 affordable housing units that are utilized as rentals.  Rehabilitation and maintenance of the units, which is overseen by a Property Management Coordinator and Maintenance Technicians, is accomplished through grant funding, volunteer groups, and in-kind donations.

The A.R.M. Program is to be used as a stepping stone in order to assist families that are employed and interested in increasing their wage earning capacity and pursuing more permanent housing through homeownership and upgrades in housing.

A.R.M. recently opened other opportunities for tenants.  The Program now offers guidance in job related issues, legal issues, assistance in budgeting, and help in solving personal and family problems through referrals.  This is overseen by the Resource Coordinator.

The A.R.M. Program was designed to help families develop their potential in the following areas:

• Becoming more employable
• Increasing financial stability
• Assisting families in purchasing their own homes
• Increasing family stability through educational and referral programs through Save the Family and other community agencies

Download a flyer (.pdf format)

Download an informational brochure (.pdf format)