| Sustaining STARTs Office Space to Strengthen Comm - 2025 |
Amount Funded: $5,000.00 |
| The purpose of this project is to sustain START’s physical office operations in order to support the continued delivery of individualized, in-person case management services to individuals and families in crisis. START’s office space is critical to our ability to meet with participants face-to-face, assess needs, build trust, and provide comprehensive support in a confidential, accessible environment.
By maintaining a stable and welcoming office location, START can continue to offer effective case management that helps participants address barriers to housing, employment, child care, healthcare, food security, and transportation. This project supports our broader mission to reduce the risk of homelessness, mitigate the impacts of poverty, and promote long-term self-sufficiency for residents of the Stoughton area. As demand for services continues to grow, this funding will help ensure our infrastructure remains strong and responsive to the evolving needs of the community.
This project has a direct and lasting impact on the well-being of the Stoughton community. When individuals and families are supported in meeting their basic needs  including stable housing, access to food, healthcare, child care, and employment  the entire community benefits. A community thrives when all of its members are secure, healthy, and able to participate fully in civic and economic life. START’s in-person case management services help prevent homelessness, reduce instability, and promote self-sufficiency  outcomes that strengthen families, reduce strain on emergency systems, and contribute to a more resilient and connected community. By ensuring our office remains a stable point of access for support, this project helps foster a stronger, more equitable Stoughton for everyone. |
| The Stoughton Area Resource Team (START) provides essential support to individuals and families in crisis within the Stoughton community. START receives ongoing requests for assistance from residents whose incomes fall short of covering basic living expenses. These households often face complex challenges including housing instability, unemployment, food insecurity, lack of access to healthcare, and transportation barriers that make it difficult to maintain long-term financial stability.
While START offers short-term financial assistance such as rent support, the core of our program is individualized, in-person case management. This approach is designed to guide participants through the barriers that prevent access to critical resources, while also building skills that promote long-term self-sufficiency. Case management empowers individuals by drawing on their strengths and capabilities, ultimately improving quality of life, reducing the risk of homelessness, and breaking the cycle of generational poverty particularly for youth.
Each household START serves is unique, and our case management process reflects that. A case manager works closely with each participant to assess needs, respond to emergencies, evaluate risks, set short-, mid-, and long-term goals, implement strategies, and follow up to adjust plans as needed. The goal is to stabilize key areas such as child care, education, employment, health and mental health care, food, housing, and transportation. These services are most effective when delivered in-person, through regular, confidential meetings that allow for deeper engagement, trust-building, and responsive support.
STARTs physical office space is essential to the success of our individualized, in-person case management model. Located in a central, accessible area of downtown Stoughton, the office provides a safe, welcoming environment where participants can meet face-to-face with case managers. It is within this space that trust is built, needs are assessed, goals are established, and long-term plans for stability are developed. The office also serves as an operational hub where staff collaborate with community partners to provide timely and effective support.
We are seeking grant funding to help cover the ongoing operational costs of this vital space, including rent. As community needs continue to rise driven by the increasing cost of living and more complex household challenges maintaining a stable, professional, and |
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