United Way Partner Program:
Financial Success Program
The Fresh Coast Alliance (FCA) Financial Success Program (FSP) is an established program designed to help participants better manage their time and money, leading to improved outcomes with employment, housing, and economic stability. FSP teaches participants how to not only manage time/resources but also practically improve their access and utilization of community services.
FSP is built on three key elements:
- Working Together – Every Friday morning all unemployed housing participants come to the training center to work on projects and tasks. This weekly job training and demonstration is designed to prepare participants for placement in a job with long-term employment opportunities by showing up on time and completing their duties. Our community placement partnerships include West Michigan Works, Wheels to Work, and Goodwill.
- RENEW – A six-week course on Thursdays that teaches soft skills and strategies to assist participants who seek full-time employment, but struggle with significant legal barriers, such as felonies or serious misdemeanors. This course also teaches about budgeting, saving, and time management. Participants who complete the course will gain stable employment with felon and recovery-friendly employers such as Fomcore, Hi-Lift, and several other employment partners. And through our partnership with Best Financial Credit Union, participants learn how to open bank accounts, build/re-build credit, pay off old debts, avoid payday lenders, and use credit/loans responsibly.
- Peer Run Level I Supportive Living Program – A specialized supportive sober housing program that helps participants manage regular expenses of rent, transportation, health, and food costs. THis allows for peer accountability in structured living.
About Fresh Coast:
Fresh Coast offers 18 hours of free programming every week. Classes like AA, NA, Art Therapy, along with classes like The Essentials (basic life skills) and RENEW (budgeting and job preparedness). We have employment services and Peer Recovery Coaching. We offer safe and sober housing for returning citizens and those beginning their recovery journey. We also host meals twice a week and are building out sober social events.
