What is RAFT?
RAFT stands for Residential Assistance to Families in Transition. It is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to meeting the needs of the homeless in the greater Kearney area and helping them in their efforts to become self-sufficient.
The Mission of the Residential Assistance to Families in Transition (RAFT) Program is to stabilize families in distress within a safe, secure, and empowering environment while they regain self-sufficiency.
The Vision of RAFT is to provide a structured residential program which includes the resources and services to assist families in rebuilding their lives and becoming productive members of the community.
Who are the homeless people in this area?
The homeless population includes people who work in Kearney but have not found affordable housing, single parents with no place to go, individuals who have fallen on hard times and have lost their homes, and abused or battered women. Children represent over 40 percent of this area's homeless population.
How did these people become homeless?
There are several causes of homelessness:
- Poverty. For the first time in our nation's history, the nation's poverty rate is growing faster than the population.
- Shortage of Affordable Housing. A consulting agency documented a shortage of almost 800 housing units in Kearney to meet the recent demands for families with low incomes.
- Economic Trends. Income inequality has reached its widest point in almost 50 years. Families can now work full time at a full year job and, depending on the size of the family, still find themselves below the poverty level.
People who have chronic disabilities or who have experienced personal crises used to be better equipped to “weather the storm.” Now, however, they are more susceptible than ever to becoming homeless and the numbers of homeless - both in this area and throughout the nation - are increasing.
What does RAFT do?
RAFT's program is not hand-out, but it does provide a helping hand to those who are actively working toward becoming self-sufficient. RAFT offers temporary residence in its five-apartment facility so that families have a chance to get back on their feet. During their stay, families are required to develop an individualized service plan which consists of goals and appropriate steps to attain self-sufficiency. The plan includes a requirement for all adults to work and/or attend training for a total of 40 hours per week. Typical plans also include mental health counseling, parenting classes, and involvement in 
various support groups available in the Kearney area. RAFT also provides on-site program components to include support groups, budgeting classes, and a mentoring program along with community service projects. All service plans build on the family's strengths and use these to overcome their barriers. An integral part of the RAFT program includes collaboration with area agencies. These agencies provide specialized services to the families to help them accomplish the goals developed in their family service plans.
The History of RAFT
Development of RAFT was the result of a need identified by several existing agencies and concerned citizens in Kearney. These organizations responded to the issue of homelessness in the area by forming the Kearney Area Community Coalition on Homelessness. The coalition's initial efforts and decisions resulted in the RAFT program. RAFT was designed to complement existing endeavors and to maximize both efficiency and effectiveness in the community's delivery of services. RAFT has received grants from several federal and state agencies as well as private funding sources. The progress of RAFT is also possible only through the support of community volunteers and contributions. The volunteers include RAFT's 15 member board of directors. For more information about the RAFT Program, please contact the Executive Director at (308) 865-1355 Ext. 133 or Case Manager at (308) 865-1355 Ext. 137. For the most recent RAFT newsletter, please click here (Adobe PDF).
