Transitional Living Program-Harmony House

Harmony House Transitional Living Program

We lack the words to refer to the enormous spirit, creativity, and determination people caught in poverty demonstrate in trying to sort through the limited options available to them. Harmony House was created to fill an important need in providing a supportive, nurturing place to learn and grow and create Harmony in the lives of homeless pregnant or parenting young women and their babies.

Usually, when the distractions of daily life deplete our energy, the first thing we eliminate is the thing we need the most quiet, reflective time. Time to dream, time to think, and time to contemplate what’s working and what’s not, so that we can make changes for the better. As we bring order to our lives, harmony emerges. We learn to balance demands with pleasures, moments of solitude with a need for companionship, work with play, activity with rest, the inner woman with the outer packaging. With Harmony House as their guide, everyday moments will soon begin to resonate in a rhapsody of fulfillment.

Program Philosophy

The program philosophy of Harmony House Transitional Living Program is to help people to help themselves. We aim to assist homeless individuals and families develop the skills they need to become self-sufficient, capable of demonstrating healthy parenting skills, finding and maintaining employment, and living in permanent, safe, affordable housing. Transitional Living is a community of living. This community is a partnership between residents, mentors, staff and volunteers, and has been formed to fulfill the goals of the program.

Why is it called Harmony House?

Harmony is the inner cadence of contentment we feel when the melody of life is in tune when somehow we’re able to strike the right chord…to balance the expectations of our families and our responsibilities in the world on the one hand with our inner needs for growth and personal expression on the other. This is one of the most difficult challenges any woman faces because it requires that we make choices every day. And yet most of us feel too tired to choose anything more than what to have for dinner. Perhaps this explains why we often hear only dissonant demands that drown out the symphonies our souls long to compose.

Harmony House Philosophy Elements:

Homeless people have value.
An environment can be created in which they can achieve their potential.
Personal relationships grounded in honesty, mutual understanding, and trust are the foundation of this environment.
Every interaction with participants is a chance to build on those relationships to help them achieve the above goals.
As an inherent right, each person can expect to be nurtured and supported in reaching their goals.

Program Requirements

Harmony House Transitional Living Program offers young mothers ages 18-21 up to 18 months of on-site transitional living and up to six months of aftercare. Participants take part in life-skills training, parenting classes, peer support groups, budgeting and financial literacy and recreational activities and are required to complete 30 hours of productive time each week. They also attend the weekly dinner and life skills night. They are enrolled in GED/High School Classes and work training programs and receive support from the Intensive case Manager and on-site Resident Managers. All participants are referred to area resources for additional trainings.

Success Stories

Jennifer had been living in a hotel with her sister, but was evicted. She entered Harmony House after having her child removed from her custody. We supervised weekly visits with her child, gradually increasing the length of these visits. During this time she was successful in building a strong bond with her child. She attended counseling and parenting classes during the transition process successfully meeting all requirements of the Department of Family Services. After four months she was reunited with her child and full custody rights have since been restored. She is currently a sophomore at Montana State University Billings where she is pursuing a degree in Human Services. She has a work study job on campus and also tutors other students. Jennifer is currently involved in the aftercare program and attends the Harmony House weekly dinners and life skills night.

Valerie moved into Harmony House when she was three months pregnant. At the time, she was living in temporary housing and did not have the resources or support networks to obtain new housing. During her time at Harmony House, she gave birth to her son who is now 4 months old. She also gained employment and continues to maintain this employment. While at Harmony House she attended classes on child development, parenting, nutrition,food preparation and budgeting. She is currently living in her own apartment and continues to maintain employment. She is involved in the aftercare program.