Mentoring for The Launching Pad
[back]Thank you for your interest in mentoring! Healthy relationships are essential for healthy living. Mentoring is one way to foster healthy lives for you and your "mentee." We hope that the relationship that you build nurtures your spirit and offers your mentee a safe, stable person to turn in the midst of moving into their first home.
What is The Launching Pad?
The Launching Pad, or TLP, is a program of housing assistance for formerly homeless young adults. The basic belief of TLP is that all youth and young adults should have a home, and that the community should assist young adults who are working toward housing self-sufficiency. The primary goal of TLP is to remove the financial barriers to becoming housed that face formerly homeless youth at the end of their time in transitional housing.
Because TLP believes that becoming housed is more than a bookkeeping function, this program has three key components:
A no-interest loan that helps eligible young adults make deposits required by landlords and utility companies.
Tenant education that teaches life and work skills such as home maintenance, financial aid application procedures, personal budgeting, and the basics of being a good tenant.
Social supports that provide an on-going relationship with a caring adult, nurtured, in part, through monthly meetings with other participants and mentors from local faith communities.
What is a mentor, anyway?
| A Mentor IS: | A Mentor is NOT: |
|---|---|
| a trusted friend | a savior |
| a guide | a foster parent |
| a good listener | a therapist |
| a responsible adult | a parole officer |
| a reliable adult | a cool peer |
How do Participants Joni TLP?
Young adults ages 18-25 who meet the criteria are invited to apply to TLP. Successful applicants will provide a letter of recommendation from their transitional living program, proof of employment and/or current enrollment in school, and proof that the monthly rent of the apartment can be sustained. An application is filled out for TLP. Additionally, the applicant will fill out a standard rental application. Applicants agree to abide by the rules of the program and to participate fully in all aspects of the program including repayment of the loan, and participation in the mentor/mentee relationship.
Tell me more about Loans
The amount of the loan requested and offered will depend upon the participant's current financial situation and immediate future earning potential. Loans start at $200 and can be used toward the rental of an apartment and/or utility deposits. Loans are interest-free and repayment is based upon the participant's earning power. Should a participant fall upon "hard times," adjustments in the payment schedule may be worked out, but full repayment is expected so that other young adults may benefit from this program. The Launching Pad is a peer-lending program, meaning that as people repay their loans, their peers may join the program and benefit. Growth of the program and future people served depend upon current participants to pay back into the fund.
Our goal is to provide an environment that fosters success and then build upon that success. Therefore, we encourage close contact between mentors and mentees and between participants and the leadership team of The Launching Pad. This is primarily a program to foster economic independence and housing self-sufficiency. Therefore, if a participant can forsee economic hardships (layoffs, loss of working hours) we encourage the participant to work with us in order to find solutions that will keep the person in the program until the hard times pass. Should something unforeseeable occur (illness, loss of job), we will do our best to be helpful!
How do I Become a Mentor?
- Fill out a mentor application form, including Washington State Patrol
- Background form.
- Read through these materials.
- Attend Orientation for Mentors provided for mentors in The Launching Pad.
- Get assigned a participant partner, otherwise known as a mentee.
- Meet your partner, fill out a mentor/mentee agreement form, and attend
- monthly luncheons.
- Make a one year commitment to be in relationship with your mentee.
What EXACTLY Am I SUpposed to Do as a Mentor?
- Meet with your mentee AT LEAST once a month. We suggest that you add into your covenant an agreement that you will visit your mentee's apartment at least once a month to see how things are going. We also STRONGLY SUGGEST that you agree to meet weekly at least for the first month. Regular contact is key to building a strong relationship! After your first month, you may decide to continue on a weekly basis or change your meeting schedule.
- In your covenanting process, ask your mentee for one thing that can be used as a monthly reward for repayment of the loan and for prompt payment of other bills, e.g. a monthly bus pass.
- Help your mentee develop a monthly budget by using the provided budget worksheets.
- Spend significant time during your meetings to go over budgets and pay bills.
- Spend a good deal of time during your meetings learning about your mentee. Listen particularly to issues related to independent living.
- After your mentee pays his or her bills in your presence and the two of you drop them in the mail, reward your mentee with the agreed-upon reward that is provided by the program.
- Stay in contact with the volunteer/mentor coordinator, and give him or her monthly feedback . Please direct any questions about the program or how to relate with your mentee to the coordinator. Hopefully you will receive some helpful hints on building and maintaining your relationships. NEVER FEEL ALONE! Always know that you can call for support!
- Attend an end of year celebration for your mentee and attend an exit interview with the volunteer/mentor coordinator and/or leadership team.
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