Interfaith Family Services, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering families in crisis to break the cycle of poverty, used NMTC financing for facilities improvements.

The NMTC Project extended Interfaith’s services to families who do not live in Interfaith housing through the construction of the Family Empowerment Center, a new facility spanning two adjacent buildings that brought together programs for Interfaith residents and non-residents as well as greatly expand childcare and youth opportunities. This emphasis on childcare is greatly needed in Dallas County, with the recent Early Matters report showing that 60%.of non-working parents cite childcare as one of the top 5 reasons they aren’t participating in the workforce and there is a gap of more than 14,000 childcare slots in Dallas County.

Located on Interfaith’s existing campus, the Adult Education Center, a 20,000 sq. ft. 3-story building, houses career development and financial empowerment services, as well as counseling and life skills training. The adjacent 16,080 sq. ft. 3-story Childcare and Youth Services Center includes 10 classrooms for early childhood through grade programs, dedicated space for teens, a computer lab, and a library.

The Adult Education Center extends Interfaith’s capacity from 100 to 300 working poor families, while the Childcare and Youth Services Center serves 600 youth. This includes extended-hours (nights and weekends) childcare for 150 children up to age 5, as well as year-round after school and summer programs for 450 youth up to age 18. Youth services include play therapy, counseling, academic support, college preparation, and, for teens, financial literacy, college tours, and job training.