Family Promises

The Family Promise Network Program brings shelter, meals, and support services to families without homes. Family Promise Networks are a cost-efficient, effective, and replicable community response to family homelessness. Because they make use of existing community resources, they can be implemented quickly, without major start-up costs. There are six basic components to a Network Program.

1. Host/Support Congregations: The hosting of families rotates weekly among the Host Congregations in the Network. In turn, each host congregation provides lodging, three meals a day, and caring hospitality 3-4 times a year.  The Support Congregations provide much needed volunteers, supplies and finances when needed.  The ideal number of Hosting Congregations is 13.

2. Day Center: Guests use a local Day Center from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, where the Family Promise Network Director, a professional social worker, provides case management services. There, guests pursue employment, tend pre-school children, shower, and do laundry. The day center provides guests with a mailing address and a base for housing and employment searches. Many guests are employed during the day, while older children attend school.

3. Transportation: The Family Promise Network van transports guests to and from the Day Center.  The Network also uses a truck to carry bedding and luggage to the next Host Congregation.  The truck is also used to collect any donations made to the Network.

4.  Fundraising: Since the Network is a 501(c)3 the organization is financed through donations, grants and fundraising.

5. Social Service Agencies: Family Promise works in collaboration with other Social Service agencies. Local social service agencies refer families to the Network and may also help guests find or provide housing, jobs, and other needed services.