Family Promise is a holistic approach to the crisis of family homelessness. Our programs address the range of issues that affect families with low income. These include direct services, prevention programs, educational curricula, and more.
Families experiencing homelessness are hosted in local Host congregations for a week or two at a time. This often is referred to as the “Rotation Program”, as guests rotate from one congregation to the next each week.
Host congregations provide lodging, meals, and hospitality about once a quarter. Support congregations (that may not have the space to provide shelter for families) assist by providing meals or volunteers at the Host congregations. Host and Support congregations often provide financial support for our programs. We always are looking for more congregations that want to help end child homelessness!
The Day Center provides a homelike setting for guests during the day when they are not at work, school, or daycare. Our office is located here, and guests work with Resource Advocates to find jobs and housing. The Day Center is located in Hope on Houston in Sherman. It has showers, a washer and dryer, kitchen, computers, and a play area for young children. The Day Center also provides guests with a mailing address.
The Family HOPE (Housing Opportunities to Prevent Eviction) program aims to keep families in their own homes (and avoid the trauma of homelessness) by assisting with rent or utilities and providing budgeting skills and resource advocacy.
Tabitha House is a transitional living home located in Knollwood. It is for families that have graduated from the Rotation program and need a little more time to meet their financial goals (e.g. saving for a car or down payment). Families pay for their utilities and a program fee while living there.
Volunteers are essential to our success and provide a wide range of services, like cooking, serving meals, entertaining children, helping with homework, interacting with guests with respect and compassion, organizing donations, assisting in the office, and doing yardwork. There are opportunities for individuals, families, or groups to volunteer.
We assist guests as needed with transportation to and from the Host congregations, Day Center, work, interviews, school, and appointments. Guests may drive their own vehicles, or cars are available for guests with a valid driver’s license.
Collaborating with other local social service agencies is essential to our work. Agencies refer families to us (and we refer to them) for assistance with housing, jobs, childcare, mental and physical healthcare, educational opportunities, financial literacy, etc.
Our organization is financed through donations, grants, and fundraising events. Money goes towards guest support services, transportation, daycare, insurance, utilities, and a number of other necessary items to make our program a success. It also pays for rent and utilities for families assisted by the Family HOPE program, salaries for the Executive Director and our two part-time Resource Advocates, and maintenance for our vehicles and transitional living home. We always are seeking donations (material and monetary), fundraising opportunities, and grants. If you can be supportive in any of these ways, please contact us.