Family Promise - Greater Phoenix is one of 129 Family Promise programs throughout the country temporarily meeting the needs of homeless families. Family Promise has affiliates in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Altogether there are more than 4,000 congregations and more than 110,000 volunteers who have assisted 130,000 guests since 1988. The parent organization's website is found at FamilyPromise.org.
In keeping with the guidelines from the parent organization, the Greater Phoenix program provides meals, a homelike setting, emotional support and a full range of social, economic, and educational services..
The latest Family Promise - Greater Phoenix Annual Report Brochure in PDF format may be viewed or printed. The file size is 310 Kb.
Programs are formed primarily from existing resources so they can be implemented quickly, without major start-up costs. Programs vary from community to community, reflecting local needs and resources. However, there are five basic components to all Family Promise programs, such as ours:
1. Host Congregations
Four to five times a year, for one week at a time, host congregations provide overnight lodging, meals, and hospitality. The schedule rotates among our host congregations who provide lodging for three to five families (up to eighteen individuals) from approximately 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next morning.
2. Volunteers
Volunteers are the heart of our program; without them, we could not exist. Volunteers provide a variety of services: cooking and serving meals, playing with children or helping them with homework and staying overnight. Beyond providing lodging and meals, volunteers interact with the guests, treating them with respect and responding with compassion.
3. Social Service Agencies
Local social service agencies screen guests and refer families to Family Promise. The agencies may also help guests find housing, jobs, and government entitlements. Since every Family Promise program is staffed by volunteers, the social service agencies screen guests for active substance abuse or psychiatric problems.
4. Day Center
Family Promise provides a separate, local day center which guests use from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to shower, care for pre-school children, and seek employment. Many guests are employed during the day and go to work. During the school year, children attend school. The day center provides guests with a mailing address and a home base from which to conduct their housing and employment searches.
5. Transportation
A Family Promise supplied bus transports guests between the host church and the day center morning and evening each day.
6. Accomplishments and Goals
Since the start of our operation, we provided emergency shelter services to over 250 families. These families include over 500 children with the majority being 5 years old and younger. We have provided assistance to numerous other families and individuals. We continue to be a lifeline for our families after they graduate from our program.
Through our 1400 volunteers and 18 host congregations, we annually serve over 15,000 meals and provide over 5000 nights of safe housing.
Family Promise is an incredibly cost efficient non-profit organization when compared with other shelter organizations. The Arizona Department of Economic Security estimates the average cost of shelter in Arizona is $22.00 per person per day for family shelters. Family Promise provides more services, shelter, and case management services, for almost half of that, a mere $12.50 per person per day for 2003. Family Promise staff members ensure existing resources are maximized. Where resources do not exist, staff creatively finds a means to resolve guests’ needs.
Family Promise is an incredibly cost efficient non-profit organization when compared with other shelter organizations. The Arizona Department of Economic Security estimates the average cost of shelter in Arizona is $22.00 per person per day for family shelters. Family Promise provides more services, shelter, and case management services, for almost half of that, a mere $12.50 per person per day for 2003. Family Promise staff members ensure existing resources are maximized. Where resources do not exist, staff creatively finds a means to resolve guests' needs.
