The day house is very quiet as I write this note on Friday afternoon. This week 6 of the children in the program went back to school – 2 to elementary school at Cordley, 2 to middle school at Central, and 2 to high school at Free State. The 3 other children are either still in diapers, or too little for public school, though the preschooler has been walking around the day center with a backpack on her back since Wednesday!
A 4th family will likely be joining the program on Monday, which will bring the total in the program to 4 families and 15 people – the maximum we can serve at one time. This spring and summer has been very busy with referrals and calls from families in need of our services. I have taken an average of 6 calls each week throughout the summer. Many weeks there are over 6 families that call in need of Family Promise.
If not careful, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the needs. To protect myself from the overwhelming sense of need, I tend to focus on the wonderful services provided by those of you I am writing to today. As I’ve said numerous times, the value, strength, and difference in this program over other models that serve the population of people who are in homelessness, is the VOLUNTEERS. You each contribute in some manner, donations of funding, time, day center supplies, work projects. By your generosity, Family Promise does make a long term difference in the lives of the families we are honored to walk alongside. Lives that are changed, lives we all get to watch grow, be nourished, lives that have hope re-established, lives that change because they experience love and friendships through tough times…
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken… Ps 112:4-6 (NIV)
Transitional/Temporary Housing Program Initiation! (…A baby step)
It is with joy and much excitement that I write to you today about a new program we initiated this week – a Transitional / Temporary Housing Program. Lawrence has a great need for transitional housing. The rotation of families through the network this year has been slower than usual, due to the difficulty in finding jobs in the early part of the year, so saving enough for down payment and first months rent has obviously delayed until there is solid employment.
A generous supporter of Family Promise of Lawrence has allowed us the use of one of his properties, for a minimal monthly fee. We then can offer this property to graduates of the program, or to families ready to graduate, but who may need some additional time to save up the money to move into their own place. The families in transitional housing pay a small security deposit, and a subsidized rent. They sign an agreement with Family Promise for 1-month, which can be renewed at the recommendation of our case manager, progress on their goals and approval by the director.
By using this temporary house, Lawrence Family Promise will be able to serve more families in the rotational portion of the program, because families will be able to potentially rotate out more promptly. It will also give a family a bit more independence, while maintaining the case management, guidelines, goals and action items of the Family Promise program so that they may continue to work to obtain permanent housing as soon as possible.
Over 25% of the Family Promise affiliates nationwide are involved in some sort of transitional housing as an extension of services, totalling 471 separate family units as of January 2011. We have designed our program after the other successful affiliates. For now, we have the one family unit as our starting place. We have been approached by other property owners, and churches for discussions about uses for other properties, but are taking this slowly! One unit at a time, to make certain we have not taken a bite too big! If you have any interest in this program, or would like further information, please feel free to call me! Dana 785-764-9506
The first family in the temporary home moved in on Monday. They furnished the home from donated items from our furniture ministry, and kitchen, bath and bedding items from The Helping Hands Closet at First Christian Church. All of the items and furniture will remain in the home when this first family moves into their own home in a month. The first family is determined to fill the home with love, and they have already painted the bedrooms, plan on painting the living areas this weekend, and have cleared out the brush from the front yard. They want their labor to be a gift to LFP for the families that will come after them.
And that is another wonderful example of the success of this program – the desire of the graduates to give back – because of the impact Family Promise had on their lives – they want to participate in blessing others.
Auction and Golf Tournament Time – Get Ready!
It is nearly time for our 4th annual auction and Golf Tournament! I’m not a golfer myself, but I will be driving the cart around to visit everyone! (watch out for me)
Date: Auction Sunday evening September 9th
Time: start 5:30
Location: Maceli’s 1031 New Hampshire Street
Lots of good food, fun items to bid on, and 2 families will share of their experiences in Family Promise. Hope you can come and bring some friends!
Date: Golf Tournament is Monday September 10th
Consider joining us at one or both events!
Please register here on the website or to read more information
Family Promise Open Houses – Come by and see the day center
We have 2 remaining open houses this month and would love to have you stop by and visit the day center. We have completed the basement and 3rd floor construction projects and want to show them off! Come join us before work for a cup of coffee and a pastry. We are so thankful for your service and would love to say thank you. Grace EPC, Plymouth and First Christian are our featured congregations in this round of open houses, but all are certainly welcome to attend.
Dates: August 22 and August 27th
Time: 7:30 – 9:30AM
Day Center Needs:
Paper towels
Toilet paper
body wash
Deodorant
Toothbrushes