Historically, the Rotation Program was the first program established in Lawrence, KS to serve the expressed needs of families in Douglas County. A series of faith communities sheltered up to 4 families at a time in their houses of worship for 1-week periods. The congregations provided safe shelter, 3 meals a day and warm hospitality.
In 2023, the FPL Board of Directors made the strategic decision to seek a building that could be used as a permanent shelter, with the intention that this could provide a greater sense of stability and decrease the challenges and trauma of moving from place to place. With that goal in mind, FPL began sheltering families in a pilot shelter program at one location. Meals and hospitality are still provided by communities of faith and people throughout the community to provide support and encouragement to the families.
For families with literally nowhere else to go, Family Promise can provide a safe, trauma-informed, and low barrier temporary solution while the family is connected to a longer-term housing solution. FPL provides shelter options for families depending on their needs and situation. The goal of the shelter programs are to provide the shortest amount of stay possible and quickly connect families to housing. Case management is utilized to mitigate trauma of unsheltered homelessness, such as negative physical and mental health outcomes, criminalization of homelessness, especially in children.
Our shelter programs are 30-day programs, with opportunity for an extension. As part of the program, families agree to meet with a case manager at least once a week to work on goals towards employment, budgeting/saving and obtaining permanent housing.