Waching daily Sep 2 2018

What is Family Promise of Tift Area?

Simply put, Family Promise is about helping families

in the situation of homelessness.

You may not know this, but every year,

our school system can identify somewhere between

40 to 60 children who are either homeless

or live in insecure housing.

There are lots of reasons why this can happen:

the loss of a job in the family,

mounting medical bills, or just the unexpected.

However it happens, families right here in Tifton

end up "couch surfing,"

wandering from motel to motel,

or even sleeping in their car.

That's where Family Promise comes in.

Family Promise is built on the idea

of local churches working together.

Churches take turns hosting the families in the program

one week at a time.

Family Promise provides the portable beds,

while churches provide the space, meals, and

fellowship for the week.

The ideal number of host churches is 13,

though more is even better.

With at least 13 churches,

each church can host one week every quarter

and cover all 52 weeks in the year.

Some churches may feel called to help,

but lack the space to host.

These are called "support churches,"

and together, they assist the host churches

by providing meals, fellowship,

or recreation for the kids.

Every morning, a 15 passenger van

picks up the families from that week's host church

and transports them to the Day Center.

Here they can shower and get ready for the day.

The kids are then taken to school,

while the parents remain at the Day Center

with a full-time case worker

employed by Family Promise.

The Day Center is the hub of all forward momentum

and serves as their home address on job applications

as they seek to find sustainable employment.

As families start to develop income

and new financial management skills,

they're able to save aggressively.

Usually, in a matter of just a few months,

families graduate from the program

and are able to move into independent,

sustainable housing of their own.

Across the nation, more than 82% of those served

by Family Promise affiliates have been

able to find housing in less than 9 weeks

all because of community support

in places just like Tifton.

That's why Charity Navigator gives

Family Promise a four-star rating.

It's neighbor helping neighbor,

and all funds remain local.

That's Family Promise of Tift Area.

Tell your church and your pastor

that it is time to join Family Promise.

And together, let's end family homelessness in Tifton

for good.