Rotational/IHN Shelter Program
CLOSED
The Family Promise Rotational Shelter Program was significantly impacted by the pandemic. Efforts are underway to create a static site safe haven program for the homeless citizens of Warren County. Your advocacy and support for such a venture is much appreciated and we will be sharing updates as this endeavor proceeds. Thank you!
No shelter/safe haven exists in the County at this time. Our previously operated shelter program addressed the immediate needs of homeless families in our own backyards. About four - five times each year, for one week at a time, each host congregation provided a place to sleep, meals, and compassionate hospitality for up to four homeless families. Volunteers were the core of the Family Promise network and we hope to utilize their help in the future as we work on a fixed site facility.
In the past, at each site, volunteers cooked meals, socialized with guests, played with children, and stayed overnight. Agency van drivers provided the transportation for the guests to and from the host facility and the Day Center in an agency owned 14 passenger van. Local social service and community agencies referred families to our network. All guests are screened by our professional staff to ensure the safety of everyone. Family Promise families worked actively with our Housing Stability Case Managers as well as local social service agencies to find employment, childcare, affordable housing — allowing them to develop the skills they need to regain their independence and keep it!
"Our ultimate goal is to help people end their homelessness. The Street Needs Assessment is a new tool that we will use to help us achieve this goal." -Phil Brown
Our Day Center
Our Day Center was a comfortable space families used during the day while they were searching for employment, or when they were not working or attending appointments in the community. Families could rest, do laundry, cook, store food and personal belongings, access the internet, phone, and a physical mailing address, meet with the Housing Stability Case Managers, take care of their children, and be a family!
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Family Promise has provided shelter and opportunities to over 110 families people since opening in July 2008. About 80% of the families completing the program have successfully attained stable housing.
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Our 11 Host Congregations and 10 Support Congregations are active participants. All congregations have capable volunteer coordinators who actively recruit and organize their trained who provide direct guest services.
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These volunteers have contributed countless volunteer hours of service! The IHN shelter program would not be in operation without them. From July 2008 until December 31, 2018 these volunteers helped to provide 22,127 bed nights and 66,381 meals..
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Our Family Day Center was full of warm, comfortable furnishings, and is a safe haven for families during the day and on the weekends.
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Social service agencies actively work together to coordinate service delivery and address homelessness. FPWC has taken a leadership role in the provision of homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing programming and is an active partner in our local continuum of care, the Tri-County CoC – Warren/Hunterdon/Sussex Counties.
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A full-time Housing Stability Case Manager, Program Director, and Executive Director actively assist families in regaining independence and provide valuable case management activities.
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FPWC is self-supporting; being financed by the individual, corporate contributions, grants, interfaith support, church, and community fundraising events
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Please consider your church or organization in participating to be a host or support partner for this much-needed program.