How Can My Congregation Become A Host Congregation?Family Promise offers an opportunity for a truly unique congregational outreach. Volunteers of all ages work together within their own congregations, among many in the community, to help bring about a real change for families who have lost their homes.
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What facilities do host congregations need to have for guests?
Facilities must include a common area, a kitchen, bathrooms, and sleeping accommodations. Ideally, congregations provide a separate room, such as a classroom, for each family. If that isn’t possible, a fellowship hall or other large room can be divided by partitions to provide the privacy. In some circumstances multipurpose sanctuaries are used by moving the chairs and adding dividers.
Facilities must include a common area, a kitchen, bathrooms, and sleeping accommodations. Ideally, congregations provide a separate room, such as a classroom, for each family. If that isn’t possible, a fellowship hall or other large room can be divided by partitions to provide the privacy. In some circumstances multipurpose sanctuaries are used by moving the chairs and adding dividers.
Our building is in use almost all the time. How will we find the space?
Congregations are busy places with many demands on their space. Rarely does a perfect space exist. Hosting almost always means making some scheduling adjustments for activities and meetings. For example, four or five times a year, AA or the Bible Study Group may need to move their Tuesday night meeting to another room.
Congregations are busy places with many demands on their space. Rarely does a perfect space exist. Hosting almost always means making some scheduling adjustments for activities and meetings. For example, four or five times a year, AA or the Bible Study Group may need to move their Tuesday night meeting to another room.
Can families’ belongings be moved in the morning and moved back in the evening to permit the congregation to use the space during the day?
No. The sleeping accommodations need to be dedicated to the families for the entire host week. The beds and the guests’ belongings must not be moved in the morning and put back in the evening. Besides being cumbersome, moving the beds and the guests’ belongings would be difficult for guests. When guests arrive on Sunday, they come with their belongings and perhaps a few of their children’s favorite toys. They want to arrange their space as if it were their home.
No. The sleeping accommodations need to be dedicated to the families for the entire host week. The beds and the guests’ belongings must not be moved in the morning and put back in the evening. Besides being cumbersome, moving the beds and the guests’ belongings would be difficult for guests. When guests arrive on Sunday, they come with their belongings and perhaps a few of their children’s favorite toys. They want to arrange their space as if it were their home.
How long do families stay in the program?
The Guest Guidelines call for a maximum stay of 30 days. However, program directors often extend the stay as long as families are making good-faith efforts to find housing. In some communities, families can find housing within 30 days. In other communities—where there is a severe shortage of affordable housing and waiting lists for public housing and Section 8 are closed—finding a home can take 60 days or more.
The Guest Guidelines call for a maximum stay of 30 days. However, program directors often extend the stay as long as families are making good-faith efforts to find housing. In some communities, families can find housing within 30 days. In other communities—where there is a severe shortage of affordable housing and waiting lists for public housing and Section 8 are closed—finding a home can take 60 days or more.
How are families referred to the program?
When a homeless family seeks shelter through an agency, they are referred to the program director, who conducts interviews with the family and places them on a waiting list if immediate openings are not available.
When a homeless family seeks shelter through an agency, they are referred to the program director, who conducts interviews with the family and places them on a waiting list if immediate openings are not available.
Isn’t it difficult for families to move week to week?
Moving every week isn’t ideal, but most families say that the homelike setting and the support of volunteers more than compensate for the moving. While host congregations change every week or two, the Day Center remains the same, providing continuity and a home base for families as they look for housing and jobs. The Day Center also provides a permanent address that families can use in their housing and job searches.
Moving every week isn’t ideal, but most families say that the homelike setting and the support of volunteers more than compensate for the moving. While host congregations change every week or two, the Day Center remains the same, providing continuity and a home base for families as they look for housing and jobs. The Day Center also provides a permanent address that families can use in their housing and job searches.
Will the children miss school because their families are staying in different congregations every week or two?
No. The director works with the school system to ensure that all children attend school. The Day Center is the permanent address of the Family Promise program. Children go to the school they have been attending or to the school nearest the Day Center. Arrangements are made locally with the school system.
In 1987, Congress passed the McKinney Act, (also referred as “Whatever is in the Best Interest of the Child”) legislation that requires all states and school districts to provide for the education of homeless youth. Each state has developed a plan to implement the Act. Most of the state plans are flexible and allow children to attend the school they last attended or the school closest to the Day Center.
No. The director works with the school system to ensure that all children attend school. The Day Center is the permanent address of the Family Promise program. Children go to the school they have been attending or to the school nearest the Day Center. Arrangements are made locally with the school system.
In 1987, Congress passed the McKinney Act, (also referred as “Whatever is in the Best Interest of the Child”) legislation that requires all states and school districts to provide for the education of homeless youth. Each state has developed a plan to implement the Act. Most of the state plans are flexible and allow children to attend the school they last attended or the school closest to the Day Center.
What are the insurance implications of participating in the Network? Does the congregation have to amend its policy?
Each local program must carry general liability insurance. Congregations are usually covered by their own property and liability policies because Family Promise is considered to be an outreach ministry, a regular activity of the congregation like a youth sleepover or Friday night supper. Most congregations find they do not need extra insurance to be hosts. To be certain, each congregation must contact its insurance agent.
Each local program must carry general liability insurance. Congregations are usually covered by their own property and liability policies because Family Promise is considered to be an outreach ministry, a regular activity of the congregation like a youth sleepover or Friday night supper. Most congregations find they do not need extra insurance to be hosts. To be certain, each congregation must contact its insurance agent.
