COUNTY LEADERS ATTEND FAMILY PROMISE DAY CENTER LAUNCH
New agency empowers unique interfaith community response to homelessness
( West Palm Beach , FL ) – Nearly 100 Palm Beach County community leaders gathered recently for a ribbon cutting and open house to launch the new Family Promise Day Center at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in West Palm Beach. The event honored donors, volunteers and supporters of the new nonprofit organization designed to offer homeless families the necessary support services to enable them to achieve their independence.
“We’re very proud that our community has gained a valuable resource and partner to help local children and families currently struggling with homelessness,” said Rhonda Clinton, executive director for Family Promise. “Every child deserves a home.”
Locally, Family Promise North/Central Palm Beach County will serve this community’s homeless children and their families. Guests at the ribbon cutting toured the day center and learned that families now make up 40 percent of Palm Beach County’s homeless population, and that there are more than 2,000 reported homeless children in the Palm Beach County School District . The new local organization is part of a national network representing 5,000 congregations and 135,000 volunteers working on behalf of families in transition. More than 350,000 individuals are served nationally.
“On any given night,” continued Clinton , “nearly 2,000 homeless children in Palm Beach County may have nowhere to sleep. Other programs in our community are not able to meet the increasing demand for services. Many of these families are sleeping in local parks or living in their cars. People come to Family Promise because there is nowhere else to go. Family Promise is closing the door to homelessness and opening the door for families.”
The agency takes referrals from local social service agencies to help families secure housing, employment and other services they may require. On a rotating basis, a unique network of interfaith congregations provide overnight lodging, meals and fellowship for three to five families from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. A network van then transports families to the Family Promise Day Center – which offers a mailing address for its families and a homelike atmosphere where they can conduct their employment and housing searches and care for their pre-school aged children. School aged children are transported to Palm Beach County schools from the Day Center.
“Our volunteers are the lifeblood of Family Promise,” said Kathy Perry, chairman of the Family Promise of North/Central Palm Beach County board of directors. “They cook, serve meals, help with homework and assist overnight guests. They interact with our families – providing them the respect and dignity they deserve and responding to them with compassion. Without them, this program would not exist.”
To become a Family Promise volunteer, or to support the agency’s efforts to assist the homeless in Palm Beach County, visit www.familypromisencpbc.org or call 561.318.8864.