Family Promise Ministry

WHY FAMILY PROMISE IS SO IMPORTANT
Family Promise is an ecumenical, multi-denominational ministry that partners with local church communities to provide temporary shelter and support to homeless families.
       
Family Promise was initiated at St. Patrick by a dedicated group of volunteers in December 2015. Guest families are cared for at Mary’s House at St. Patrick.
        


The goal of Family Promise is to keep homeless families together, rather than to separate them into various public shelters, while they seek permanent housing. 
         
The mission of the program is that parents will NOT be separated from their children or spouse (normally some going to women’s shelters, some to men’s).
        
Family Promise has been in existence for almost 30 years and screens the families before admittance into the program. 
         
Each church community involved with Family Promise provides temporary overnight shelter and meals for up to a total of four families or a maximum of 15 individuals -- children and parents -- for ONE WEEK periods -- Sunday to Sunday – four or five weeks a year, approximately once a quarter. Other churches will do the same as homeless families cycle through the Family Promise network.
         
During the daytime, these families will be transported to the Family Promise Day Center in Crafton, Pa., where they are based for the day.  Children of age go to school and parents to work if they have jobs. Social workers assist at the day center, as needed. 
 
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH FAMILY PROMISE
There are various ways to support the Family Promise ministry at St. Patrick.
         
For example, you may offer to provide part of a hot meal for a night during our host week.
         
Or you can offer to spend time with the homeless families by having dessert and visiting with them for an evening, to watch a movie, to play games, to help with homework, or other activities.     
       
What a great way to involve your entire family -- parents and children -- by spending time with the less fortunate! 
         
There’s also a need for volunteers to stay overnight with the families to provide for any needs they may have and to ensure a smooth departure in the morning.         
         
The families and the overnight hosts will all sleep on comfortable, inflatable mattresses that are provided by Family Promise and setup by volunteers from the parish.
         
Or perhaps you would be available to transport the families in the morning or afternoon between Mary’s House and the Family Promise center. A 15-passenger van is provided by Family Promise for this purpose. Breakfast and lunch would also be provided by our parishioners for them to take with them back to the day center. 
   
OTHER WAYS TO HELP HOMELESS FAMILIES
Besides regular volunteers needed in all these areas, financial support  would be gratefully accepted to help defray expenses such as utilities, general maintenance and food. Parishioners have also designated donations to Family Promise as a memorial after the loss of a loved one.
 
Various gift cards, such as Lowes or Home Depot for materials; Walmart, Giant Eagle or Shop & Save for food items; or gift cards from BP or Sunoco to fill the Family Promise van’s tank with gas during our host weeks are always a tremendous help. And you can aid St. Patrick School by purchasing gift cards through their Gift Card Program.
 
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Family Promise ministry at St. Patrick has invoked the image of the “Madonna of the Streets” as our patron for the ministry.  Please pray for our Lady’s intercession in this holy endeavor, and consider becoming a part of, or supporting, St. Patrick’s Family Promise ministry!