Family Promise: Changing Our Community, One Family at a Time
“People who are crazy enough to think
they can change the world are the ones who do.” – Rob Siltanen
No one would have ever thought that a small group of dedicated people in
Hendricks County would start a fund at the Community Foundation and become a
game-changer in the fight against homelessness. But that is exactly what Family
Promise has done, and is continuing to do. The Hendricks County Community
Foundation is excited to partner with this amazing organization to help
families in our community go from homelessness to independence, from
hopelessness to joy.
This summer, the Community Foundation awarded Family Promise a $25,000 grant
from the Deedee Daniel Opportunity Fund and our Family Legacy Funds to purchase
their new home in Plainfield-an old church building converted into a beautiful
and useful facility for families in the Family Promise program.
Family Promise operates two programs: the Residential Program and the Stability
Services Program. The Residential Program provides housing and food to 4
families at a time, in partnership with 22 Hendricks County churches who host
the families for 1 week each quarter. The host church provides meals and
sleeping quarters for the families during the evening and morning hours, and
Family Promise transports the children to school and the parents to their
places of employment during the day.
The Stability Service Program helps those families who are living in hotels, in
their vehicles or are in danger of eviction from their home. The heads of
household in both programs are required to work full time to achieve financial
independence. Each family in their program is also given access to housing
assistance, affordable childcare, transportation, living wage job assistance,
and 2-year follow up services after graduation.
Because of our generous donors, HCCF has been able to provide over $85,000 in
grants to support Family Promise since 2013. In 2018 alone, 95 Hendricks County
families graduated from the program into homes and jobs of their own. Most
families are able to go from homelessness to independence in the Family Promise
program in less than 90 days.
Julie Randall, Executive Director of Family Promise, said, “The Community
Foundation listens to the community and addresses the real needs as they occur.
Thank you HCCF for leading the way and being by our side every step of the
way.”
Family Promise family member on his way to his new home.
