Family Promise of Forsyth County

Family Promise uses existing community resources plus a network of local faith communities and volunteers to provide shelter, meals, comprehensive support services and compassionate assistance to homeless families.

Watch the Family Promise video on YouTube.

HOST/SUPPORT CONGREGATIONS
Ten to thirteen local congregations participate in an Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) as host congregations. For one week at
a time, on a rotating basis, host congregations provide overnight
lodging, meals and hospitality for three to five families from
5:30 p.m. to 6:20 a.m. the next morning. Support congregations, those who cannot host families but are willing to help, provide financial support or volunteers.

DAY CENTER
Families are taken to the local Family Promise Day Center from
6:20 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. There they can shower, do laundry and care for preschool age children. By using the day center address and phone, they can look for employment and housing. School-aged children are also able to remain in their home schools.

A Day in the Life of Our Guests

6:20 a.m.	Van arrives at day center
7:00 a.m.	Children dropped off at day care
7:25 a.m.	Parents in WorkFirst Program are taken to Winston-Salem to catch a bus to either Department of Social Services or Goodwill
4:10 p.m.	Parents picked up from the PART bus stop and children collected from day care
4:45 p.m.	Arrive back at the day center
5:30 p.m.	Van leaves day center to go to congregation
6:00 p.m.	Arrive at congregation
6:30 p.m.	Dinner

Congregations provide breakfast, packed lunches, dinners and evening activities. Each week the families meet with our social worker, determine the chores they are going to be responsible for handling at the day center, and schedule their laundry days for the week.

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES
An on-site director and professional case manager provide intensive case management and educational classes to help families regain independence. They advocate for social-services entitlements and provide education in areas such as job skills, budgeting, nutrition and parenting. Local agencies assist in finding housing, jobs, and medical and government assistance.

TRANSPORTATION
Family Promise provides van transportation for guests to and from the Day Center, the host congregation sites and other needed appointments.

VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers work at host congregations and the Day Center. They cook/serve meals, play with children, help with homework, interact with guests and provide overnight on-site support. They also help families move into their new homes, pick up and deliver donated items to storage and much more. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, click here.

When my husband left me with $15 and our three children, ages two, four and five, I had no way of paying the $11 per hour childcare would cost. My parents helped the best they could, but I still thought I'd have to put my children in foster care so they would be safe. Instead, an Interfaith Hospitality Network provided us a way to be together, fed, sheltered and secure. The volunteers were warm and welcoming during a stressful time in my life. My children had many positive experiences. Two months later, with childcare vouchers and a job at a law office, I was able to find stable housing. I will always be grateful to Interfaith Hospitality Network for keeping my family together through our crisis.

Bernadette, North Carolina