Frequently Asked Questions about Family Promise

How many host congregations are needed to form a network?

Networks in the United State have begun operations with anywhere from 8-13 host congregations who provide shelter and hospitality on a rotating basis.  Family Promise of Manatee County is looking to begin operations when 10 congregations have agreed to serve as hosts. 

How many guests are in the program and would be housed and fed by a congregation?

At any one time Family Promise may be providing shelter and hospitality to 3-5 families and no more than 14 individuals.      The program only serves families units which can include a  mother, father and children or a single mother and her children or a single father and his children. 

How do you handle transporting the families?

A van provided by the network and a volunteer van driver transport families from the congregations to the day center each day.  

Where do the families go when they leave a congregation?
Each morning the network van transport the families to the Family Promise Day Center located at Central Christian Church, 926 15th St. W, in downtown Bradenton.  From this location family members will leave for work or school.

What facilities do host congregations need to have to have guests?

Facilities must include dining area, kitchen, bathrooms, sleeping accommodations and a lounge area.  Ideally, congregations provide a separate rooms for each family.  If that isn’t possible, a fellowship hall or other large room can be divided by partitions to provide privacy.

Our building is in use almost all the time.  How will we find the space?

Houses of worship are very busy places with many demands on their space.  Rarely, does a perfect space exist.  Hosting almost always means some scheduling adjustments for activities and meetings.  For example, four or five times a year a Bible Study or community meeting may need to move their week day meeting to another room.

What kinds of activities does a host congregation provide families during their stay?

Congregations provide shelter and meals.  In addition, congregations are asked to provide a central space in which families can watch TV, movies or fellowship.  While parents relax and catch up with each other in the evenings, volunteers can spend time playing with the children.  Congregations may want to invite guests to participate in congregational activities that are going on during the week such as youth group, fellowship dinners. 

How long do families stay in the Network?

The guest guidelines call for a maximum stay of 30-60 days.  Network directors can make a decision to allow a family to stay longer so long as they are making a good faith effort to find housing.  In Manatee County where there is a shortage of affordable housing finding a home could take longer than 60 days.

Where do families stay during the weekend?

In most Networks, families stay in the Family Day Center.  Families as able participate in activities as any family would during the weekend.

How are families referred to the Network?

Referring agencies include shelters, public assistance offices, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Manatee Religious Services.  At the Day Center, the Network director conducts an in-depth interview before accepting the family inot the Network.

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 makes their stay a comfortable one.  The Day Center help provides continuity and a home base for families as they look for house and jobs.  The Day Center also provides a permanent address that families can use in their housing and job search.

Will the children miss school because families are staying at different congregations every week?

No.  The Network Director works with the school system and Project Heart to ensure that the children attend school.  They Day Center is the permanent address of the Network.  Children go the school they have been attending or to the school nearest the Day Center.

What are the insurance implications of participating in the Network?

Each local network 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 church like a youth overnight retreat 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.

How is Family Promise funded?

Family Promise is a not for profit with a 501(c)3 designation.  Funds are raised locally from individuals, congregations, foundations and corporations. 

What is the relationship of the local network to the national Family Promise organization?

Local Networks incorporate as independent nonprofit organizations and become affiliates of Family Promise.  The national organization helps start new Networks working with a core organizing group and providing training to the Network Director, all coordinators and the first volunteers.  Once the organization becomes operational, Family Promise provides ongoing technical assistance, materials, training and educational support.