Family Promise of Family Promise of Greater MercedGreater Merced

21.7% of the population in 21.7% of the population in Merced County lives in povertyMerced County lives in poverty

In California, thirteen out of every one In California, thirteen out of every one hundred (13%) children living in hundred (13%) children living in poverty are homeless.poverty are homeless.

Families make up 40% of the Families make up 40% of the Homeless PopulationHomeless Population

Thirty-six million people, Thirty-six million people, including 14 million children, including 14 million children,

experience hunger…experience hunger…

8.9% of Merced County residents 8.9% of Merced County residents receive food stampsreceive food stamps

71% of Merced County students in the 2005-2006 71% of Merced County students in the 2005-2006 school year qualified for free or reduced-price mealsschool year qualified for free or reduced-price meals

About 41 million people do not About 41 million people do not have health insurance…have health insurance…

Who are California’s homeless Who are California’s homeless children?children?

Under 6 years 122,902Under 6 years 122,902

Grades K-8 (enrolled) 135,766Grades K-8 (enrolled) 135,766

Grades 9-12 (enrolled) 33,956Grades 9-12 (enrolled) 33,956______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TOTAL 292,624TOTAL 292,624www.HomelessChildrenAmerica.orgwww.HomelessChildrenAmerica.org

The homeless of Merced The homeless of Merced CountyCounty

There are more than 2,600 homeless There are more than 2,600 homeless individuals in Merced County, individuals in Merced County, including women and children.including women and children.

Only 8% of the homeless population Only 8% of the homeless population in Merced County is sheltered.in Merced County is sheltered.

In Merced Union High School District In Merced Union High School District there are 798 homeless students. there are 798 homeless students.

How do families end up How do families end up homeless?homeless?

Housing costs outpace wages and public Housing costs outpace wages and public assistance for low income citizens.assistance for low income citizens.

Loss of job.Loss of job. Family medical expenses- lack of medical benefits.Family medical expenses- lack of medical benefits. Unexpected expenses- car, repairs, etc.Unexpected expenses- car, repairs, etc. Loss of spouse through death, divorce, separation, Loss of spouse through death, divorce, separation,

or abandonment.or abandonment. Women with children who are being abused Women with children who are being abused

frequently have to chose between abuse and frequently have to chose between abuse and homelessness.homelessness.

Disagreement with those who a family may be Disagreement with those who a family may be staying with.staying with.

Home foreclosures means Home foreclosures means more homeless familiesmore homeless families

California has the nation’s third highest California has the nation’s third highest foreclosure rate.foreclosure rate.

The City of Merced has the second The City of Merced has the second highest foreclosure rate in the nation.highest foreclosure rate in the nation.

Many of the homes and apartments low Many of the homes and apartments low income families were renting were income families were renting were foreclosed on, leaving them with no foreclosed on, leaving them with no affordable place to live.affordable place to live.

Ending homelessness, one family at a time

Family Promise of Greater Merced is a network of local congregations organized to help Merced County homeless families with children.

Each congregation provides shelter and meals .

Cost of food staples, utilities and supplies averages $200 for the Host Week (but much of that will be donated, keeping even that cost down).

Local stores or institutions frequently contribute food items and supplies.

Each family member is assisted by our social worker in finding and implementing lasting solutions to their unique situation.

Family Promise of Greater Family Promise of Greater MercedMerced

Family Promise Hospitality Family Promise Hospitality NetworkNetwork

The network will consist of 13 congregations with volunteers, The network will consist of 13 congregations with volunteers, which provides shelter, meals, and support services to homeless which provides shelter, meals, and support services to homeless families.families.

Our current Host Congregations are: Yosemite ChurchYosemite Church Gateway Community ChurchGateway Community Church United Methodist Church of MercedUnited Methodist Church of Merced First Church of God MercedFirst Church of God Merced Christian Church of the ValleyChristian Church of the Valley Central Presbyterian ChurchCentral Presbyterian Church

Family Promise Hospitality Family Promise Hospitality NetworkNetwork

In a typical Network, half of the In a typical Network, half of the guests are children, most of whom guests are children, most of whom are under six years old.are under six years old.

The network will provide a director The network will provide a director to assist in finding housing and jobs.to assist in finding housing and jobs.

For congregations, the Network is a vital outreach ministry within the walls of the members own church.

Facts & Figures about Facts & Figures about Family Promise Hospitality Family Promise Hospitality

NetworksNetworks 25% of adult guest family members have found 25% of adult guest family members have found

jobs. Over 60% of guest families have at least jobs. Over 60% of guest families have at least one family member already employed when they one family member already employed when they enter a Family Promise Network.enter a Family Promise Network.

More than 75% of the guests in the Network do More than 75% of the guests in the Network do find long-term housing.find long-term housing.

There are 162 Networks and 151 Affiliate There are 162 Networks and 151 Affiliate locations in 39 states and DC.locations in 39 states and DC.

In Northern California, there are networks in San In Northern California, there are networks in San Mateo, Sacramento, and Modesto.Mateo, Sacramento, and Modesto.

Basic Elements of the ProgramBasic Elements of the Program

Four times a year, for one week at a time, Host Congregations Four times a year, for one week at a time, Host Congregations supported by volunteers from Support Congregations provide supported by volunteers from Support Congregations provide overnight lodging, meals (supper, breakfast, and brown-bag overnight lodging, meals (supper, breakfast, and brown-bag lunch), and hospitality.lunch), and hospitality.

Hosting rotates among the 13 Host Congregations in the Hosting rotates among the 13 Host Congregations in the Network.Network.

Host Congregations provide lodging for two to four families Host Congregations provide lodging for two to four families (up to 14 individuals) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next (up to 14 individuals) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next morning. morning.

1. Host and Support Congregations1. Host and Support Congregations

2. Volunteers 2. Volunteers Volunteers are the heart of the Volunteers are the heart of the program, without them it cannot exist.program, without them it cannot exist.What is involved in Volunteering:What is involved in Volunteering:

Bringing in a meal and eating with families Bringing in a meal and eating with families in the program.in the program.

Spending a few hours playing with Spending a few hours playing with children.children.

Providing a special skill, like computer Providing a special skill, like computer training or resume writing.training or resume writing.

Staying overnight at a facility.Staying overnight at a facility. Supporting parents under incredible Supporting parents under incredible

stress.stress. Inviting others to join you.Inviting others to join you.

Typical Volunteer Schedule for the Typical Volunteer Schedule for the Host FacilityHost Facility

5:30-8:30pm- Supper and Evening 5:30-8:30pm- Supper and Evening VolunteersVolunteers

8:30pm- 6:00am- Overnight Volunteers8:30pm- 6:00am- Overnight Volunteers

6:00- 7:00am- Breakfast Volunteers6:00- 7:00am- Breakfast Volunteers

This schedule shares the work and allows This schedule shares the work and allows adults, teenagers, and even children, to adults, teenagers, and even children, to find their niche as volunteers. find their niche as volunteers.

3. Executive Director & Social 3. Executive Director & Social Service AgenciesService Agencies

The Director works with social service agencies The Director works with social service agencies to help them refer families to the Network.to help them refer families to the Network.

The social service agencies and the Director The social service agencies and the Director screen prospective guest families for active screen prospective guest families for active substance abuse, domestic, violence, substance abuse, domestic, violence, psychiatric problems or others issues that psychiatric problems or others issues that would be disruptive to the program.would be disruptive to the program.

The Director does a needs assessment for the The Director does a needs assessment for the guest families and connects them to the guest families and connects them to the agencies that can provide the most appropriate agencies that can provide the most appropriate help – housing, jobs, training, and other help – housing, jobs, training, and other services.services.

4. Family Day Center4. Family Day Center Each day from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., guests Each day from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., guests

use the Family Day Center to care for pre-use the Family Day Center to care for pre-school children, receive counseling from the school children, receive counseling from the Director, seek employment, and arrange Director, seek employment, and arrange appointments to implement the program.appointments to implement the program.

Many of the guests will be employed during Many of the guests will be employed during the day and will go to work.the day and will go to work.

During the school year, children go school.During the school year, children go school.

The Family Center provides guests with a The Family Center provides guests with a mailing address and a home base from which mailing address and a home base from which to conduct their housing and job searches.to conduct their housing and job searches.

5. Transportation5. Transportation

If needed, Family Promise of Greater If needed, Family Promise of Greater Merced will transport guests to and Merced will transport guests to and from the Family Day Center and the from the Family Day Center and the current Host Congregation’s facilities, current Host Congregation’s facilities, along with the guests’ luggage and along with the guests’ luggage and the support materials, such as beds the support materials, such as beds and linensand linens..

Steps to Steps to CreateCreate a Network a Network Recruit 13 host congregationsRecruit 13 host congregations

Secure a day centerSecure a day center

Arrange for transportation Arrange for transportation

Prepare a first year budgetPrepare a first year budget

Raise required funds Raise required funds

Develop the Network’s governing body, the Board of Develop the Network’s governing body, the Board of TrusteesTrustees

Form the Network into a nonprofit organizationForm the Network into a nonprofit organization

Hire the Network DirectorHire the Network Director

““

Timeline of Program DevelopmentTimeline of Program Development Our goal is to be fully operational by July 2011.Our goal is to be fully operational by July 2011. We have submitted Articles of Incorporation.We have submitted Articles of Incorporation. June 15, 2010 – obtain nonprofit corporation status.June 15, 2010 – obtain nonprofit corporation status. July 2010July 2010

Select the Board of TrusteesSelect the Board of Trustees Adopt Bylaws of Family Promise of Greater MercedAdopt Bylaws of Family Promise of Greater Merced Apply for 501c(3) tax-exempt status from the IRSApply for 501c(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS Prepare the first year’s budgetPrepare the first year’s budget

April 2011 – 13 Host CongregationsApril 2011 – 13 Host Congregations May 2011 – Family Day Center & a passenger vanMay 2011 – Family Day Center & a passenger van June 2011 June 2011

Raised 1/3 of first years annual budget - $30,000Raised 1/3 of first years annual budget - $30,000 Annual budget range from $90,000 to $125,00, depending whether a van is purchased and Annual budget range from $90,000 to $125,00, depending whether a van is purchased and

whether rent must be paid for a day center. Most Networks find that first-year operating whether rent must be paid for a day center. Most Networks find that first-year operating budgets are about $90,000.budgets are about $90,000.

Hire an Executive DirectorHire an Executive Director July 2011 – Greet our first guests.July 2011 – Greet our first guests.

Core Group CommitteesCore Group Committees Core group committees focus on specific components Core group committees focus on specific components

of the Network program. Each committee has a of the Network program. Each committee has a chairperson who reports to the entire core group. chairperson who reports to the entire core group.

1.1. Host Congregation Recruitment CommitteeHost Congregation Recruitment Committee Recruit 13 host congregations from a prospect list (prepared by the Recruit 13 host congregations from a prospect list (prepared by the

core group).core group).

Present Family Promise of Greater Merced to clergy, mission Present Family Promise of Greater Merced to clergy, mission committees, and congregational boards. Make presentations to committees, and congregational boards. Make presentations to community groups and committee meetings. Provide information and community groups and committee meetings. Provide information and follow-up throughout a prospective congregation’s decision-making follow-up throughout a prospective congregation’s decision-making process. process.

The recruitment of host congregations is the most labor- and time-The recruitment of host congregations is the most labor- and time-intensive part in the development of your Network. Good recruiters intensive part in the development of your Network. Good recruiters build enthusiasm for the Network among all the congregations on the build enthusiasm for the Network among all the congregations on the prospect listprospect list. .

  

Core Group CommitteesCore Group Committees Day Center Committee:Day Center Committee: Finds an organization with the Finds an organization with the

resources for a day center. Churches (particularly large resources for a day center. Churches (particularly large downtown facilities) and social service agencies are downtown facilities) and social service agencies are potential day center sites. 2 or 3 people are needed for potential day center sites. 2 or 3 people are needed for the Day Center Committee. the Day Center Committee.

Transportation Committee:Transportation Committee: Secures the most cost- Secures the most cost-effective transportation between the day center and effective transportation between the day center and host congregations. Explore possibilities for purchasing host congregations. Explore possibilities for purchasing a van, obtaining a used van, or contracting for a van, obtaining a used van, or contracting for transportation services. 1 or 2 people usually take on transportation services. 1 or 2 people usually take on the project of serving on the Transportation Committee.the project of serving on the Transportation Committee.

Fundraising Committee:Fundraising Committee: Estimates expenses, Estimates expenses, establishes a first year budget and develops and establishes a first year budget and develops and implements a fundraising plan. Experience in implements a fundraising plan. Experience in fundraising and grant writing are big assets on this fundraising and grant writing are big assets on this committee – strong community connections, especially committee – strong community connections, especially to corporations in the area, are helpful, too. 3 to 5 to corporations in the area, are helpful, too. 3 to 5 people form this committee .people form this committee .

Summary of IHN Program Summary of IHN Program BenefitsBenefits

For GuestsFor Guests Safe, homelike shelter where families can stay together.Safe, homelike shelter where families can stay together. Guests cite the caring of volunteers as one of the most important Guests cite the caring of volunteers as one of the most important

benefits: "I never knew so many people cared." benefits: "I never knew so many people cared." Intensive case management by Network Director to assist in finding Intensive case management by Network Director to assist in finding

housing and jobs and in meeting other needs. housing and jobs and in meeting other needs. On average, more than 75% of guest families secure permanent On average, more than 75% of guest families secure permanent

housing.housing.

  For VolunteersFor Volunteers Opportunity to help homeless families directly: to make a difference.Opportunity to help homeless families directly: to make a difference. Opportunity to do outreach within their own house of worship or a Opportunity to do outreach within their own house of worship or a

nearby location.nearby location. Wide range of volunteer activities to fit varying schedules and levels Wide range of volunteer activities to fit varying schedules and levels

of commitment.of commitment. Opportunity for families to volunteer together.Opportunity for families to volunteer together.