Family Promise of Lycoming County

Family Promise of Lycoming County, Inc. is a new organization that is being developed to address an important need in our community: assisting homeless families to get back on track.

Being without a safe, warm place to sleep, eat, and care for children, and living without the security of familiar people and belongings is a profound crisis for anyone, but especially for families. Parents endure the heartache of being unable to provide a secure environment for their children. And children, who now make up 25 percent of our nation's homeless population, are deprived of a fundamental requirement for healthy development – a safe, permanent home.

It is of course difficult to discern accurate numbers about homelessness in Lycoming County, but according to statistics developed by the local United Way office, we think that there are on average about 7 families that are homeless every month. These are folks who are “camping out” at river-lots, or moving constantly between relatives and friends, or sleeping in cars. For the sake of the children, for the sake of families, we can help them do better than this.

Of the 30,000 persons helped last year by the 140 affiliates of Family Promise across the country, fully 60% of them were children, and of those children, 50% were under the age of five. In response, 80% of those persons in Family Promise have been successful in securing permanent affordable housing, and have done so in an average of 54 days in the program. It is a great success wherever it is in operation. 

In 2008, Family Promise affiliates served more than 45,000 children and adults and involved more than 125,000 volunteers in 5, 000 congregations.  There are currently 148 affiliates in operation in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Dozens more are in development including Family Promise of Lycoming County and one in Harrisburg.

Right now Family Promise of Lycoming County continues to recruit local congregations to serve as hosts for one week each quarter, or to assist another congregation to host. When we are able to begin operations, each congregation will provide space for sleeping, supper, breakfast, help pack bag lunches, and send them on their way for the day. Guests will go to school or work, search for housing or work, make use of all of the local social service agencies that they need, etc. Anyone not otherwise engaged will be at the Day Center, which houses the office of the Director (a trained social worker), a meeting room, laundry facilities, showers, and other needed services. Guests will be transported by van from the host congregation to the day center and to school bus stops, etc. as needed in the morning and evening.

St. Mark's was the first congregation to officially say Yes to hosting. At present, there are 13 Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic congregations on board to become hosts, as well as four more as supporting congregations. We are continuing to search for additional parishes in both categories, but we have enough to begin the work. The participating congregations are St. Mark’s Lutheran, Lycoming-Centre Presbyterian, Covenant Central Presbyterian, Messiah Lutheran, Trinity Lutheran, First United Methodist, Pine Street United Methodist, Balls Mills United Methodist, St Paul-Calvary United Methodist, Third Street United Methodist, St. Boniface RCC, St. Joseph the Worker Parish (Annunciation RCC), and St. Ann’s/Resurrection RCC.

Redeemer Lutheran Church has donated their parsonage for use as the Day Center. In addition to many individuals, Pennsylvania College of Technology and the Lycoming County Commissioners have donated furniture and computers for use at the Day Center.  This fine house has been cleaned, a second bathroom will be added shortly, appliances have been installed, and equipment and supplies are being gathered. There are small repairs to complete, and everything should be in readiness for our opening.

The way for our guests to get from the hosting congregations to the Day Center is by 15 passenger van. After an extensive search, an excellent van was located and purchased using grants from the Plankenhorn Foundation and the Lycoming Community Foundation. It is parked at St. Mark's in readiness for use.

The development process has been undertaken by a Core Committee. In due course the Core Committee elected a Board to be the official governing body for Family Promise of Lycoming County, which was officially registered as an IRS501c3 charitable organization. The first officers of the Board are Kristi Hammaker of Messiah Lutheran as president, Pastor Kenneth Elkin of St. Mark's as Vice-President, Donna Maxwell of First United Methodist as Secretary, and Colleen Klinger of Lycoming Centre Presbyterian as Treasurer. The Board in turn is interviewing candidates and will shortly select the first Director for the network.

The big and continuing problem will be securing sufficient funds to operate. Each hosting congregation needs to contribute significantly to the network, and each supporting congregation will find appropriate ways to do so also. We need to increase the number of supporting congregations dramatically, for even a congregation that is small or whose building does not lend itself to being a host can still lend a hand by way of financial giving, as well as offering volunteers in another congregation's week to host. Individuals also can contribute directly to Family Promise of Lycoming County, 142 Market Street Williamsport PA. Any who can are urged to become a member of Club 180, offering a gift of 50 cents per day toward the cause, or $180 per year. (allowing 5 ¼ days vacation per year). Gifts in any amount are welcome, either through a hosting or supporting congregation, or directly. One can also take part in various fund-raising activities such as Iron Chef Williamsport on April 25, 2010 by purchasing a ticket and /or becoming a patron of the event. (Call 323-4619).

It is crucial for the success of the network that everyone understand and apply the appropriate procedures for operations. Family Promise is active now in 150 communities around the nation and has thus gathered considerable experience in how best to organize. Locally, everyone who participates in any capacity will be trained in these best practices. Led by a representative from the national organization, training for Board members took place on March 22, for the volunteers in the first hosting congregation St. Mark's on March 23, and for the coordinators from the 13 congregations on March 24. Subsequent training will be led by the new Director, Sarah McCloskey. Anyone who has contact with the guests will be expected to participate in training.

It is anticipated that the network will be ready to open on April 12. There is still much to do in preparation, but enthusiasm and energy for this new congregational ministry of hospitality have the congregations, volunteers, board, and director on the move toward that end.  The first three weeks of hosting will be St. Mark's Lutheran, Messiah Lutheran, and First United Methodist. The entire first rotation schedule will be announced soon.

THANK YOU To the many congregations and individuals who have been involved in the development of Family Promise of Lycoming County, thank you for your diligence and perseverance.  May this new work that we hold in common become a great blessing to our guests, our volunteers, our congregations, and our community!