Scottsdale group uses Season of Sharing grant to provide housing and assistance
Arizona’s lack of affordable housing is a major hurdle for families facing housing insecurity. Evictions and high rents mean they can struggle with being self-sufficient.
Family Promise of Greater Phoenix steps in to help those families by partnering with local houses of worship to provide temporary housing, food and essential needs while they work toward permanent housing.
A $7,500 Season for Sharing grant last year provided rental assistance for families facing eviction. The Arizona Republic-sponsored initiative raised $2.1 million for 176 nonprofits that help children and families, older adults, and teachers and students.
It also helped the staff coordinate food, shelter and essential needs through community partnerships. The funds helped provided bus passes for individuals to attend job interviews.
Last year, a record number of 550 individuals received assistance through Family Promise's programs.
Families that qualify for assistance earn below 30% of the area's median income and must be a parent or legal guardian to a minor child. Family pets are also welcomed and kennels, food and basic veterinary services are provided.
The group is always looking for new congregational partners that can provide temporary shelter for clients. Volunteers at these facilities engage with families, provide dinner and vital support that minimizes the trauma of homelessness.
Arizona’s lack of affordable housing is a major setback for the families and many have difficulty finding permanent housing and becoming self-sufficient.
What services is your organization providing? Primary outreach provides 60 days of shelter, which includes all daily meals, social services for parents, children and their pets. The social work team helps parents find employment, budget and next-step housing. Children’s services include daycare support, school enrollment, and after-school partnerships with Boys and Girls Clubs. Additional services include homelessness prevention through rental and utility assistance and stabilization for families who complete our programs receive food boxes and moving support.
How do you gauge success? By the number of families, children and adults that we help each year. We also look at employment data when families and individuals arrive at the shelter compared to when they move out. As families complete our programs, we look at employment and housing.
Share a story? A mother and her five children moved to Arizona after being invited to live with a family member. She found work as a caregiver but the stress of living in a crowded household had taken a toll. She decided it was best to move her family to a shelter at Family Promise. The staff helped her save 80% of her income and enroll her children into school and the Boys and Girls clubs. Our staff worked with her to set goals and learn money management skills and the family graduated within two months. She was able to move into permanent housing and care for her family for the past three years. Occasionally, the family receives assistance with school supplies and keeps in touch. Her goal is to one day become a congregation host to one of our families in need.
Ways to give to Season for Sharing
Fill out the secure, online form at sharing.azcentral.com.
Text “SHARING” to 91-999 and click on the link in the text message.
Go online at facebook.com/seasonforsharing and look for the “DONATE HERE” post.
Clip the coupon on Page 4A of The Arizona Republic, fill it out and mail it to P.O. Box 29250, Phoenix, AZ 85038-9250.
Scan the QR code with your smartphone.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Season for Sharing grant provides shelter for homeless families
