Family Promise Ministry 
 

Family Promise of Washington County is a non-profit agency that works with churches to provide shelter, food and care for families in need.  Still Waters is proud to be a part of this important ministry of sharing God's love.  We will be a host site providing shelter 5 times a year for one week at a time (during the evening and overnight hours).  If you would like more information about Family Promise visit their website http://familypromiseofwashingtoncounty.com/cms/

There are five key components to this program.


Hosts  - Still Waters Church - Begins February 2010!
Hosting rotates weekly among 10 to 13 host congregations in a Network. In turn, each host congregation provides lodging, three meals daily, and hospitality.

Day Center
Guests use a local day center from 8:00AM to 5:00PM, where the Executive Director, and a social worker provide case management services. There, guest pursue employment, tend to pre-school children, shower, and do laundry. The day center provides guests with a mailing address and a base for housing and employment searches. Many guests are employed during the day, and older children attend school.

Volunteers
Volunteers are the heart of the program. They can share their time and talents in many ways, usually just for a few hours every three months. 

  • Cooking and serving meals
  • Playing with children and helping them with homework
  • Staying overnight with guest families
  • Providing specialized services, like resume writing or financial counseling
  • Just being there for children and their families, showing them compassion and respect, and
  • sharing a sense of community

Social Service Agencies
Local social service agencies refer families to the Network. The agencies may also help guests find housing, jobs, and benefits.

Transportation
A van transports guests to and from the day center.

 
Fast Facts About Homelessness and Poverty

Families with children comprise one of the fastest-growing segments of the homeless population today.
 
13% of Americans live in poverty, including one in five children, the highest rate in the industrialized world.
 
42% of homeless children are under the age of 6.
 
Almost 60% of Americans will spend at least one year below the poverty line at some point between ages 25 and 75.
 
There is no city or county anywhere in the United States where a worker making the minimum wage can afford a fair market rate one-bedroom apartment.
 
The cost of rent and utilities for a typical two-bedroom apartment has increased 35% in less than 10 years. 

2 million additional American children will fall victim to the foreclosure crisis over the next two years.
Golf Outing
There is a golf fundraiser being held for Family Promise of Washington County on May 8 at Scenic View Golf Course, located 2 miles south of Hwy 60 on Hwy 164.
 
Here are the details:
Price = $75.00
11:00 am = Shot Gun Start
6:00 pm = Dinner
 
Entry Includes:
18 holes of golf
Cart
Lunch at the turn
Hole prizes
2 Drink Tickets
Dinner
Complimentary 18 holes of golf after Labor Day
 
It is limited to 40 four somes on a first come, first serve basis.  If you are not a golfer, tickets can be purchased to the dinner for $15.  There will be forms on a table in the narthex.  Please contact Aaron Bubb with any questions at 414-550-0295.
 
 


Update from Joe Walter Executive Director
Family Promise Washington County
 
14 March, 2010   #3
 
Moment by moment we are moving closer to opening the Day Center and accepting families into the Interfaith Hospitality Network. It has been a busy week with a full Board meeting and a meeting that included a majority of the pastors in the network. All are working together as a team to make Family Promise Washington County a reality.
           
            Please note that we have a new mailing address;
                Family Promise Washington County
                 PO Box 438
                 Slinger, WI 53086


Also note that all communication should be directed to me at the post office box or at my e-mail address jkwalter@netwurx.net
Or call me at 262-339-9157


Fundraising efforts continue. I have been making contacts with friends of Family Promise throughout the County. 
Mark your calendar, FPWC has scheduled its first annual golf outing thanks to Tom and Kathy Schwai and a group of volunteers from St. Luke’s church in Slinger. The event will be Saturday, May 8th at Scenic View Country Club. It will be limited to the first 160 golfers. So watch for details and sign up early.
 
Phones and internet are scheduled to be installed at the Day Center this week. Thanks Dolores Corcoran. By the end of the week my office will be set up at the Day Center.
 
Thanks to plumber Dave Bohovsky for evaluating the plumbing needs of the Day Center and offering his services to install the washer and dryer.
 
Needs for the immediate future; Dave Bolender has volunteered to coordinate the painting of the Day Center. If you are interested in being on the crew (our goal is to do it in one day, so please volunteer) please contact Dave at 677-1897 or dbolender@charter.net
 
Special note; I have 3 members for the grant writing committee. The newest members are Adrian and Kathy Krebs. Thank you guys. I would like a committee of 5. Please get the word out. We need 2 more grant writers. Please, please, please!
 
Extra, extra……somehow….someway we need to find a 14 passenger van. Send me your ideas.
 
The network is becoming a united team. 
With gratitude for all that you are doing,
 
Joe Walter Executive Director