Our Service: Overnight shelter is provided within the facilities of our host congregations.  Hosting duties rotate on a weekly basis with each congregation hosting for one week at a time.  In its turn, each congregation provides overnight lodging, meals, and welcoming care.

Whom do we accept as Guests?
Homeless families comprised of at least one child and the adult(s) (over 18 years of age) parenting that child. For safety reasons, adults do have to be able to pass a background screening process before entering the program.  Active substance use, violent criminal history, and sexual offender status are among the conditions that would disqualify one for inclusion in the program.

How do families enter the program?
Potential guests are referred by other community agencies or churches.  Family Promise staff screen the potential guest over the phone and if a potential guest appears to qualify, an intake is scheduled.  Once the intake is completed and a potential guest is approved, the guest is brought into the program and given a brief orientation at the initial host church.

Download a copy of our guest application here

What can guests expect when they enter?
Guests spend one week at a time in each host church moving to a new church each Sunday.  Typically guests arrive at the church each day after 5:30 PM and are greeted by hosts.  Guests have dinner and spend the night in the church, leaving by 9AM the next morning for appointments, jobs or the Day Center.  The Day Center (also known as the Family Promise Office) with telephone, fax, internet and computer access provides a “home-base” for the day’s activities.  Most weekends, guests are able to relax at the Daycenter or Host Church on Saturday.  On Sunday guest belongings and network supplies are packed before morning services.  Guests are welcome to attend services or engage in a family activity on their own until it is time to arrive at the new church at 5:30 PM.

What expectations are there on the guests in the program?
Guests are expected to abide by the general Network Guidelines of Family Promise Mat-Su as well as “House Rules” specific to each congregation.  In addition, each guest family will be working on goals listed in the Self-Sufficiency Plan that they will create along with network staff.  Guests are expected to consistently work toward these goals.

What about children?
All adult guests are expected to be working or searching for employment and housing.  To that end all children are required to be enrolled in school and/or day care.  

How long can guests remain in the program?
Guest stays are limited to 120 days, but most families are able to transition into permanent housing sooner than that.