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FAMILY PROMISE
HOLY ROSARY PUTS FAITH INTO ACTION
The loss of a home is a crisis for anyone, but especially for
families. Parents endure the heartache of finding food and a
secure environment for their children with little time to search for
work and housing each day. One out of every 4 homeless persons is a
child.
Family
Promise of Gallatin Valley is a network of local congregations
organized to help Gallatin Valley's homeless families with
children. Churches have come together to provide shelter and meals,
while each family is assisted by the Network Director, a
professional social worker, in finding appropriate services, jobs,
and housing. This is a national program with a success rate of over
80%!
Does Bozeman Really Have Homeless Families?
Bozeman's HRDC office is presently handling emergency housing
requests for 3-4 families per week. The Salvation Army reports
approximately 60 people per month who are homeless or on the verge
of homelessness. They are currently giving them tents and
blankets. The Gallatin County Court, Victim Services Division, has
already made 3 referrals to the program before we have even begun.
Holy Rosary's Parish and Finance Councils have committed to be part
of this incredibly exciting and tangible way of doing God's work of
helping families who are down on their luck! We have partnered up
with First Lutheran Church, where the families will be hosted.
Together, our two congregations will host 3-5 families at First
Lutheran for one week at a time, approximately every 9-10 weeks.
There is much to be done to get ready for our guests and lots of
ways for YOU to be involved! Volunteers from both the Host (First
Lutheran) and Partner (Holy Rosary) congregations will provide a
variety of services: cooking and serving meals, helping children
with homework, and staying overnight. Our guests will arrive each
evening from 5:30 PM to 7:30 AM the next morning. The children will
go off to school while the parents and younger children spend the
day at the "Family Center" on So. Tracy where staffed professionals
will assist them in looking for work and housing.
In the coming weeks, our parish coordinator for Family Promise,
Connie Kantner, will be recruiting volunteers and donations for all
the varied needs. Look for the Volunteer Sign-Up insert with this
bulletin that can be placed in the collection basket or mailed to
the office. Or you can view and print a copy of the sign-up sheet
here.
Gallatin Valley Family Promise
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