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Family Promise's 1st Annual June Jubilee
Save the date on June 5th, 2012! Pat's BBQ will be smokin' and shakin' at the first annual June Jubilee and auction to benefit homeless families.
All you can eat BBQ, Unita and Budweiser beer, live entertainment from the Sister Wives, and KRCL's "Bad" Brad Wheeler as auctioneer.
June 5th, 2012, 6-9 pm. Minimum donation of $30 in advance / $35 at the door. CONTACT FAMILY PROMISE AT 801-961-8622 TO SECURE YOUR TICKET! Pat's is located at 155 West Commonwealth Ave. (2125 South) in Salt Lake City.
Project - Families in Focus
On March 30th, 2012, Family Promise and our guest families benefited from a very unique service project called "Families in Focus," where some of our guest families received professional family portraits brought on by an idea of a special young woman and a renowned local photographer. Click here to see the photos.
9 year old, Salt Lake Girl, Annette (Nettie) Rooney, one day thought about "What do homeless families do for family photos?" She took the idea to her family and came up with the following project: "My Goals with 'Project Families in Focus.' 1) Provide support to families in need, 2) Let families know they always have each other to count on, 3) Give them a photo of their family to look at when they feel sad, 4) Bring Awareness to the issue of homelessness. Nettie and her family contacted professional photographer, Angela Monson of Simplicity Photography to donate her talents. Again, it was a wonderful day and a wonderful service project! A very special thanks to Nettie and Angela.
The New Face of Homelessness: Young Children and Young Families
Families with children constitute the fastest growing segment of the homeless population nationwide. According to The National Alliance to End Homelessness over 100,000 families are homeless on any given night. Every year, more than 600,000 families with 1.5 million children experience homelessness. These parents and children comprise over 50% of the homeless population.
Utah's Point-In-Time Count (annualized) in 2010 reports that there are 15,642 homeless men, women and children. Families comprise of 46% of the homeless population.
Using the Department of Education's broader definition of homeless children, there were an estimated 11,928 homeless school children on January 27, 2010m an incrase of 14.8% from the previous year
Most of Utah's homeless are from Utah: 74% of individuals and 88% of families reported Utah as their last address before becoming homeless.
The average time a homeless person spends in a homeless shleter is 43 days, and the average time a family spends is 45 days
67% of the homeless population is only temporarily homeless and many never become homeless again
What's Causing This Trend?
The main cause cited for this alarming rise in family homelessness is the increasing disparity between wages and the cost of housing. Low-income renters or even homeowners, are often one paycheck, or calamity, away from homelessness.
The loss of a job, an increase in rent, a sudden illness, or the absence of family support can each turn children and their parents out on the street. From there, families may be divided because some programs serve only single men, or mothers with young children; at a family's darkest hour, they are often forced to separate in order to secure emergency shelter. Imagine the fear and humiliation felt by both parents and children.
The Family Promise - Salt Lake mission is to help homeless families achieve lasting self-sufficiency.
Family Promise - Salt Lake is an affiliate of Family Promise
An Introductory Video about Family Promise
A Guide for Volunteers