Host Congregations:

About four to five times a year, for one week at a time - Host congregations provide overnight lodging, meals (supper, breakfast and brown-bag lunch), and hospitality. Hosting rotates between the twelve to thirteen Host congregations in the network, which provide lodging for three to five families (up to fourteen individuals) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next morning.

Volunteers:

Volunteers are the heart of the Network; without them, it cannot exist. Volunteers provide a variety of services: cooking and serving meals, playing with children or helping them with homework, and staying overnight. Beyond providing lodging and meals, volunteers interact with the guests, treating them with respect and responding with compassion.

Social Service Agencies:

Local social service agencies refer families to the Network. The agencies may also help guests find housing, jobs, and other services. Since Family Promise is primarily comprised of volunteers, the social service agencies help assess potential guest families for active substance abuse, domestic violence or psychiatric problems.

Day Center:

Guests use a local day center, space at a congregation or agency, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to shower, care for their pre-school children, and seek employment. Many guests are employed during the day and go to work. During the school year, children go to school. The day center provides guests with a mailing address and a home base from which to conduct their housing search. The Network Director's office is at the day center.

Transportation:

A network van transports guests to and from the day center. The van also carries bedding and luggage to the next Host Congregation.