Family Promise of Cape May County
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Family Promise of Cape May County
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Who We Are

An Introduction to Family Promise

A Decade Of Promises Fulfilled

We are a community response to a national crisis

Family Promise of Cape May County was  established in May of 2009, as a program designed to help families who  are experiencing homelessness. We are a non-traditional sheltering  program that only accepts families with children. A network of faith  based organizations and over 1,000 volunteers provide temporary housing  and meals for up to 4 families at a time (maximum 14 people). 


We  have an intake period that takes from 3 - 5 days. Included in this  intake process, potential families are screened for drug and alcohol  addiction. This requirement assures that the families are a good match  for our program.

We  are a volunteer based organization and we are funded solely by  donations. We take NO government money. We are a program, not an agency.  Because of this, Family Promise has strict guidelines for the safety of  our families and our volunteers.

Our Services

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Principal Goals

  •  Provide shelter, meals and case management for homeless families.


  • Help homeless families find a home.


  • Refer homeless families to appropriate agencies for job training or retraining and family services.


  • Increase volunteerism an advocacy in the community advocacy to meet the needs of low-income and homeless families.

Statement of Need

 With no family emergency shelter in Cape May  County, homeless families remain at the mercy of whatever resources are  available at the time - usually local motels or shelters in other  counties. Both options severely disrupt their lives. Motels have limited  cooking, laundry and storage facilities and are an additional  expense. Shelters provide no privacy for families with children. So,  inconvenience is created for the families who are forced to choose  either of these options.

Generally,  the children of homeless families must survive in physically unhealthy  situations, witness drug use and violence, move from place to place and  school to school, make few friends and experience academic failure.  Without support or intervention, they, like their parents, may become  psychologically vulnerable, and live with feelings of distrust, fear and  emptiness that could follow them into adulthood and throughout the rest  of their lives.

We believe that it is unacceptable for even one child to be without a home in Cape May County or anywhere in our country.

Family  Promise of Cape May County works with homeless families and tailors  individualized plans that will help them take the necessary steps toward  lasting independence.

All Family Promise guest families receive:

 

  • Overnight accommodations at a local congregation
  • 3 meals a day
  • Intensive case management
  • Day Center with internet access, phones, laundry, showers, kitchen and personal space.
  • Transportation assistance to school, work, appointments, etc.
  • Social support from volunteers
  • Linkage with needed social and educational service
  • Provide shelter, meals and case management for homeless families.
  • Help homeless families find a home.
  • Refer homeless families to appropriate agencies for job training or retraining and family services.
  • Increase volunteerism an advocacy in the community advocacy to meet the needs of low-income and homeless families.

Our Program in Action

 Everyday, guest families utilize our Day Center located at 505 Town  Bank Road in N.Cape May. The Day Center provides guest families with  access to laundry and showers facilities, phone and internet access, a  full kitchen, and a small area for each family member to keep their  belongings. From there they are provided with transportation, by a van  owned by the network, to work, school, appointments and errands. It is  also where families work with the Case Manager to develop an  individualized plan to regain housing and self-sufficiency. 

Family  Promise of Cape May County consists of faith congregations from Cape  May to Ocean City, which together harness the resources of over 1,000  volunteers. Each evening guest families are transported to hosting  congregations where volunteers welcome them as guests into their church  or synagogue and provide them with meals, hospitality and overnight  accommodations for one week. There are currently 15 hosting  congregations in the Cape May County network.

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Family Promise National

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The inspiration behind Family Promise

The inspiration for Family Promise began with a  woman who regularly encountered homeless people in New York City. Karen  Olson, retired President of the organization nationally, came to know  many of the city’s homeless people after she and her two sons began to  bring food to them. Olson soon learned even in her home community of  Union County, NJ, there were hundreds of homeless people, including  families.  


She  looked to the religious community for help, convinced that together  they could do what they couldn’t do alone. Within ten months, 11 area  congregations came forward to provide hospitality space within their  buildings. All the pieces fell into place and on October 27, 1986, the  first Interfaith Hospitality Network opened its doors. 


In  2003, the organization changed its name to Family Promise to reflect a  broader range of programs and reaffirm its core commitment to helping  families realize their own potential. 


Since  then, Family Promise has established 202 affiliates in 42 states, using  the services of more than 180,000 volunteers and 6000 congregations.  Family Promise provides shelter, meals, housing, and job placement  support to more than 60,000 homeless family members annually, 58 percent  of them children.

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Staff and Board

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Our Mission

To keep homeless children and their families together during their time  of crisis by providing safe shelter  and meals in congregational  facilities, and to provide support services needed to educate, encourage  and empower these families in their quest to re-establish their  individual pride and independence.  

Officers

Mary Ann Castagnetta - President

Tony Monzo, Esquire - Vice President

Trina McSorley - Treasurer

Sandra Jensen - Secretary

Ellen Smith - Bookkeeper

Key Staff

Laurie Johnson - Director

Kathleen O'Neill - Family Advocate

Leif Johnson - Van Driver

Board Trustees

Madeline Baxter

Marty Bowne

George DeLollis

Theresa Gallignano

Steven Mallek

Jeanne Wienkoop

Bernadette Matthews

Vince Orlando

Mary Ferrell
Loretta Saggiomo

Betsi Parker
Jeanne Shelley

Annette Weber

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