Question 1

Who is eligible to apply for your Shelter program?

Accepted Answer

Any family experiencing homelessness, with at least one person over 18 and at least one person under 18 (or a permanent dependent).

Question 2

How do we get referred to the program?

Accepted Answer

Any family experiencing homelessness may contact us themselves, or be referred by a social worker, case manager, pastor, neighbor, relative, friend, former guest, or anyone else. However potential guests are referred, we conduct several interviews with the adults in the family to determine how we can help, get started case managing, and decide mutually whether our Shelter program is a good fit for their needs.

Question 3

Do we need to be Christian to enter the Family Promise program?

Accepted Answer

No.

Question 4

Do we need to be married to enter your program?

Accepted Answer

No.

Question 5

How long could we stay in the Family Promise shelter program?

Accepted Answer

Family Promise is a 30-day program, renewable as long as guests are actively engaged in case management and making good-faith efforts to become ready to become independent and obtain housing. Guests meet with case management at least once per week to review and set goals, celebrate progress, and strategize overcoming barriers.
Before the pandemic, the national average for 88% of guests to find housing was 59 days. Since the pandemic, that time has increased across the country. We work actively with the family using a network of community resources to help locate housing once they are ready to graduate.

Question 6

If I am a participant staying at a congregation, am I required to attend church there on Sunday?"

Accepted Answer

No; your faith life is your own private decision. No one requires any guest of Family Promise to discuss or participate in any religious activities. Family Promise volunteers do not proselytize guests. However, if you are ever invited you should feel free to say no or yes as you personally prefer. There will never be a penalty or retaliation for not participating in any religious activity.

Question 7

If I’m in your program and want to make church attendance part of my family's life, am I permitted to engage with one of the volunteer congregations?"

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! You are more than welcome to ask a volunteer about their faith life and congregation, to ask to visit a worship, and to attend or not attend worship anywhere you want.

Question 8

Do you accept people who are enrolled in medication-assisted treatment (e.g., methadone or suboxone programs)?"

Accepted Answer

Yes, if they are actively enrolled in MAT, and are prescribed these medications along with counseling and treatment services, we accept the use of these medications as a tool for long term success.
In order to assure their best chance for success, guests recovering from addiction must be well-established participants enrolled in and committed to an active and supervised recovery program. Continued participation in the prescribed recovery program is a mandatory part of case management.

Question 9

Do you accept people with mental illness?

Accepted Answer

Mental illness by itself will not make a person ineligible. If the illness is being actively and successfully treated/managed and does not pose a risk to the safety of other guests (especially children), volunteers, or staff, it should not present a barrier to entry.

Question 10

Do you accept people from another county or state?

Accepted Answer

We would not rule out accepting a guest from another area if we have space and other conditions seem to justify it.

Question 11

I only have my children on the weekends/I have other children who visit me overnight a few times a week. Can they come stay with me?

Accepted Answer

Yes.

Question 12

We have a pet that’s very important to our family. Can we bring her with us?

Accepted Answer

We understand that pets are an important part of the family. We would welcome into shelter any legally registered service animal. These animals are highly trained and are unlikely to exhibit any behavioral problems that could endanger others in our program.
In the case of others, such as emotional support animals, we are happy to provide boarding or temporary fostering at no expense to the guest family. We have a grant to help us pay for boarding and/or fostering AND all the veterinary care required, including
Vaccinations
Spaying/neutering
Parasite treatment
Infectious disease treatment
Both the guests (pet parents) and any private foster parents sign a legally binding agreement to protect all involved and assure the pet is returned to the owners when requested. We also work to assure frequent visits between the guests and their pet to maintain a healthy bond and lessen anxiety on both ends.

Question 13

Where do guest families stay?

Accepted Answer

Family Promise partners with local congregations to shelter guests for one to two weeks at a time. Guests have dinner and breakfast and sleep overnight in their own room at one of our host congregations, and make a lunch before returning to the Day Center at 7 a.m. (11 on Saturdays). Our volunteers set up home-like rooms in their facilities in as welcoming a way as possible. Your room is private and your belongings are secure at the host.
On move days (typically a Sunday), a volunteer crew arrives to load the beds and totes with guest belongings into a box truck, move them to the next congregation, and unload them into the guest rooms there. Guests arrive at the next host to find their rooms set up and ready for occupancy.

Question 14

Does staying at a church mean we have to “pray to stay?”

Accepted Answer

No. Our partner congregations work with us to host guests out of their own sense of call and based on their own faith. However, your particular views on faith and religion are respected, and no one will proselytize you. If you are curious about a church or a volunteer’s faith, feel free to ask. Most people are happy to talk about their faith with you. Just know that you are always free to accept or decline invitations to worship, as you wish.

Question 15

Isn’t it difficult to move every week from one congregation to the next?

Accepted Answer

Moving every week can feel like a lot, but most guest families say that the homelike setting and the friendliness and support of volunteers more than compensate for the moving. While host congregations change every week or two, the Day Center remains the same, providing continuity and a home base. The Day Center is also guests’ permanent address while you’re staying with us, where you can receive mail and which you can use on job and rental applications.
During the pandemic, guests are staying at the Day Center instead of at congregational facilities; however, this has reduced our capacity and reduced the contact between guests and volunteers, which everyone misses. We are eager to get back into rotation at our partner congregations as soon as our leadership and volunteers deem it safe!

Question 16

Where do we go during the day on weekends?

Accepted Answer

Guests go to the Day Center at 7 a.m. (11 a.m. Saturdays) to do laundry, shower, do homework, and care for children. Many guests have jobs with weekend hours and may work all day one or both weekend days. Guests may also visit with friends or family or take other trips on weekends. Guests are expected to return to the host facility at 5 p.m. unless they’ve made other arrangements with the hosts (with case management approval).

Question 17

What if my family doesn’t have a car, or our car breaks down?"

Accepted Answer

Part of the Family Promise program is transportation. We know that cars are expensive to run and expensive to fix and sometimes a family doesn’t have their own transportation or the funds to make repairs. We have a minivan to transport guests between the hosts and the Day Center and to appointments for which public transit is untenable. We also provide bus passes at no cost to guests, and emergency taxi vouchers as needed. As part of case management, we will help you work through any barriers to having your own transportation as well.

Question 18

I work at night. How would that work?

Accepted Answer

Guests who work at night can sleep at the Day Center during the day. Many have dinner at the host congregation before going to work or come “home” from work to the host. As long as a responsible adult (who is not a Family Promise staff member or host volunteer) takes charge of children, a night or weekend job works fine.

Question 19

What if I have a question about guests that wasn't listed here?

Accepted Answer

Please use the Contact Us link in the header or footer of this websiite or call us at: 360-703-3131

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions about guests

Who is eligible to apply for your Shelter program?

How do we get referred to the program?

Do we need to be Christian to enter the Family Promise program?

Do we need to be married to enter your program?

How long could we stay in the Family Promise shelter program?

If I am a participant staying at a congregation, am I required to attend church there on Sunday?"

If I’m in your program and want to make church attendance part of my family's life, am I permitted to engage with one of the volunteer congregations?"

Do you accept people who are enrolled in medication-assisted treatment (e.g., methadone or suboxone programs)?"

Do you accept people with mental illness?

Do you accept people from another county or state?

I only have my children on the weekends/I have other children who visit me overnight a few times a week. Can they come stay with me?

We have a pet that’s very important to our family. Can we bring her with us?

Where do guest families stay?

Does staying at a church mean we have to “pray to stay?”

Isn’t it difficult to move every week from one congregation to the next?

Where do we go during the day on weekends?

What if my family doesn’t have a car, or our car breaks down?"

I work at night. How would that work?

What if I have a question about guests that wasn't listed here?

Frequently asked questions for congregations

What facilities do host congregations need to have for guests?

Is it only religious congregations who can host? My organization would like to participate in hosting Family Promise guests, too."

Our building is in use almost all the time. How will we find the space?

Can families’ belongings be moved in the morning and moved back in the evening to permit the congregation to use the space during the day?

How long do families stay in the program?

Where do guest families go during the day on weekends?

How are families referred to the program?

Isn’t it difficult for families to move week to week?

What are the insurance implications of participating in the program? Does the congregation have to amend its policy?

Do you accept people from another county or state?

Do you accept people who are enrolled in medication-assisted treatment (e.g., methadone or suboxone programs)?"

Do you accept people with mental illness?

What is Family Promise's policy on proselytizing? Are volunteers from host and supporting congregations permitted to share faith-building stories and/or invite families to participate in church activities?

Do you only accept married couples?

What if my question about congregations or organization participation isn't listed here?

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Homelessness, Homeless, Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock, Cowlitz County, Help , charity, churches, United Way, Americorp, case management, day care center, Houseless, Unhoused,