CLEVELAND, Tenn. - When it comes to homework, at least 34 children who attend Cleveland city schools have no home to go to.
That number doesn't count children too young for school, and it doesn't include homeless children attending Bradley County schools. That number is unknown.
But homeless students are an indication that Family Promise of Bradley County is needed, Diana Whittle, a member of the organization, told the Cleveland City Council on Monday.
In the organization, 13 churches, on a rotating basis, offer space for homeless families to spend the night, and church volunteers supply the meals.
The organization will provide a day center, transportation to work and school and other help.
Chattanooga has two such circuits already operating.
"Family Promise is not anything new," Whittle said. "It's part of a national organization called Interfaith Hospitality Network that has been in operation for over 25 years."
The organization's Tennessee presence already is in Chattanooga, Johnson City, Memphis, Kingsport and Knoxville.
Participating families are screened for drug or alcohol use and for special needs, she said, because volunteers are not experts at interacting with people who have special problems.
The network provides cots at the church of the week, she said, and Lee University students will provide the "muscle" for those weekly moves.
Whittle said Chattanooga's two networks are full and have a waiting list, including some people from Cleveland.
Locally, several churches have signed on. One church is donating a 15-passenger van.
The network relies on grants, donations, businesses, congregations and fund-raising events for financial support.
Whittle said she hopes the local network can be opened by May 2011.
The city of Cleveland endorses Family Promise, Mayor Tom Rowland said.
"It's really sad to hear about kids who may have as an address a 1986 Buick or something," Rowland said.
While it supports the group, the city can't help with money, he said.
"There might be a point where we could help financially," he said, "but right now we can't. Our budget is really strapped."
ON THE WEB
For more information, go to familypromisebradley.org.