A Chattanooga organization that helps outfit homeless families with a successful home life will soon receive help from area churches.
Family Promise, which helps homeless families get back on their feet by sheltering them in local churches as they receive guidance, is in need of more involvement. The East Hamilton Ministerial Association has been looking for a way to help address an increase in homelessness group members say they have seen in the area.
So why not work together? That’s what Ooltewah United Methodist Church pastor Eric Light is asking church members of EHMA to consider this summer.
Family Promise is lacking host churches to help fill in its second network, Light said. His church has acted in a support role in the past, but will soon transition to a hosting position. He is charging member churches of EHMA to do the same.
“This is a way to help people, families and their children who are literally in need, and to minister to them,” Light said. “It’s a great way to tangibly help people in need.”
He says the organization has 17 weeks when there is no church host to help shelter families.
“If we can just support them with four more churches, that will help a great deal,” he said.
Light said EHMA hopes to also support the organization through volunteers and funding for Family Promise’s home sponsorship program. A portion of EHMA’s meeting fees each month will be donated to Family Promise to help families move into homes and pay for utility and property deposits.