When Family Promise Rochester Answered the Call

“First, as a community, we make a promise to support families during their most difficult times. Second, each family has the promise, the potential, to achieve sustainable independence when given the opportunity.” – Family Promise National

Stressed to hopeful. Exhausted to motivated. Unsure about the future to increased confidence and stability. Charlotte was placed on short-term disability causing her to lose housing because the rent payments were no longer manageable, and she struggled to find a new, affordable home. Shortly after she lost housing, she gave birth to her second child. Charlotte was going to get discharged from the hospital with nowhere to go. She called Family Promise Rochester and moved into the Promise House the same day. Immediately, she was welcomed by the community of Family Promise Rochester staff who helped her settle and care for her newborn and daughter. Once Charlotte’s immediate housing and basic needs were met, she was able to focus on rebuilding her stability and a promise toward a brighter future.

Charlotte consistently showed up for her meetings, attended the Promise Groups regularly, made progress toward her goals, and used humor to help her through the good and hard days. Her circumstances softly shifted in a direction that created hope and stability. She returned to work, saved her money, and utilized the resources available to help her find housing, child-care, financial assistance, therapy, and transportation. Charlotte enrolled in school, creating a path toward a long-term career and the sustainable independence Family Promise Rochester believes every family can achieve when the door for opportunity is opened. Her case manager provided support and assistance with resources, advocacy, and encouragement when she needed it.

Three months later, when Charlotte walked out the door of the Promise House, she left with her head held higher, increased confidence, permanent housing, and renewed hope for her and her children's future. Charlotte shares, “Family Promise Rochester made it still feel like home and not a shelter.”