Success Story

When 8-year-old Jonathan’s parents divorced, he moved with his mother from the only home he’d known. Unsure about the future, the most important thing was that he and his mother Janet were together.

But Janet’s job of 25 years was eliminated, she struggled to find work. There was more uncertainty - where would the next paycheck come from and how would bills be paid? With no job prospects in sight, they were on the verge of homelessness.

Thanks to Family Promise, their worries were shortlived. Family Promise helped Janet find employment and housing. But just as important, they helped Jonathan adjust to the family’s new circumstances. They reached out to Jonathan’s new school to smooth the transition on his first day and arranged for a buddy to walk with him to ease his nerves. Jonathan, a bright student, continued to make honor roll.

“I’d imagined homeless shelters as intimidating places with beds and nothing more,” Janet says. “Family Promise wasn’t just a shelter. They had everything we could possibly need to get our life back together – help with jobs, housing, tutoring. I never imagined we’d be in this situation, but Family Promise shattered my stereotype of how homelessness is treated.”

The family is still involved with Family Promise, now as volunteers.

“We learned anyone could become homeless,” says Janet. “If it weren’t for Family Promise, I don’t know where we’d be right now.”