Former Fort Bend Family Promise kids having some fun.
Felicia and her children had nowhere to turn. The 45-year-old Nigerian born mother of three recalls the shock almost five years ago at learning that she and her children - then ages 16, 12, and 10 - would have to move out of their Quail Valley townhouse. The spirited, strong-willed woman said, “I didn’t understand. How could this happen?”
Then, the story began to unfold. Her estranged husband, who was a teacher, handled all the bills. Felicia learned from her landlord that the rent hadn’t been paid in three months. Additionally, thousands of dollars had been charged to credit cards in her name. “I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. I was so worried for my children. I didn’t know what we were going to do.”
Fort Bend Family Promise’s headquarters located at New Hope Lutheran Church in Missouri City..
With no family or friends to take them, Felicia and her daughter and two sons were destitute. “We were completely homeless,” she said. And then, a friend told her about a unique homeless assistance program called Fort Bend Family Promise (FBFP) that headquarters out of a small house provided by New Hope Lutheran Church in Missouri City.
“There’s a misconception that homelessness doesn’t exist in Fort Bend County, but it does. We are here to help families with children who have fallen on hard times get back on their feet,” said FBFP Director Lyn Storm. But, she is quick to add that the program, which is part of a large network of similar programs operating in 41 states with 10 affiliates in Texas, is not a shelter. “We can only help clients who truly want to improve their lives and help themselves.”
Adults applying for assistance with FBFP must pass drug and alcohol tests and sign a contract of commitment. After being accepted into the program, families receive food and shelter from a network of local churches. The organization can accommodate a maximum of 14 people at a time for one week about every three months. Each church hosts the families, and they are transported each evening by a FBFP driver to the host church where volunteers prepare their temporary sleeping quarters, feed them a home-cooked meal, and provide fellowship.
Early the next morning after eating breakfast, the families are driven back to the Family Service Center at New Hope to shower and prepare for the day. School-aged children are picked up by FBISD buses and transported from the service center to school and back again. Adults also have a busy day. Storm said most clients not only need help looking for employment, they also need help learning how to better manage their lives. “We teach them the basics. How to balance a check book, pay bills on time, and budget their money. We even tutor clients who don’t have a high school diploma prepare for the GED exam. We will help our clients in any way we can get back on track, but they have to stay focused and show us they really want to be self-sufficient. If not, we have to ask them to leave the program in order to make room for someone more committed.”
The Thornton family, clients of Fort Bend Family Promise, proudly displays the life-changing gift awarded to them by the non-profit organization: a vehicle.
Storm wishes all of the clients were like Felicia. Of the hundreds of adults who have passed through FBFP’s doors since the program began in 2005, this determined mother is one of her favorites. Felicia believes her family’s success is the result of lots of hard work. “At first, it was very hard for us to adjust to our new living conditions. After a while, we got used to things mainly because of all of the wonderful things the volunteers did for us. They made us feel very welcomed and not so ashamed of our situation.” She and her children stayed with FBFP for 237 days, a little longer than the recommended six month limit. The average length of stay is three or four months. At the time of her “graduation,” Felicia left the program with a donated car, debt-free, and $3,000 in the bank.
Today, while life is not easy, Felicia and her children are flourishing. She has never seen her husband again, and she works two jobs as a nurse’s assistant while taking classes to prepare for her nursing exam. Her daughter is entering her third year at Lamar State University, and like her mom, is planning a career in the nursing field. The younger boys are both in high school in Fort Bend County.
While helping families regain independence and be successful members in the community is the mission of FBFP, Storm admits that it’s difficult to watch many of them —some even take to calling her “Mom” – walk out the door. “It’s hard not to become emotionally attached to many of the families because we go through so much with them.”
Oftentimes, however, the relationship doesn’t end once the family moves out. Storm remains in contact with many of the families. Some periodically stop by or leave messages to let her know how they are doing. If a family hits a rough patch, FBFP steps in when they can to help with utilities, gas cards, donated cars, and groceries. Storm, who spent forty years working in the corporate world before finding her “calling” with FBFP, says the job is 24/7 and can be very draining, but worth it. “I keep those encouraging messages on my machine and listen to them when I have a tough day. They are the reason we are all so committed,” she said.
Like any non-profit organization, FBFP struggles to keep the funds coming through the door. The program relies on grants from charitable organizations and private donations. Another critical component to the interfaith network’s success is having enough partnering congregations and volunteers to host the families. Currently, there are ten host churches in the network. An additional four churches support the program with donations, but they are not able to provide temporary housing. The ideal number of churches is fourteen which would complete the rotation allowing each church to only host every three months. FBFP is forced to put families up in hotels during weeks when no church is available. According to FBFP Board President Jim Uschkrat, the need is great. “We need more churches, more money, and more volunteers to help Fort Bend families in crisis.
If you would like to learn more about Fort Bend Family Promise and how you or your congregation can help, contact them at 281.403.3923.
Helping Homeless Youth in Fort Bend County
An architectural rendering of the Parks Youth Ranch scheduled to open in September.
Construction of The Fred and Mabel R. Parks Youth Ranch, a much-needed emergency youth shelter and counseling center, is underway in rural Fort Bend County. It will provide services to homeless, abused and at-risk youth between 13 and 17 years of age.
In October 2008, the Fred & Mabel R. Parks Foundation awarded Parks Youth Ranch, Inc. a $500,000 capital campaign challenge grant. The George Foundation approved a $300,000 capital grant towards the match, and as result in January 2009, an 8-acre site was purchased. The ranch, located at 11614 FM 361 in Richmond, Texas, is expected to open in September 2010.
The shelter and counseling center will allow community agencies to refer homeless and at-risk youth for counseling and/or shelter services. Youth will be able to stay at the shelter for up to 90 days. Services will focus on creating a stable living environment, continuing education and connecting to the community based social services that will enable them to become healthy, productive adults.
