Family Promise of Ozaukee County

Family Promise of Ozaukee County rebuilds lives with compassion by providing resources and services to individuals and families at risk of homelessness in the community.

The organization came together in 2014 and opened doors to their first family December 5, 2015.

Family Promise of Ozaukee County’s foundation is an interfaith network of congregations that come together to provide women and families with shelter, basic needs and assistance as they seek permanent housing. Additional programming includes Rapid Re-Housing and Homeless Prevention.

Family Promise is an affiliate of a national organization. There are more than 200 affiliates across the country working to end family homelessness.

Host Congregations/Support Congregations – Host congregations throughout Ozaukee County will provide overnight lodging, breakfast, brown bag lunch, dinner, and hospitality for homeless families during a given week. Support congregations and organizations will provide hosts with assistance, as needed.

Volunteers – Volunteers are at the heart of Family Promise; without them, it cannot exist. Volunteers provide a variety of services: cooking and serving meals, playing with children, helping with homework, and staying overnight. Beyond providing lodging and meals, volunteers interact with the guests, treating them with respect and responding with compassion.

Social Service Agencies – We employ a Network Director to work with local social service agencies that refer families to Family Promise. The director and agencies help guests find housing, jobs, and other much-needed support services. Since Family Promise is primarily comprised of volunteers, the social service agencies help assess potential guest families for active substance abuse, domestic violence or psychiatric problems.

Day Center – Guests use a local Day Center from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to shower, care for pre-school children, and seek employment. Many guests are employed during the day and go to work. During the school year, children go to school. The Day Center provides guests with a mailing address and a home base from which to conduct their housing search. The Network Director has an office at the Day Center.

Transportation – A network van transports guests to and from the Day Center. A network trailer carries bedding and luggage to the next host congregation.