Family Promise extends some thanks

Thank you for the June 24 editorial supporting Family Promise of Linn County. We now have 10 of the 13 host sites needed for the homeless program to begin in November.

Three families (a maximum of 14 individuals) will stay overnight at each of these host sites for one week at a time, allowing each host congregation to plan to provide secure sleeping quarters, an evening meal, evening activities, and fixings for breakfast and a sack lunch four times a year.

During the day, the families will go to work, school or job-hunting activities while based in a day center somewhere in a central Cedar Rapids location to be determined. This day center will be the home address for these families while they are in the program. Most of them will find permanent homes within 30-60 days, but in the meantime, the day center will be their address.

If you have a 15-passenger van or a building that might be large enough for these families to use during the day (preferably with laundry, showers and computer access), please contact Stefanie Robinson at familypromiseoflinncounty@gmail.com.

As the editorial stated, homelessness in Linn County grew by 24 percent from 2009 to 2010. Most of the Family Promise families have never been homeless before and need to get back on their feet. Let's help them stay together and give them a hand up through this new approach for Linn County.

Carolyn Schmidt

Member, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church

Cedar Rapids