Family Promise support program finds itself in need

Jerre Lewis’ family lives in a comfortable mobile home in Coeur d’Alene now, but things didn’t always look so bright.

“We didn’t have anything and nowhere to go,” the 22-year-old recent mother said.

Now she has a job in an optometrist’s office and her husband, Brett, works in agriculture. They have put away a little savings and will be able to start paying their rent by themselves in the coming weeks.

The Lewises got a helping hand from Family Promise, the only homeless program in North Idaho capable of keeping families together while in shelter.

“They helped us look toward the future,” Lewis said.

Now Family Promise needs some help.

The 3-year-old network of North Idaho churches is taking a hiatus as it reorganizes and raises funds to continue its work. It has furloughed its two part-time employees while retaining its director, Cindy Wood, at 85 percent of her salary.

The charity is counting on the success of its Oct. 14 fundraiser, “Cardboard Box City,” in which donors pay for the opportunity to spend the night at a simulated homeless camp in the Community United Methodist Church parking lot, 1470 W. Hanley Ave.

“Three years ago we raised $40,000 on a dream,” Wood said. “We think we can raise $60,000 on a reality.”

Last year Family Promise helped 20 families get a new start. So far this year it has sheltered and counseled 11 families for up to three months while they pulled their lives back together.

“I can’t think of anything that is needed more,” said Bob Driscoll, resources and services navigator for the Department of Welfare.

Although the Union Gospel Mission will open a new center for women and children in Coeur d’Alene next summer, Family Promise allows entire families, including fathers, to remain intact during recovery.

But the faith-based initiative has been unable to meet the great need among homeless families in North Idaho alone. In July, Family Promise had to turn away 42 families. A January “point-in-time” count identified 559 homeless people in Idaho’s five northern counties. The count did not include people who may be staying with friends or families, in hotels, treatment facilities or jails.

After aging out of foster care in Spokane County at 18, Lewis said she lived in a car before meeting her future husband in Coeur d’Alene. The couple lived with relatives in Portland for a while, before returning to North Idaho and joblessness.

As a last resort Lewis called Family Promise. Besides offering food and shelter, the charity provided case management and job counseling and connected them with other services necessary to escape the cycle of poverty. St. Vincent de Paul provided rental assistance, furniture and household items.

Lewis also cited the emotional and spiritual guidance Family Promise gave her along the road to financial independence.

“If you started to fall off your path, they were there to support you,” she said.