FAMILY Promise

Because Every Child Deserves A Home

 BY SAM ALLEN

When you imagine homelessness, what do you see? If it’s a single adult living on the streets or a levy that comes to mind, you’re not alone. Jory Gwasdoff, executive director of Family Promise of San Joaquin, however, sees a more complicated picture.

He gives me a number. “5,382. That’s the number of homeless youth counted in the homelessness census by the Homelessness Liaison of San Joaquin County Office of Education.” While somewhat staggering, it’s also incomplete.

Youth without an address and youth too young to attend school aren’t counted.

Family Promise is based on a national model with success stories across the country nearly 40 years old. Its San Joaquin chapter is working to make a meaningful dent in San Joaquin County homelessness.

Jory continues, “We serve the hidden population of San Joaquin County; parents who’ve been couch surfing and trying to protect their kids from the trauma of the shelters.” In traditional homeless shelters, families are usually separated by gender and age. Men and boys over 12 years old go to their own shelters. Women, their daughters, and their sons under 12 usually go to a family shelter.

- Jory

“Parents in the program are expected to care for their children when they’re here at the day center,” Jory says. These are rooms designed with families in mind. One is a laundry room with a bright playroom next to it. Everyone wakes in the morning in a warm bed. School-age children get picked up by the bus from the day center and attend school while their parents go out into the community to seek services and jobs. Youth get dropped off at the day center when school is out and at the end of the day families are transported to host congregations that provide them with a meal, recreation, and a safe place to sleep for the night.

The community care built into the Family Promise model is what makes for more connected–and successful–families, which is why the Family Promise team is so dedicated to their model, placing an unwavering emphasis on keeping families together for the betterment of all involved.

What To See And Do This Month

BY NORA HESTON TARTE

JULY 4

4th of July Parade in Downtown Stockton

Spend Independence Day at the Civic Auditorium, where a parade kicks off the festivities at 11 AM at the corner of Weber Avenue and El Dorado Street. At noon, a festival begins with plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained before fireworks shoot off at 9:30 PM.

525 N. El Dorado St., Stockton

JULY 8-9