Being without a safe, warm place to sleep and eat is a profound crisis for anyone, but especially for families.

This is the plight of our ever-growing homeless population. And the numbers are increasing. An estimated 500-600 residents in Cape May County and surrounding area are, in fact, homeless or “at risk” of homelessness. More than half of these are families with children.

This staggering statistic is due in large part to a shortage of affordable housing. Yet, there are many factors that result in families becoming “homeless” - illness, domestic violence, divorce and unemployment, all contributing to the cruel spiral of poverty. Family homelessness may not be readily apparent, most families take refuge in a relatives or friend’s home or stay in sub-standard motels or sleep in their vehicles.

Family Promise of Cape May County is a shelter program just for families. It is small, with a maximum of 14 individuals (including children) in the program at a time. Families will have dinner, spend the evening, stay overnight, and eat breakfast at a church, synagogue or other House of Worship called a host congregation in Cape May County .

Each Sunday, transportation will be provided for the families to move from one congregation to the next. Volunteers will be hosts of their congregations. These volunteers are community residents who recognize that any family can lose a home and that it can take time to find affordable housing. They are their to help their guests get through the crisis they face, by offering safe, secure, and comfortable temporary lodging and home-cooked meals.

While congregations of all faiths are involved in the program, Family Promise is a faith-based organization with no religious obligations to its participants. It does focus on the religious community because congregations have a vital role and responsibility in every community, and people of all faiths have long shown a willingness to assist those in need.

During the day, families are transported to a Day Center , where children are taken to school and parents will work with a case manager to discuss housing and employment possibilities and to assist them in finding social services that may be helpful to them.

Family Promise of Cape May County, is a new non-profit affiliate of a national twenty three (23) year network known as Interfaith Hospitality Network, or IHN, that provides comprehensive support to assist homeless families in 38 states.

\As they prepare to open, they are accepting Host and Support Congregations who would like to make a difference in the lives of others right in our own backyard. The size of the congregation makes no difference, only the compassion of the members.

Churches in Cape May County that have already joined this outreach mission:

Cape May United Methodist, Cape May Presbyterian, Holy Trinity Lutheran in Wildwood, Temple Beth Judah in Wildwood, Cold Spring Presbyterian, First Assembly of God in Cape May, First Baptist Church in CMCH, Our Lady of Angels RCC in CMCH, St. Mary’s Episcopal in Stone Harbor, Our Savoir Lutheran in Stone Harbor, St. Pauls RCC in Stone Harbor, Avalon United Methodist, Maris Stella RCC in Avalon, Wesley United Methodist in Petersburg, Sea Isle City United Methodist, St. Joseph’s RCC, Messiah Lutheran in Ocean View, Resurrection RCC in Marmora, Seaville Quaker Meeting and Woodbine Baptist.

For more information contact Laurie Johnson, Network Director, at 350-4875.