Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga (formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network) began in 1998, with Rivermont being one of the “founding” host congregations. It is part of a national organization that assists homeless families with children. Their mission is to help families secure housing and 80% of the families served have transitioned to stability and housing.
As a host congregation, Rivermont periodically hosts homeless families in our Blue House for one week. We will do this twice in 2014 (March and September). Volunteers from the congregation provide an evening meal, while other volunteers “hang out” with the families during the evening and help with the homework, bath time, reading, playing games, or just listening. Two more volunteers stay overnight, making sure that our guests are up each morning and out the door safely and on time. During the day, the children are in school or daycare and parents either work or attend classes/school to assist with future employment. Parents and young children spend some part of the day at the Day Center where they can access laundry and shower facilities, computers, and meet with their Case Manager.