This month, Family Promise will host a week-long event to raise awareness about the crisis of family homelessness in the U.S. Family Promise Week, which runs Oct. 24-31, will highlight an issue many call “an invisible crisis.”
Every year, more than three million children in America experience homelessness, and one in 16 become homeless before they reach the first grade. But families are ashamed of the stigma of homelessness and often go to great lengths to hide their situation. Homelessness puts youth at risk of anxiety, depression, and academic struggles (an alarming 42 percent drop out of school at some point) and can set children up for a lifetime of challenges. The COVID pandemic has exacerbated an existing affordable housing crisis and has increased economic instability, increasing the risk of homelessness for families.
Family Promise Week will draw attention to this crisis through special events and social media posts. Go to fpgives.org to learn more or make a donation.
In addition, Family Promise Union County in Elizabeth, NJ, will host “One Step at a Time,” a virtual fitness challenge. Participants are challenged to walk, run, or cycle 3.3 miles to celebrate Family Promise’s 33 years of supporting children and families battling homelessness. Click here to learn more or register — every step helps raise awareness and empowers families toward a brighter future!
About Family Promise
Family Promise envisions a nation in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. What began as a local initiative in Summit, NJ, has become a national movement that involves 200,000 volunteers and served more than 111,000 family members in 2019. Family Promise will change the future for 1 million children by 2030.
Currently, Family Promise is working in over 200 communities in 43 states to ensure that families experiencing homelessness have a safe place to call home and the resources they need during the COVID-19 pandemic
