WHO WE AREIn 1986, a group in New Jersey recognized the unique issue of family homelessness and established Family Promise. Now, there are 192 affiliates in 41 states that utilize over 160,000 volunteers and serve 55,000 people annually.
On Thanksgiving Day in 2010, Lindsey McCamy and her family were in Dalton, Georgia for the holidays. Her parents were serving dinner to homeless families that were sleeping in their church as part of the Family Promise program. Lindsey returned to Gainesville, Georgia with a vision: to see a Family Promise affiliate open right here in Gainesville. Others caught the vision, believing that a community working together could end the cycle of family homelessness. Family Promise of Hall County was founded in 2012, turning that vision into a reality. Family Promise of Hall County is dedicated to changing the lives of families who face homelessness and to breaking the cycle of generational poverty. As part of the fabric of Hall County, Family Promise assists families experiencing homelessness in attaining independence through a continuum of integrated services, taking them from crisis to stability. Using existing community resources, Family Promise delivers life-saving services at one-third the cost of traditional shelters through the Empowerment Program, the Next Step Affordable Housing Program, the "Local Initiative for Family Empowerment" or L.I.F.E. Program, the Little Steps Community Daycare, and the Diaper Bank community outreach program. Family Promise of Hall County moved to The Homestead, a centralized campus, in December 2019 that incorporates the Day Center, L.I.F.E. Program, and Little Steps Community Daycare. The Family Promise Day Center houses management, staff, Empowerment Program, and classroom areas, as well as donated supplies. The Homestead will eventually allow for affordable housing to those we serve for a short 90-day stay and eventually longer-term housing. We continue to transition to a more community-based model, effectively serving at-risk families. A primary benefit of a centralized campus is the ability to serve additional families with one or more parents who work evening or nighttime hours. It will also allow for more efficient use of staff and operational resources, meaningful ministry through mentoring and fellowship, and economies of scale in serving homeless families with children as they progress through the Family Promise program to sustainable independence.
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