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Become a Host Site

We are developing a set of host congregations to house homeless families, each congregation hosting one week each quarter of the year. See the details below.

Volunteers of All Faiths Changing Lives

Family Promise’s shelter program relies on a partnership of interfaith congregations and other volunteer groups to help local families facing homelessness. Our host sites provide lodging, meals, and hospitality to families in need. For families in the program, each day begins with breakfast at a host site with volunteers, followed by a bus ride to our Center. In the evening, guests return to the host site, where volunteers provide dinner and spend some quality time. The evening hours are for homework, relaxing, and family fun time — as they would be with any family. Each day ends with the family all together, under one roof.

Host Congregations

Local houses of worship provide temporary overnight lodging in otherwise unused spaces in their buildings. A host congregation team of volunteers may be involved with the following:

  • Cooking and hosting dinner
  • ​Spending the evening with families, talking, tutoring kids or playing games
  • ​Sleeping overnight in the host building
  • ​Coordinating children’s crafts and activities
  • ​Donating necessary supplies for the hosting week
  • ​Setting up and breaking down guest families’ rooms

Download these resources to get a closer look:

Host ResourceDetailsLink
* Host Congregation Toolkit Who is Family Promise and how do congregations get involved? This 15-page resource is a must for congregations considering becoming a host. Learn how it is done, what a typical week looks like, and what is needed. You'll also see an example of a host site agreement. PDF
Family Promise Impact Report See the real impact Family Promise had in 2023. Learn how effective this organization is at assisting homeless families across the nation. PDF
Family Promise Slideshow This slideshow was shared by Nakeshia Hedrick during a panel discussion on homeless youth in the Midcoast area - held at the UU Church in Belfast on November 11, 2023. Hedrick is a former executive director of Family Promise, and is now Northeast Regional Director, working with 41 affiliates in seven states. This 18-slide show depicts the work done by the organization. PDF
Panel Discussion on Homeless Children and Youth On November 11, a panel discussion was held on the subject of homeless children and youth in the MidCoast, with an emphasis on Waldo County. You can see a video of the Zoom feed of the event here. Runs one hour, 14 minutes. Video

Testimonial from a Host Congregation

Wendy Olson of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Concord, New Hampshire tells Kathy Muzzy of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast about her church’s experience as a Family Promise host congregation.

Manageable Committment

  • Families stay overnight, not 24 hours a day
  • ​Each congregation hosts families for just one week, four times a year
  • ​Guests consist of only two to four families   (14 children & adults max)
  • ​Family Promise runs criminal background checks and drug screenings on all program participants
  • A Family Promise driver transports the families to and from the host facility and carries their bedding and luggage to each new host location

We need your help! Will your faith group become a host or support congregation?

Send us a note with any questions you have. We’ll be glad to be in touch with you.

Host Site Form
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