 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Adopt A Homeless Family
By Leslie Davis
Stockton Adopt A Homeless Family Project 2008
Pastor Alert
ADOPT-A-HOMELESS-FAMILY PROGRAM
For the homeless, finding employment is next to impossible even after they've completed rehabilitation at a shelter; they need an address to list on a job application; they need to be presentably and appropriately dressed for interviews and for work; they need to be properly groomed; they need access to laundry facilities; they need money for transportation to and from work and to live on until that first paycheck comes in.
Here's a plan to assist the homeless in reentering society, and the Church can be a part of it. It's called the "Adopt-A-Homeless-Family Program," and this is how it works.
Your congregation agrees to support a homeless family or individual until such time as permanent employment is secured and adoptee achieves self-support. Adoptee must find employment within a time period of three months. If your church cannot support an entire family or even an individual, you can partner with another church.
Initial Expenses:
1) Rent and utilities (first and last month and any deposits)
2) Food; personal items such as tooth paste/tooth brush, deodorant, soap, hair brush; and cleaning supplies)
3) Child care, if a single mom
4) Clothing for work and school
5) School supplies
6) Transportation expenses (bus pass)
7) Nicotine patch if a smoking habit cannot be broken otherwise
Where does the money come from?
1) Church budget - a predetermined monthly amount.
2) Special weekly offering.
3) Youth involvement - car washes, etc.
4) Fund raisers - bake sales, rummage sales, craft fairs.
5) Garage sales.
Please note that no actual money is given to participant. The church pays the rent, utilities, groceries, bus pass, and any deposits.
The pastor would delegate an elder of the church to oversee the program. The elder would assign someone in the church to bring the adoptee to the grocery store each week and pay the grocery bill from alotted church funds.
A time of fellowship should be set aside each month to provide an opportunity for the congregation and adoptive family to get to know each other more intimately than what Sunday services usually allow for. It wouldn’t have to be elaborate - just coffee or maybe baked goods. And, the congregation would have a chance to see how effectively the program is working.
How can the congregation be involved?
1) Assist adoptive family in finding affordable housing, located near transportation lines. A property management firm can assist you.
2) Assist them in connecting to phone, PG&E, water, and garbage service.
3) Assist them in applying for low-income assistance programs such as Heap and Care for a reduced PG&E bill, Universal Lifeline for a reduced phone bill, Renter’s Rebate, the Weatherization Program through PG&E, and the County Weatherization Program through the Department of Aging. The weatherization programs in the past have provided such appliances as refrigerators, washer/dryers, microwave ovens, ceiling fans, and evaporative coolers. These items become the property of the property owner.
4) Look around the house for any items you don’t need or aren’t using and donate to your adoptive family. You can make donations of food items, clothing, furniture, appliances - refrigerator, vacuum cleaner, ironing board/iron, washer/dryer, blow dryer, towels, linens, bedding, dishware/silverware, pots and pans, childrens' books and videos that have Christian content, bibles, etc.
5) Assist them in finding permanent employment with benefits and sufficient pay to adequately provide for themselves.
6) Refer any job leads.
7) Assist them in school enrollment.
8) Assist them in opening a checking/savings account.
9) Assist them in the purchase of a good used vehicle. With a used vehicle, the loan would be paid off faster, the loan payments would be smaller and more affordable, insurance rate and registration fee would be lower.
10) Provide sound financial counseling. (Christian Financial Concepts).
11) Provide transportation to and from church.
12) Provide child care once in awhile to give single mom much needed break
13)
14) Have a male volunteer come alongside a fatherless boy as a big brother.
15) A retired school teacher in congregation might tutor school age children.
16) Help with reading skills through library Literacy Program.
17) Help with language skills if English is not fluently spoken.
18) Provide transportation to DMV for drivers license or renewal - pay fee.
19) Assist with tuition fee and books if parent wishes to take a night course to secure a better job position, or if mom wishes to enter workforce.
A sign-up sheet could be provided for this purpose.
These are just a few suggestions, but the possibilities for assisting your adoptive family are limitless.
The program duration is set for one year:
1) This allows you time to bond with your adoptive family and have a spiritual impact in their lives.
2) It insures your adoptive family has obtained permanent employment and is not out on the street or back in the shelter in a few month’s time.
3) It gives your adoptive family time to become financially sound, to save money, and to acquire certain needed items.
The participants must agree to certain conditions for the duration of the program:
1) To stay on the program for a full year
2) To attend church on a regular basis
3) To attend the monthly fellowships
4) To live on a budget
5) No credit card spending
6) Not to use money for alcohol or cigarettes or drugs
7) Not to use money for gambling (this includes the lottery)
8) Not to use alcohol or cigarettes or drugs
9) To follow up on any job leads
10) To show financial accountability to church sponsor each month; keep a
record of monthly expenditures with receipts
The shelter director will:
1) Make the Program known to the shelter residents
2) Provide a sign up sheet for interested participants
3) Interview interested participants and have them sign agreement form
The Program goal is for the adoptive family to become self-supportive and free of government assistance, to become productive citizens, to receive instruction in God's word and to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
So pray about it, talk to your congregation about it, delegate an elder to oversee it. Then contact your local shelter director and they will be able to match you up with a family according to your financial capabilities, denominational preferences (yours and theirs), and language commonality.
The Church becomes the stepping stone upon which the homeless find their way back into society and into a right relationship with Jesus Christ. With the help of God, we can change the face of society one family at a time.
RESOURCES:
HEAP - Energy Program, Department of Aging 209-468-3988
CARE Program - PG&E 800-743-5000
Weatherization Program - PG&E 800-933-9555
County Weatherization - Department of Aging 209-468-0439
Universal Lifeline - AT&T 800-310-2355
Renter’s Rebate - Franchise Tax Board 916-845-4300
AIG Auto Insurance 800-227-8973
City of Stockton - Water service 209-937-8295
AT&T - Phone service 800-310-2355
PG&E - Gas and electric service 800-743-5000
Stockton Scavenger - Garbage service 209-946-5711
Sunrise Sanitation - Garbage service 209-466-3604
Literacy Program - Stockton Public Library 209-937-8362
Crown Financial Concepts (Money Matters) 800-525-7000
Stockton Area
Gospel Rescue Mission
Bill Brown, Director
209-466-2138
John Reynolds, Director
209-465-3612
Adopt-A-Homeless-Family Program
SIGN UP SHEET
1) _____________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________
3) _____________________________________________
4) _____________________________________________
5) _____________________________________________
6) _____________________________________________
7) _____________________________________________
8) _____________________________________________
9) _____________________________________________
10) _____________________________________________
11) _____________________________________________
12) _____________________________________________
13) _____________________________________________
14) _____________________________________________
15) _____________________________________________
16) _____________________________________________
17) _____________________________________________
18) _____________________________________________
19) _____________________________________________
20) _____________________________________________
Adopt-A-Homeless-Family Program
INTERVIEW FORM
Family ____ Individual ____
First name ________________________ Last name ______________________ Age_______
Spouse___________________________ Age ______
Child ____________________________ Age ______
Child ____________________________ Age ______
Child ____________________________ Age ______
Child ____________________________ Age ______
Health concerns:
Name ____________________________ Condition __________________________________
Name ____________________________ Condition __________________________________
Name ____________________________ Condition __________________________________
Name ____________________________ Condition __________________________________
Special needs:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Other Notations:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Ethnicity ____________________________
Language spoken ______________________
Knowledge of English: Fluent ___ Fair ___ Nominal ___ None ___
Denominational Preference _____________________
Work History:
Name ____________________________ Employer ___________________________________
Position __________________________________ How long __________________________
Name ____________________________ Employer ___________________________________
Position __________________________________ How long __________________________
Adopt-A-Homeless-Family Program
AGREEMENT FORM
I/we, __________________________________________
as a participant(s) in the Adopt-A-Homeless-Family Program, agree to abide by the following conditions for one year.
1) To stay on the program for a full year
2) To attend church on a regular basis
3) To attend the monthly fellowships
4) To live on a budget
5) No credit card spending
6) Not to use money for alcohol or cigarettes or drugs
7) Not to use money for gambling (this includes the lottery)
8) Not to use alcohol or cigarettes or drugs
9) To follow up on any job leads
10) To show financial accountability to church sponsor each month; keep a
record of monthly expenditures with receipts
Beginning Date __________________ Ending Date ___________________
Signature ____________________________
Print Name __________________________
Signature _____________________________
Print Name ___________________________
Pastors - print a copy and share with shelter directors and other pastors.
Church members - print a copy and give to your pastor.
Shelter director - print a copy and share with shelter residents.
Note: The Sign Up Sheet, Interview Form, and Agreement Form is for the shelter director only. The beginning date on the Agreement Form is when the adoption takes place and the church assumes financial and spiritual responsibility for its adoptive family or individual.