Letter from our Executive Director

Family Promise of Southern Ocean County is always growing and changing every year to best serve the homeless children and their families across the county. We have been able to provide families not just a warm bed to sleep in and food in their bellies, but also a chance to learn how to rebuild after the storms in their lives. But when COVID-19 struck, it changed everything.

Our hospitality network was forced to pull back; families needed safe housing, food, and childcare more than ever. We changed tactics, moving from our regular rotational shelter program to running full speed ahead through this pandemic. Pulling up our sleeves and putting on our masks, we became frontline workers ourselves. We were in contact with the families we were serving, making sure they still had food, diapers, or medicine. We were doing everything we could to make sure our community wasn’t overlooked and continue the mission of Family Promise.

The most significant element of our pandemic response was expanding our services. We are not just a sheltering program any longer, we have expanded our focus to assist families who are at risk of losing their homes with the Anchors to Stay Prevention Program. Through the prevention program, we have provided financial aid for rent, mortgages, and security deposits to eligible families throughout Ocean County. The shelter and prevention programs served over 80 families this year, and we provided aid to an additional 630 individuals; people who wouldn’t have had anywhere else to turn for help without Family Promise of Southern Ocean County.

Based on the drastic increases we saw this year in Ocean County, we are anticipating seeing five times the number of families to be in need in 2021. We’re preparing for this coming year by putting the infrastructure in place to increase the number of families we can serve through the Anchors to Stay Prevention Program, shelter more homeless families, and increase our outreach across the community. Our goal is to be the beacon of light for families who are at risk of losing their homes and continuing to find new ways to bridge the gaps for those who cannot get assistance anywhere else.

As we prepare for many more families in need of our programs in 2021, we need help from people like you. Family Promise of Southern Ocean County is completely reliant on charitable donations to be able to continue to provide services like the Anchors to Stay Prevention Program to all of Ocean County. We were able to do so much in the face of this difficult year, you can donate to help us continue our mission of helping children and their families stay safely in their homes online at https://www.familypromisesoc.org/donate.

Thank you for bringing so much hope and happiness to the children, families, and essential workers we serve. Together, we can end family homelessness. Because every child deserves a home.

With Warmest Regards,

Elizabeth Golla

Executive Director

Happy Holidays from Family Promise of Southern Ocean County

Dear Friend,

As the holiday spirit enters our hearts and homes, we want to say thank you. Thank you for your kindness and devotion. Thank you for being you. With your support, we were able to provide a warm bed for our children and families, as well as prevent homelessness for our nurses, teachers, and essential workers in our community.

We could not have made this impact on families facing homelessness without you. Your commitment to our mission and your tremendous generosity have changed the lives of over 700 people right here in Ocean County.

We are so grateful for your compassion and support. Thank you for bringing so much hope and happiness to the children, families, and essential workers we serve.

Wishing you and your family joy and good cheer during the holidays,

Warmest Regards, Elizabeth Golla, Executive Director

And all of us here at Family Promise of Southern Ocean County

Program Spotlight: Anchors to Stay Prevention Program

Family Promise of Southern Ocean County has four main programs to aid families in our area, one of which is the Anchors to Stay Prevention Program. Launched this past August, this program provides financial aid on rent, mortgage, or security deposit payments for eligible families across Ocean County.

Our main goal is to ensure the people we serve do not fall into the cycle of housing instability that can devastate families and alter the course of children’s lives. Getting out in front of these issues is the most cost-effective way to address this crisis. This prevention assistance comes at an especially pivotal time when many families are experiencing new challenges with unemployment delays, food insecurity, and fear of losing their homes.

The new Anchors to Stay Program is a preventative aid as a rapid response first step to stabilize housing for those who are on the brink of becoming homeless. Eligible families across all of Ocean County can receive financial aid on rent, mortgage, or security deposit payments. To qualify for the program, families must have children and one or more adults who are willing and able to work full-time or have an alternative source of sustainable income. For us, families are defined by the child, all of our programs include single-parent, two-parent, and non-traditional families. If you are in need or know a person in need who does not fit the requirements, you can still reach out to Family Promise for alternate local resources and information.

Other Family Promise of Southern Ocean County programs include:

Casting Lifelines Referral Program

Every phone call coming into our Day Center is screened and matched with services and resources locally in the community.

Daymark Family Shelter Program

We partner with community organizations and school districts to provide shelter, meals, hospitality, and day-to-day essentials for local families with children who are experiencing

homelessness.

Arc of Visibility Graduate Program

Continuing the relationships they develop in our program is important for families to experience long-term sustainable independence. Our Graduate Program provides families with continued essential support and an opportunity to build upon the life skills learned in our programs.

We offer many opportunities to make a difference in the lives of families we serve. Family Promise is a 501(c)(3) organization accepting tax-deductible gifts and in-kind donations. These gifts go directly to helping our community.

We are also looking to partner with landlords in Ocean County to house families. If you are a landlord with a vacancy, contact Family Promise of Southern Ocean County by phone at (609) 994-3317 or by email at fpsocstaff@gmail.com.

If you’re looking for other ways to help, you can find us online at FamilyPromiseSOC.org and follow us on Facebook for updates.