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Facts about Homelessness

Homeless and low-income families are more likely than other families to experience chronic illness, domestic violence, shortened life span, infant death, and learning disabilities. The homeless are significantly less likely than housed people to commit a violent crime.


Executive Director

julieOur current Interim Executive Director is Julie West.  Julie has worked throughout her career with agencies that provide assistance to those facing homelessness and poverty.  She is grateful for the opportunity to implement so much of what she has learned over the years in such a meaningful way.

Our Executive Director works with the churches and agencies to provide the structure that will enable the needs of our guest families to be met.  The Director helps to train volunteers, secures host and support churches, and reaches out to the community to share the story of Family Promise.

The Director works with local social service agencies to help them refer families to the Network. The Director does a needs assessment for the guest families and connects them to the agencies that can provide the most appropriate help - housing, jobs, training, and other services.

Julie can be reached by calling 941-748-4740 or by email at: Execdir@familypromiseofmanateecounty.org

Program Coordinator

Delia Smith-Orth is our Program Coordinator. Delia provides case management services to families of the day center, transitional housing and post placement permanent housing. She will oversees daily operation of the Family Promise day center, and provides the following essential functions.

  1. ASSESSMENT AND SCREENING – Screens and evaluates families for appropriate acceptance into the day center based upon program guidelines. Ensures alternate services are made available to families not accepted into the program.
  2. SERVICE DELIVERY – Provides orientation to all new families. With adult family members, develops an individualized independent living plan (ILP) to be reviewed weekly. Assures that Family programs and services are professional and outcome based as per agency guidelines. Monitors families for 1 year post placement.
  3. DOCUMENTATION –Maintains full and current documentation including intake documentation, bi weekly transitional housing inspections, progress notes, housing search logs, consent forms.
  4. DAY CENTER OPERATIONS – Assures that programs, services, staff and volunteer interactions and physical plant conditions present a strong, positive image in keeping with the mission of FP.
  5. VOLUNTEERS – recruits, trains and supervises day center volunteers. Schedules volunteers in keeping with center needs and each volunteer’s preferences and skills. Monitors appropriate volunteer work assignments and productivity. Assists with training congregational volunteers as directed.

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