Gala to raise funds to combat homelessness

By Kat Rice

Contributor

Family Promise has been helping families in Beaufort and local counties to combat and prevent homelessness for years. This November, the organization is hosting a gala to raise money for their new transitional shelter, the Freedom House.

The gala will be hosted at Hampton Hall Club with an evening cocktail hour, live music, raffles, dinner and a silent auction. This year’s honoree, Jack Rabbitt, is a coordinator for the program who has worked for years supporting volunteers and assisting in programs such as meal delivery. Part of the evening includes singing by the talented Lalie, a mother of four, Navy veteran and graduate of the Family Promise program who was able to successfully get her family out of homelessness.

The name of the gala, “Up! Night of Promise” is a nod to the organization’s primary goal to provide resources for families to find their footing. Proceeds from the gala will go directly to the Freedom House, their shelter program with a 90-day timeframe for getting parents on track.

Ruth McManus, Family Promise president, says the shelter is “a hand up, not a handout.” The program provides shelter, housing and meals so parents have a chance to work with case workers and secure their primary needs, such as free or reduced childcare. But moving families on to the second step, staying on track within the program, is becoming increasingly difficult when that often entails finding affordable housing and childcare in Beaufort County.

McManus explains that most of the families in their program are working multiple jobs to stay afloat. “That was my big surprise,” she explains, “that these are people working 40-50 hours and still not able to afford stable housing.”

Nancy DiGiacomo, Family Promise vice president and event chair, explains, “we provide resources for those in our program, but also for those at risk of homelessness. A lot of individuals are working and doing everything they can, but one sickness, one car repair, can knock them right off track. If a single mom is sick for four days and can’t work, we can help.”

Both DiGiacomo and McManus have worked with the organization for several years and say that they’re encouraged to fight for these families because of the resilience of parents who work hard with multiple jobs but still need help putting a roof over their children’s heads.

DiGiacomo says, “for most of us, luckily, we wouldn’t go from a home to homelessness, but you hear these stories where families are short for their electric bill or a little short on rent and there’s no leeway there. The cascade of what can happen is unfortunate.”

Up! Night of Promise will help fund the continued efforts to keep families housed in Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties. The gala begins at 6 p.m. on November 14, and you can get tickets by calling, stopping by the office or checking out the organization’s website, familypromisebeaufortcounty.org.