Family Promise of St. Tammany Opens Day Center at Christ Church’s Wheeler House
Imagine being homeless while trying to search for a job, a place to receive mail, a place to shower, a safe place to tend your young child. It is hard if not impossible. One nationwide interfaith organization called Family Promise is committed to helping every family overcome the obstacles of homelessness and build a better future.
Christ Church of Slidell heard the story of Family Promise and read the statistics that over 1,200 children in the St. Tammany school system are listed as homeless. They prayed for guidance. They donated a house.
Wheeler House, the former Christ Church rectory, is now being used by Family Promise of St. Tammany as a day center where homeless families can receive case management services, shower, do laundry, receive mail, use computers to assist in employment searches, and to care for pre-school children. The Family Promise of St. Tammany Day Center officially opened for business on Friday, April 17 after a blessing ceremony officiated by the Rt. Rev. Morris K. Thompson, Jr. Other special guests included the Rev. Harry Jenkins, rector of Christ Episcopal; Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond, of the Archdiocese of New Orleans; St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister; St. Tammany Parish schools Superintendent Trey Folse; and clergy of participating churches.
Host Congregation: St. Michael’s Providing Meals, Lodging, and Fellowship
Christ Church is not the only Episcopal congregation in our diocese partnering with Family Promise of St. Tammany. St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Mandeville, is one of 18 congregations serving as a Family Promise Host Congregation. For one week, four times a year they will provide lodging and meals to care for three or four homeless families. Volunteers from St. Michael’s not only provide meals but also provide fellowship to their guests.
The day center at Christ Church provides a permanent base of operation for families while host congregations like St. Michael’s provides a place to sleep. The Host Congregations Program will begin housing families on May 3.
Learn more about Family Promise:
Family Promise http://www.familypromise.org/
Family Promise of St. Tammany http://www.familypromisesttammany.org/