Director Chris Najarro readies the Day Center.

Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley becomes our fifth network in California. Santa Clarita is the 24th largest city in the state, yet only came into existence in 1987. Through consolidation of several towns, including Valencia and Newhall, a new city was created. Like many boomburbs, it is primarily a middle and upper-middle class community with few social services. There is no shelter for families in the Valley. 850 Children in the junior/senior high school were homeless in 2009; this does not even account for the children under 12, the largest segment of homeless children.

Santa Clarita Valley Day Center.

FPSCV opens with 15 host and nine support congregations; a mix of mainline Protestant, Jewish, Catholic, non-denominational, Church of Christ and Seventh-Day Adventist houses of worship. The day center is a house donated by North Oaks Church of Christ in Canyon Country. Their director, Chris Najarro, has a long background in workforce development with homeless singles.

They have raised more than $90,000 from events such as their inaugural Box City, individual and congregational giving and corporate partnerships, such as with Princess Cruise Lines, prior to opening. They have partnered with the local cold weather shelter for use of vans and drivers.

The initial host congregation is Santa Clarita United Methodist Church. Their first guests are a family of five; a mom, dad and three kids ages 13, 16 and 22. The eldest child is autistic and the mother has ongoing health issues. This led to their homelessness as the father’s job increased their insurance costs beyond their means, eventually causing their eviction. Although they have been approved for Rapid Rehousing, rents are prohibitively high in Santa Clarita, even with subsidization.

Family Promise of Greater Helena is the third network in Big Sky Country. Located in the state capital, FPGH makes Montana the densest Family Promise state, with one per every 330,000 inhabitants. The January point in time count identified 410 people who were homeless, 91 of whom slept in the open the night before—22 of those being children. There is no other family shelter in Helena.

Efforts began as local leaders tried to address this issue. A health fair for the community’s sizable single homeless population provided a start, but a focus on families came when a former VISTA from our Bozeman affiliate moved to Helena and the state HUD officer took an active role in promoting Family Promise for the area as well.

Director Brian Johnson provides a Montana welcome.

They have rounded into shape with 11 hosts, 5 supports, and a day center at a house owned by Redeemer Lutheran Church…until just a few days ago when a board member purchased it to ensure the affiliate could stay there long term. The first host congregation is Our Lady of the Valley, a Catholic parish. The director is Brian Johnson who has been active in homeless services in Lewis and Clark County for years.

Welcome, Santa Clarita and Helena!