Our newest Affiliate, Family Promise of Ouachita Parish, is our 144th operating Affiliate and the second in the Pelican State, primarily serving the cities of Monroe and West Monroe in the northeastern part of Louisiana.
Prior to the establishment of Family Promise of Ouachita Parish, there were only two shelters that accepted families: the Salvation Army and a domestic violence shelter, and both report turning families away weekly due to lack of space.
At a Family Promise community meeting, a representative from Ronald McDonald House shared that even they got inquiries from homeless families seeking shelter on a routine basis.
Lovie Smith, NFL Coach of the Chicago Bears, presents at their first event.
The Affiliate opens with 13 host congregations and a donated van. Their day center is being provided by Berean Baptist Church, and the Affiliate's director, a social worker, is Stephanie Mock. First United Methodist Church of West Monroe welcomed families as the first host congregation. A family of five, a grandmother, mother and three girls, ages 16, 12 and 6, came into the program, having stayed the previous night at the Salvation Army. Relocating from Oklahoma to Louisiana, the family ran out of money while trying to finalize arrangements and was without a place to stay in a community where they had no connections, until they found Family Promise.
Attendees participate in opening festivities.
Your gift will help build new Affiliates and help homeless families achieve lasting independence.
Support us by purchasing Family Promise merchandise!
