Family Promise welcomes its newest Affiliate, Family Promise of Whitfield County, GA.

Located in Dalton, GA, the Affiliate serves an area with a large workforce in manufacturing, highly vulnerable to downward shifts in the economy.  Recent statistics show that 850 children were classified as homeless in the city and county school districts, about 1% of the entire population of the county.  With few other options for intact families seeking shelter, the Affiliate seeks to meet the growing needs of the county.

Volunteers sprucing up the Affiliate's day center before opening.

The Affiliate launched with 16 host congregations, a day center in a small house provided, for utilities only, by the Salvation Army, and a van for transportation donated by Varnell United Methodist Church.  The director is Amy Kleem, a Georgia native with considerable experience working with low-income families.

The first host congregation was First United Methodist Church, who opened its doors to a mom and dad with a seven-year-old and infant.  Dad works and mom got her degree as an LPN, but the family could not find the $250 necessary for her to get certified and subsequently ended up homeless.