From the Director Family Promise of South Sarasota County will be holding our 4th Annual Dream Walk “Virtually” on November 7th, 2020. Even though Venice is not allowing events to take place, local families need your help now more than ever! Please go to www.familypromisessc.org/dream-walk to register and create your own fundraising page. Also, due to the amazing generosity of The Louis & Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust you can get your donation/sponsorship matched up to $500 when making the gift through Flanzer Trust by going to the page on our site, Flanzer Trust Match but you do have to make the gift through their site and name Family Promise of South Sarasota County as the recipient to get this match. The need is dire. Hundreds of families are behind on rent due to loss of job and childcare from the pandemic. These families, some for the first time, are at great risk of becoming homeless. Children, youth, and families who are homeless often move from place to place - couches, motels, cars, or any space that offers shelter and safety. Everyday brings new difficulties with eating, sleeping, and remaining safe. Now, the pandemic has made it harder to access services for even basic needs. Even before the pandemic struck, child, youth, and family homelessness was prevalent across the country. Unfortunately, the profound needs of those most impacted – and the wave of new homelessness that is already starting to occur – cannot be met by current federal assistance programs. In fact, more than 80% of homeless children identified by public schools are ineligible for HUD assistance due to differing definitions of homelessness. Thousands of homeless families, children and youth are falling through the cracks and are at greater risk of lasting harm. HUD’s current definition of homelessness (staying in shelters or on the street) doesn't capture this particularly mobile, vulnerable, and hidden population - meaning millions of children and families are being locked out of vital federal funding at a time when they urgently need more support. By laser targeting those most vulnerable and providing housing-related and other services as early as possible, we can reduce the possibility of homelessness for children across Sarasota County, and mitigate compounding trauma and negative lifelong impacts for thousands of our neighbors. |
|
