Today is International Day of Families!

Founded by the United Nations (UN) in 1994, International Day of Families is observed every May 15 to honor the importance of family unity.

At Family Promise of Orange County, we believe all families no matter the size, structure, or economic status, belong together. We are taking this day to celebrate families, but also to raise awareness on how homelessness jeopardizes family stability.

Currently, there are more than 460 families, including nearly 1,000 children, experiencing homelessness in Orange County. That number continues to grow in one of the wealthiest counties in Southern California.

Experiencing homelessness is an extremely difficult and scary time for children and their families. That is why we work diligently to preserve family unity by keeping our families together as we help them achieve housing stability.

With each family we help, our hearts are warmed to see how through the support and love between a family, they grow resilient to overcome life’s toughest challenges. Our families truly are inspirations!

Thank you to those who help us in supporting our families. We hope you are able to be with your loved ones today and every day!

Meet the Crew - Bill Richardson

Bill Richardson, Family Promise’s Shower Trailer Technician, just turned 75 and is “still recovering from the shock.” A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Bill and his wife Susan have lived in Orange for 18 years. They also have two adult children who live in California. Bill and Susan have been involved with Family Promise of Orange County since the first exploratory meeting in Summer 2008. As members of Church of the Foothills, they served as regular overnight volunteer hosts there until COVID paused the Emergency Shelter host rotation last year. They intend to return to that role when the church rotation resumes.

In late 2019, because of a generous gift to the organization, Family Promise of Orange County was able to purchase a portable shower trailer to complement the Emergency Shelter Program and to provide the families staying at congregations with access to hot showers. Unfortunately, the new shower trailer arrived without any instructions and proved to be an operational mystery to the staff and other volunteers. Bill’s natural mechanical aptitude and engineering degree allowed him to master its operation and write a detailed manual for its use. Recognizing his talents, Family Promise decided to hire Bill as a part-time staff member. Currently you’ll find Bill and the shower trailer at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Tustin on Sundays, where the shower trailer is currently providing showers to those in need in the local community.

Throughout the pandemic, Bill has also served as the keeper of the Family Promise Ford F-250 truck, and has assisted in moving donated food, furniture, loads of diapers and any other resources the staff can locate. He also serves as the unofficial “fix-it guy” at the office and two transitional houses, which he finds very fun. On any given day, you’ll probably find him out riding his bicycle around Orange County.

On This Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all the special mamas and mother figures out there!

Today is the perfect day to express respect, love, and gratitude to mothers all around the world. At Family Promise of Orange County, we recognize the immeasurable contributions mothers and mother figures make when building a better life for their children.

In the United States, 71% of single-parent families are female-headed, and 84% of American families experiencing homelessness are female-headed households. Single-parent families are among the poorest in the nation, so it is understandable why single mothers in the United States would be extremely vulnerable to homelessness. In addition, statistics show that over 92% of mothers experiencing homelessness are also victims of trauma experiences such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, or domestic violence.

Family Promise of Orange County understands the needs of families experiencing homelessness, and especially the needs of mothers. We applaud these moms who show such strength and courage in facing and overcoming the trauma of homelessness. On Mother’s Day and every day, we remain committed to keeping these families safe and sheltered.

Source: https://www.greendoors.org/facts/family-homelessness.php