December 2016 Update

 

Family Promise of South Sarasota County Stats

18 families served to date, 44 children and 70 people total, 50 day average stay

 

 

DATES TO REMEMBER

  • JANUARY 19th, 5:00-6:30 - Volunteer Training at South Venice Baptist Church, this training is for new volunteers who would like to volunteer with their church during Family Promise week.  It is required for all volunteers.  Please let Jennifer know if you will be attending so we have enough materials.
  • JANUARY 19th, 6:30-7:30 - Coordinator Meeting at South Venice Baptist Church, this meeting is only for Coordinators at host and support congregations and will take place directly after our Volunteer Training.  Pizza will be provided as Jennifer will be starving by then.  Feel free to bring her cookies and brownies if you would like :)  Please let Jennifer know if you will be attending so she has enough Pizza, since she will eat one by herself.
  • Week of January 22nd thru the 29th - We are in need of a facility to host at this week.  First Baptist Church can cover the week as far as food and volunteers but they cannot use their facility.  If you would allow them to use your facility to host at that week, please let Jennifer know and she will arrange things!

 

 

FAMILY UPDATES

Thanksgiving with the families was spent at South Venice Baptist Church with Jennifer Coordinating the week with extra volunteers (Thank you to everyone who helped out)!  The families were extremely appreciative and so was I!








The children then decorated one of the Church's Christmas Trees before relaxing for the evening.  






The Perini Family got in to their new house just in time for Christmas and we are so excited for them!


 

 

SPECIAL UPDATE

The Barth Family was presented with a car on 12/20/2016 that the Recycled Rides Program is donating to them.  With the help of many organizations including Caliber Collision and Esurance, this family will be much better off!  They were borrowing a car from a family member but now have one of their own!


It is very difficult to not have transportation, especially when you have children and work full time.  We are hoping to continue working with Recycled Rides and their partners to provide transportation to other families in our program without transportation.

 

 

THANKING OUR SUPPORTERS AND SPONSORS

HELPING HANDS
Our community sponsors and supporters are instrumental in helping us serve the most vulnerable population; children and their families who find themselves in a crisis situation.  Every sponsor and supporter plays a critical role in mitigating the plight of homeless families in our county.  We appreciate their ongoing support  in the form of funding, time and talents.

FOUNDATIONS AND GRANTS
  • BANK OF AMERICA CLIENT FOUNDATION, LEWIS & LEONA HUGHES FUND, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., TRUSTEE
  • VERENA AND PETER GOWA FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY
  • JEAN WEILLER, COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY
  • GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND ITS PARTNERS FOR THE GIVING CHALLENGE
    • HERALD TRIBUNE MEDIA GROUP
    • JOHN S & JAMES L KNIGHT FOUNDATION
    • MANATEE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
    • THE PATTERSON FOUNDATION
    • WILLIAM & MARIE SELBY FOUNDATION
  • MSC FOUNDATION, MICHAEL SAUNDERS & COMPANY
  • NATIONAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION SOUTH FLORIDA
  • PLANTATION COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
  • QUINN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
  • SARASOTA COUNTY (COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT)
  • SARASOTA COUNTY CONTRACTED HUMAN SERVICES
  • SELBY FOUNDATION
  • TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
  • UNITED WAY OF SOUTH SARASOTA COUNTY
  • VENICE YACHT CLUB CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
COMMUNITY
  • ALLIED HEATING AND COOLING
  • BABES PLUMBING
  • BIG JIM'S SELF STORAGE, CENTER ROAD
  • BOCA GRANDE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
  • BOONE LAW FIRM
  • CAREER SOURCE SUNCOAST
  • DEBORAH MILLER PLLC
  • DIVINE CONSIGN
  • ENGLEWOOD LODGE 360 F&AM
  • HERMAN'S MARKET
  • JAPANESE GARDENS WOMEN'S CLUB
  • JE CHARLOTTE CONSTRUCTION CORP
  • KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA ALUMNAE C/O DONNA NAYLOR
  • KOPPLE INC.
  • LEMON BAY SUNRISE ROTARY
  • MILLER-JACKSON CO. INC.
  • RESULTS REALTY GROUP LLC
  • ROTARY CLUB OF ENGLEWOOD, INC.
  • ROTARY CLUB OF PLACIDA, INC.
  • ROYAL VENICE, INC.
  • SHERIFF TOM KNIGHT
  • SWF HOME INSPECTIONS LLC
  • VENICE AREA BOARD OF REALTORS
  • VENICE AREA QUILTERS GUILD
  • VENICE NOKOMIS ROTARY
  • VENICE NOKOMIS WOMEN'S CLUB
  • YMCA
CONGREGATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS
  • CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
  • CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ELIZABETH CIRCLE
  • CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF VENICE
  • CHURCH WOMEN UNITED
  • EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
  • ENGLEWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
  • ENGLEWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH YOUTH FUND
  • EPIPHANY CATHEDRAL CHURCH
  • EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF HOLY SPIRIT
  • FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 
  • FAITH LUTHERAN LADIES GUILD
  • FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF VENICE
  • GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
  • HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH
  • JEWISH CONGREGATION
  • KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
  • LAKESIDE LUTHERAN CHURCH WOMEN'S GUILD
  • LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE CROSS (LADIES PARISH GUILD)
  • LUTHERAN WOMEN'S MISSIONARY LEAGUE
  • NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD
  • SOUTH VENICE BAPTIST CHURCH
  • ST. DAVID'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
  • ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
  • TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
  • UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF VENICE
  • VENICE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
  • VENICE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
  • VENICE NOKOMIS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
  • VENICE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
  • VENICE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WOMEN
  • VENICE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
  • WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

 
DAY CENTER NEEDS

 
  • Keurig Coffee and Hot Chocolate
  • Hot To Go Cups with lids - 12 oz
  • Laundry soap


 

  • Swiffer wet pads 
  • Walmart gift cards for family move-in
  • Publix gift cards for family move-in
 
 
FROM THE DIRECTOR

The Perini family moved in to their new home this week and we have taken 2 families this week.  We are now at full capacity with 3 families and 14 individuals total for Christmas.  Thank you to everyone who participated in providing Christmas presents for the children in the program.  They are going to have a wonderful Holiday!

Please visit our website to see the updated list of Supporters and Sponsors.  I have also created an area with links to our newsletters.  You will find this on the Home page, just scroll down.  You will need to click on each month you wish to view.  There is also a place there to subscribe to the newsletter.  If you know someone that would like to have more information on Family Promise of South Sarasota County, please encourage them to get on the website and submit their information to start getting the newsletter.  

I would like to share with all of you, some of the obstacles and barriers that our families have to overcome in order to just feel comfortable financially and secure that they will not become homeless again.  Living in Sarasota County in general is difficult for most working families.  With wages that do not support the higher cost of living, you will see how difficult this is.  Keep in mind I have gathered these numbers based on the families in the program over the last year. 
  • One income household @ $9/hr = around $1,250/month after taxes
  • One income household @ $12/hr = around $1,664/month after taxes
  • One income household @ $15/hr = around $2,080 /month after taxes
  • Two income household @ $9/hr each = around $2,500/month after taxes
  • Two income household @ $12/hr each = around $3,328/month after taxes
  • Two income household @ $15/hr each = around $4,160/month after taxes 
  • Average rent in South Sarasota County = ($1,000 - $1,300) so let's call it $1,150
  • 1 child average childcare costs in South Sarasota County = around $433/month
  • 2 children average childcare cost in South Sarasota County = around $693/month
  • 1 child average before and after school care = around $175/month
  • Figure utility bills on the low (low, low, low) side = $200/month
  • Phone = $100/month needed because the parents work and must have phone for problems with children
  • Internet = $50/month that the children need for school
  • Car payment = $250/month needed to get to work and transport children, especially if they cannot live in Venice
  • Car insurance = $100/month per vehicle and driver
  • Medical insurance for family = $400/month
So, a single mom @ $9/hr with 1 child in child care and one in elementary school 
Bills = $2,858 (does not include any other expenses)  Income = $1,250 = this family is homeless
This family could not even afford rent of $500/month without subsidies for childcare, medical insurance and food.  This family cannot afford a car, period.  And these children will be lucky to have access to the internet at the library to do school work if the bus can get them there but how much extra time will that take around the bus schedules.
 
A dual income household at $15/hr each, with 2 children in child care and 1 in elementary and 2 cars;  Bills = $3,468 (does not include other expenses, like food and gas)  Income = $4,160 
= left over $692, to buy food, clothes, gas, etc. for a family of 5 =  1 problem and this family is homeless living paycheck to paycheck with no hope of ever saving money to get ahead.
 
The average jobs in the area that our families have gotten (Walmart, gas stations, restaurants, small stores, grocery stores) do not pay at or over $12/hr.  Some of the factories do not even pay up to $15/hr. 
 
So with limited possibilities for increasing their income, these families are stuck with no hope of ever getting ahead.  Please remember to keep this in mind when having discussions about affordable housing in the area and sustainable wages.  The families in this situation would prefer not to be but have few options.
 
Thank you for all you do!
Sincerely,
 
Jennifer Fagenbaum, Director

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Family Promise of South Sarasota County
941-497-9881 | jenniferfagenbaum@familypromisessc.org | http://www.familypromisessc.org