Local family shelter doubles in size and finds permanent home

Local family shelter doubles in size and finds permanent home

RECEIVES IT.FAMILIES ARE FEARINGTHE WORST...SOME EXPERTS SAYEVICTION CASES MAYSOON SOAR AS ARESULT OF THEPANDEMIC.BUT THERE IS A PLACEOF HOPE FORFAMILIES HERE INBUFFALO.JEDDY JOHNSONTAKES US INSIDE ANEMERGENCY SHELTERTHAT IS WORKINGHARD TO MAKE STAYSSHORT, PLEASANT,AND IMPACTFUL..FAMILY PROMISE OFWESTERN NEW YORK,AN EMERGENCYHOMELESS SHELTERFOR FAMILIESEXPERIENCINGHOMELESSNESS, NOWHAS A PERMEANTHOME."THE MODEL, WHENWE OPENED IN THE80S, WAS ABOUTHOUSES OF WORSHIPHOUSING ANDFEEDING FAMILIES."BUT WHEN LUANNEFIRESTONE BECOMETHE SHELTER'SEXECUTIVE DIRECTORIN 20-18 SHE QUICKLYREALIZED HOWDISRUPTIVE MOVINGFAMILIES AROUNDEVERY NIGHT COULDBE."IT WAS DIFFICULT FOROUR FAMILIES WHOARE USE TO BEING INTHE CITY, WORKING INTHE CITY, TO BEPLACED OUT IN THESUBURBS EVERYNIGHT."SO FAMILY PROMISEOF WESTERN NEWYORK BOUGHT THEFORMER ST COLUMBABRIGID'S PARISH ANDTURNED IT INTO ASHELTER."WE WERE ABLE TOUSE ALL THE SPACE INTHIS BUILDING, SO WECREATED 6 FAMILYROOMS AND THAT WILLBE UP TO 31 BEDS."THE NEW HOME OFFAMILY PROMISE WASCOMPLETELYRENOVATED.

EACHFAMILY GETTING THEIROWN BED AND ROOM."WE WANTED TOJUDGE IT LIKE, WOULDWE BE COMFORTABLEHERE?"BUT FIRESTONE SAYSFAMILY PROMISE OFWESTERN NEW YORKIS MORE THAN JUST APLACE OF SHELTER, ITIS ALSO A PLACE OFHOPE.STANUP: 85% OF THEFAMILIES WHO STAYHERE BEATHOMELESSNESS ANDTHAT MOMENT ISMARKED RIGHT HERE."SO THERE'S AHANDPRINT WALL ANDWHENEVER A FAMILYFIND A PLACE ITS LIKEA CELEBRATION WEPUT THEIR HAND ONTHE WALL AND FOR USITS LIKE, YES THEYWERE HERE AND THISWAS THERE HOMEFOR A LITTLE BIT, BUTIT ALSO SHOW THENEXT CHILD WHOCOMES INTO THESHELTER THAT ALL OFTHESE KIDS HAVEGO HERETOO, YOU KNOW?"FAMILY PROMISE OFWESNDFIRESTONE SAYS SHECAN'T WAIT TREALLY WHERE YOULOVE IS AND THE GOINGTHROUGHHOMELESSNESS."I