Victory Lutheran Church set up temporary shelters for families who are homeless

In partnership with Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, Victory Lutheran Church recently volunteered to provide shelter and meals for local families experiencing homelessness.

With the support of community members in the congregation, Victory Lutheran Church, 5946 E. University Drive in unincorporated Maricopa County, set up temporary shelters at its facility to host families overnight and prepared dinner for the families every night of the week. While staying at the congregation, families participated in activities like games, crafts, movie nights, and more, according to a release.

“We thank Victory Lutheran Church for their dedication to serving the community and for their willingness to step up and make a difference in the lives of kids and families experiencing homelessness,” Ted Taylor, chief executive officer at Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, said in the release. “Their support is invaluable in our efforts to break the cycle of homelessness and empower families to build a brighter future.”

Family Promise of Greater Phoenix relies on its interfaith network of volunteer religious congregations to shelter and feed the families they serve. At the same time, the nonprofit organization assists these families on their journey back to self-sufficiency. The community-based model of sheltering families at these congregations reduces overhead costs so Family Promise can magnify its impact. Through the Family Promise program, parents are provided with resources designed to help families find sustainable jobs and permanent housing while the children attend school, the release states.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Family Promise and contribute to their mission of assisting families experiencing homelessness,” Kathy Michael, host coordinator at Victory Lutheran Church, said in the release. “We strive to be a beacon of hope and support for those in need in our community.”

According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, homeless children face double the rate of learning disabilities and triple the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared to nonhomeless children. By age 8, one in three homeless children has a major mental disorder. Additionally, half of school-age homeless children experience anxiety, depression or withdrawal, significantly higher than the 18% rate among nonhomeless children, the release states.

Victory Lutheran Church, alongside other religious congregations in Maricopa County, collaborates with Family Promise to aid families in transitioning to permanent housing and addressing the profound impact of homelessness on children’s mental health. At the beginning of the year, Family Promise of Greater Phoenix set a goal to aid 165 families in 2024 by utilizing its program for independent housing and self-sufficiency. The organization has also assisted families in avoiding placements in shelter systems through its preventative programming.

For information on volunteering with or donating to Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, go to FamilyPromiseAZ.org.