We hope this finds you well as we enter this holiday season. Before you get too busy, we want to share some updates about the work that Family Promise of Aiken County is doing to help families regain stable housing.
In this newsletter:
Client spotlight
We're still accepting new families for year-end case management and direct financial assistance
We're offering an alternative gift option this holiday season
Recap of The Charitable Foundation of Aiken kick-off event
Planning is underway for Keys to Good Tenancy courses in 2025
Rummage Sale results
Client Spotlight
We recently helped a single father, J.R., with a teenage son. The father was employed, but had some issues in his past that made it impossible for him to be accepted for a rental, even with the help of a real estate agent. After being referred to Family Promise, our Family Coach identified housing, helped the family secure approval, and helped connect them to a local organization for furniture. The father and son remain stably housed today.
Help is Still Available
This time of year is particularly challenging for families in need of direct financial assistance for housing. Please know that Family Promise remains open to new families for case management and, where necessary and appropriate, direct financial assistance.
We help families with minor children in Aiken County that are:Â
1. At imminent risk of homelessness to prevent loss of home.
-or-
2. Experiencing homelessness to divert families from shelter when possible.
Families include adult(s) caring for a child or who are pregnant. We accept all sorts of families. Single parents, couples, grandchildren, LGBTQIA+ couples, and extended family caregivers are all welcome.
We work with families that are willing to work with our Family Coach and complete the steps she identifies are necessary to move toward lasing independence.
Families interested in help should complete the Get Help Form on our website.
If you or a family you know is facing housing insecurity, please direct them to the Get Help page on our website to learn how we can help.
As we near the holiday season, we hope you will keep Family Promise in mind for your year-end giving. This year, we are offering personalized, high res digital or printed donation cards on thick card stock as alternative gifts for those on your list.
We can customize this card for different needs, including different holiday messages.
Email buchanan@familypromiseofaiken.org or text 803-716-8643 to learn more.
To receive your card(s) before Christmas, contact us by Dec. 15. Please note that, due to printing costs, we ask for a minimum donation of $10 per printed card.
There are two easy ways to donate:
1. Donate online using the button below:
2. You can mail a check, payable to Family Promise, to PO Box 622 Aiken, SC 29802.
We are a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization. Our Federal Tax ID is 83-4412353.
We joined The Charitable Foundation of Aiken on November 7 for a kick-off celebration at The Aiken Center for the Arts where the Foundation introduced Family Promise as 1 of 2 beneficiaries for their '24-'25 campaign.
Our Board Chairman, Kendall Buchanan, shared with those present that CDC data shows that children who experience unstable housing are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, substance use, suicidal ideation and attempts, and to experience violence. They’re also more likely to be placed in special ed programs, or to have to repeat a grade, or to drop out of school altogether.
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Kendall noted that many of the families we help are unable to secure approval on their own for new housing due to poor credit, past evictions, or other issues in their past. She also shared how Family Promise works to help these children and their families regain stable, lasting housing.
Planning is underway for our 2025 Keys to Good Tenancy classes. We will be testing some different formats, including mini classes on specific topics in partnership with local organizations.
Keys to Good Tenancy is a key component of our prevention efforts. It was created in partnership with the National Association of REALTORS and provides participants with the tools to budget for, find, maintain, and keep an apartment or home. Anyone in the community is able to attend, with those that complete the course receiving a certificate to demonstrate to prospective landlords that they are putting in the work to be a stable tenant.
Since this program’s launch in Fall 2021, we’ve provided 45+ hours of free training.
Special thanks to the City of Aiken, the Aiken Association of REALTORS, and Aiken County Public Schools for their support of this training.
Rummage Sale Results
We want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to the many donors, volunteers, and shoppers that helped make our 2nd annual Rummage Sale such a success last month! We are also grateful to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Boy Scout Troop 146, First Presbyterian Church, Aiken NAACP Youth Council, Second Baptist Church, South Aiken Presbyterian Church, and Aiken Unitarian Universalist Church for your support. These organizations provided donated items to sell and volunteers that moved donations in then sorted, organized and priced a gym overflowing with items to provide our shoppers with the best possible experience. We cannot thank you enough!
This fundraiser provides essential funding for our operations, including our case management work.
We are especially thankful to St. Paul Lutheran Church for again so generously sharing their space and members. Special thanks also to our sale co-chairs, John Lohman and Marilyn Ericson, who are St. Paul members.
