Bosco, his pregnant wife Valeria and their children Victor, Rebecca, and Eric arrived at Family Promise living in their car for 2 nights after staying in a motel. Baby Aisha was the first child born as a guest of our program. The family is now in an apartment of their own. Bosco has his own web-design business and Valeria works at a restaurant and has a house cleaning service. Victor, 13, was on the honor roll at his grade school, earned a first place award for Math, and won nearly all his track meets last spring.

Angela and her daughter, 3 year old Milicia, are now living in a “wonderful” 2 bedroom duplex in Waco, Texas, near a sister. She is working at a restaurant and seeks to start school to become a medical assistant in September. She writes, “I love you guys!”

Lee and Tina came to us with 6 children and multiple barriers to employment. After a three-month stay with us, Lee is working in scaffolding as a member of a union. Tina has worked as a partner in a housecleaning service. They rent a 4 bedroom home.

David and Lori and their 3 year-old daughter, Desirae were our first guests in 2005 after a long period of homelessness. Lori had surgery for 2 brain aneurisms while with us. David couldn’t read. Family Promise enrolled him in literacy classes The family now lives in a 3 bedroom home. Lori ’s daughter, Destiny, 16, lives with them while attending the Job Corps culinary arts program.

Annie and her teenage son, Alex, had been forced to stay in separate shelters every night for 2 months. At Family Promise, families stay together. They now have their own place. Alex, who was on the honor roll in high school, will attend American River College in September. Annie graduated from culinary school last October and works for a caterer. She is also our first graduate employee, supervising our Day Center on Sundays. She recently ranked number one in a group of over 100 people taking a test for employment by Sacramento County. Alex writes, “If it weren’t for this program we wouldn’t be where we are now with our own housing and self-reliance.”

Thu came to Family Promise, leaving an oppressive environment, to seek a better life with her two small children, Mia (8 months) and Amali (2 years). After a several month stay in our program, Thu regained her self-esteem and confidence, and obtained a job (which she loves) and an apartment for her family and is now self-sufficient. She is just two classes away from a bachelor’s degree which Family Promise volunteers are planning to help her achieve.