A nonprofit dedicated to providing emergency shelter, meals and support to homeless and at risk children and their families continues to expand services. And the new executive director of Family Promise of the Poconos is looking forward to a future of hope.
"I lost my home. My children’s mother ran off with somebody I admire."
Things are looking up for Ronald Rogers and his three kids thanks to Family Promise of the Poconos.
Rogers says, "Don’t give up. This is a great place."
Besides providing his family shelter, the nonprofit helped him get a job with Monroe County and is getting him back on his feet.
Rogers says, "I have a lot of hope now."
Hope is what it’s all about for Timaki Johnson. As the new executive director, she’s continuing Enid Logan’s vision for expanding services and is looking forward to providing affordable housing in Monroe County thanks to an LSA Grant.
Johnson says, "To let them know like no, there’s so much more out here for you that you can do. Don’t ever think you can’t own your own home or things of that nature for them, and I think giving them that hope and with the new project that we’re having will allow them to save."
Johnson began as a case manager four years ago and moved up to the program/staff manager before Logan recently retired and she took over her position.
Johnson says, "We are an emergency shelter but we also help with rental assistance as well, so we’re just trying to expand on that by giving more resources to the families."
They currently have two families in their Monroe County shelter and one family moving into their new program in Pike County. But calls are constantly coming in.
Johnson says, "Evictions and affordable housing in the area for the families, that’s been a big thing that we’re dealing with right now. Utility shut offs, notices and things so we’re trying to prevent the homelessness by keeping the families in their homes."
The nonprofit recently found rentals for numerous families they had in their shelter just a month ago and will continue to work with them over the next year to ensure they stay housed in Monroe County.