On this page:  Basic Information on our Program; Day Center Wish List; Mission Statement; Next Host Volunteer Training; Next Open Board Meeting; Next Network Committee Meeting; Sample Public Service Announcement.

Join Our Main Team!
Come to the Board of Trustees Meeting!
Open Yourself to Volunteer for a Board Committee!

Family Promise Supporters: We will meet Tuesday September 13th at 6 pm. at a St. Andrew Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  

Although this is a Board Meeting, all interested persons are welcome to attend. You are also welcome to come to a small team (i.e., a Board Committee) meeting. Join the Team! Check here for meeting times and dates.

Family Promise of Odessa, Inc. is an interfaith non-profit network of 13 congregations and dozens of volunteers working together to provide shelter, meals and support services to homeless families in order to help them achieve lasting independence. Family Promise of Odessa, Inc. began operation in January, 2010 and is one of 152 networks in 39 states and the District of Columbia, with more than 125,000 volunteers in 5,000 plus churches and synagogues serving more than 45,000 children and adults. Nationwide 80% of the families that are served go on to long-term housing.

Odessa doesn't have many homeless people,
and most of those are men, right?
WRONG. Let's look at the facts.

• On any given day in 2008, 70 families were homeless in Ector County. In addition, 73 persons under the age of 18 were homeless in Ector County, including 28 under the age of 5.*
• The Ector County Independent School District certified 743 homeless students during the 2008-2009 academic year.
• In January, 2010, the Odessa Homeless Coalition found 106 homeless individuals in Ector County, but believe this count is below the actual number of homeless persons
• There were approximately 1,474 persons who were homeless in Ector County at some point during 2008 or about 1 in every 90 residents of the County.
• Approximately 290 families were homeless in Ector County at some point in 2008; the majority were headed by a female under the age of 30.*
• Approximately 300 persons under the age of 18 were homeless in Ector County at some point in 2008, including 114 under the age of 5.*
• Nationally, families now make up 40% of the homeless population and one out of every four homeless people is a child.

*The estimates provided above are derived by The Perryman Group, a major research organization with extensive experience in evaluating disadvantaged population segments. They are fully adjusted to account for local poverty rates, family characteristics, housing patterns, and other relevant factors and are subject to a range of error of approximately 5% in either direction.

Day Center Wish List

Computers; Laptop Computer; Printers
DVD Players; DVD Kids Movies
Kitchen Item: Toaster, pots and pans, dish clothes
Bathroom Items; Shower Curtains, rugs, towels & washcloths, storage shelving
Paper/Plastic Goods-Toilet Paper, Paper towels, Paper Plates, Plastic ware, cups, napkins
Office Supplies-Copy Paper, Pens, Pencils, Pencil Sharpener; Hole Punch; etc.
Cleaning Supplies
Laundry Products -detergent, Clorox, fabric softener sheets, etc.
Beverages (ex. water, soft drinks, juices, coffee, creamer, sugar)
Home Décor- Area rugs; Curtains; Mini Blinds; picture frames;Furniture- Entertainment Centers; Computer Desks; Office Shelving and Storage/Filing Cabinets; Love seat sofas; medium size table with 2 chairs; Arm Chairs; Kitchen Table with chairs
Yard Maintenance and Supplies; Play ground equipment; fencing; patio furniture; BBQ pit; Handyman tools
Security System