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FAmiLy Promise

from Bartlesville Magazine - Fall 2022

by Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise

from Bartlesville Magazine - Fall 2022, page 14

Article from: Bartlesville Magazine - Fall 2022

tri couNty tech

Family Promise of Washington County ‘More than just a shelter’

by karen kidd

Homeless children and their families have a place to turn for help in greater Bartlesville.

Family Promise of Washington County (FPWC), an affiliate of Family Promise National, declares its mission on its website, “to help homeless families achieve independence through a community-based response.”

The origins of FPWC, a nonprofit, non-denominational organization helping homeless families in the area, are rooted in a series of community assessments in 2012 about the area’s growing problem with homelessness among Washington County families.

“A core group of committed volunteers and churches made contact with the Family Promise national organization,” FPWC’s website says. “They initiated a planning process which led to Family Promise of Washington County.”

FPWC was recognized as a 501(c) (3) under the federal Internal Revenue Code, recognizing its nonprofit charitable status.

In 2014, FPWC used grant funds to purchase property for a day center and began renovations. Anchor House, FPWC’s three-story house on South Johnstone Avenue, opened early the following year to offer homeless families a place to eat meals, shower and do laundry. That summer, Ashley Sikes came on board as FPWC executive/ network director and FPWC accepted its first families the following September.

“It’s a life-changing program,” Sikes told a Fox News Affiliate at the time. “It’s more than just a shelter.”

The following November, then-Bartlesville Mayor Tom Gorman and City Council proclaimed Nov. 13-19, 2016, as Family Promise Week in the city.

By January 2017, FPWC had received more than 140 referrals and a waiting list was established for families in need of the program’s services.

“The need is definitely there,” Sikes said in a Facebook post at the time, adding “We’re constantly working to try to help those that are in need.”

Since those first families, FPWC has received almost 370 referrals and served 23 families, 37 adults and 48 children from newborn to14 years old,

facebook.coM/faMiLyProMiseofwashingtoncounty/

according to the organization’s website. FPWC has helped adults get jobs and eight families transition into stable housing. The adults include one mother assisted by FPWC who obtained her G.E.D and Certified Nursing Assistant certification.

“All families have been connected with supportive community resources,” FPWC says on its website.

Today, FPWC’s host congregations are Adams Boulevard Church of Christ, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Disciples Christian Church, Our Savior Lutheran, Good Shepherd Church, Dewey Church of Christ, Town & Country Christian Church, Unitarian Universalist and Redeemer Lutheran. FPWC’s support congregations are City Church and Eastern Heights Baptist.

In April, FPWC announced in social media that volunteers were “continuing to make progress” at the nonprofit’s Osage House, with hopes of soon being open to serve FPWC families.

“Thank you to all the volunteers that have so graciously spent time in helping make this happen,” FPWC said in a Facebook post.

In addition to its programs for homeless children and their families, FPWC is well known locally for it’s annual “Tour De BVille” event, a family fun bike ride through downtown Bartlesville that includes stops along the way.

“The good news is we are raising money for Family Promise!” FPWC said on its website in the leadup to last year’s event. “And we are still having fun outside SAFELY! All of the money raised will help families who are experiencing homelessness in our community.”

The event, open to all ages, raised $6,770 last year.

“That amount will help THREE family’s get back on their feet and into sustainable housing!” FPWC said in an Oct. 8 Facebook post, shortly after the 2021 event.

Anyone who would like more information about FPWC may visit the nonprofit’s website at familypromisewc-ok.org.

It’s a life-changing program; it’s more than just a shelter. We’re constantly working to try to help those that are in need.