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Family Promise to host sleep-out at Overfalls Oct. 8

Night Without A Bed raises funds for families who are homeless
September 23, 2021

Southern Delaware’s emerging nonprofit Family Promise affiliate will host a sleep-out event Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Overfalls Lightship in Lewes.

Night Without a Bed is a national grassroots event which raises awareness and funds for families who are homeless.

In Sussex County, participants ages 12 to 16 from local youth and church groups will sleep outdoors along with chaperones in tents near the Overfalls Lightship in Lewes to simulate the experience of being homeless. In the run-up to the event, participants will challenge friends, neighbors and family members to contribute financially to Family Promise of Southern Delaware at familypromisesouthernde.org.

Every year in America, more than 3 million children experience homelessness, and in Delaware, 18 kids become homeless each day. Families account for 40 percent of all homeless individuals in Delaware. Nationally, homeless children are eight to nine times more likely to repeat a grade, three times more likely to be placed in special education programs and seven times more likely to attempt suicide. About 42 percent will drop out of school at some point and 47 percent suffer from anxiety, depression or withdrawal. Family homelessness was a national crisis long before the pandemic, but the health and economic challenges of the past year have put many more children at risk of experiencing homelessness.

For more information on Night Without a Bed and detailed instructions for participating, contact Kathy Dreason at kathy@delmarland.com.

Family Promise of Southern Delaware is looking to support a limited number of families in their search for permanent housing, and will establish working relationships between the selected families and social workers. The Southern Delaware chapter will provide financial support for rental assistance, security deposits and utility deposits, up to $4,500 per family. The organization expects to work with each family for a period of three to four months.

Family Promise envisions a nation in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. What began as a local initiative has become a national movement that involves 200,000 volunteers in more than 200 communities in 43 states. Family Promise delivers innovative solutions for family homelessness including prevention, shelter and stabilization services. It has served 1 million family members since its founding more than 30 years ago. It aspires to change the future for 1 million children by 2030 through community-based programs. To learn more, go to FamilyPromise.org.

 

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