Homeless…it doesn’t go away in the summer

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Michelle

This spring Family Gateway is raising funds to support our summer programming. When I first started this campaign I was inspired by one of the children in our programs. He’s a 10-year-old boy named Gabriel, and his story is one I want to share. Gabriel is incredibly articulate for his age and he had this to say about Family Gateway:

“Family Gateway has been a big blessing to my family and I from the time we were living at the Center location, to now living in Family Gateway apartments.

…Helping with school work, supporting my family, and taking me on outside activities and camps has been a great experience in preparing me to be a better person.”

- Gabriel, age 10

Gabriel came to Family Gateway last fall with his parents and his younger brother. Case managers immediately identified major contributing factors to their homelessness and began working with them on an individualized program to overcome those barriers.

Today, both Gabriel’s mother and father have full-time jobs and their children are thriving in stable home and school environments. Gabriel is looking forward to the Family Gateway summer camp and dreams of having a desk of his own when school starts in the fall.

Supporting Gabriel & His Family Through the Summer

Our recent letter campaign featured Gabriel and his family’s story. His family is only one of the more than 300 families currently in our programs. We would not be able to continue providing individualized care for these families without the generous gifts we receive from our supporters.

In thinking about the powerful impact donations have on our programs, I discovered the following numbers:

$35 - Supports a family on their first night at Family Gateway.

$77 - Provides rent assistance for a family for one month.

$163 - Feeds one person during an average 6-month stay at the Annette G. Strauss Family Center.

$305 - Supports a single mother and her children for one month.

$957 - Provides comprehensive services for a family for one month while Dad looks for a better job.

$9,863 - Allows Family Gateway to serve 1,000 clients for one day

Together, We Are Already Making a Difference

Our programs are working. In 2012, over 80% of our clients were able to improve their lives through programs offered through our staff and our many community partners. Children are passing TAKS/STAAR tests, graduation rates are soaring, and families like Gabriel’s are moving out of the cycle of poverty every day.

Support Family Gateway’s programming over the summer by joining our campaign.

Help us improve the lives of homeless children – http://www.familygateway.org/donate.htm

Share this story with a friend or volunteer at the Center this summer.

Kicking-Off CWL with a Bang

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Diana

What an amazing Kick-Off party last night! Despite the terrible weather, we had a good turnout with Family Gateway newcomers and long-term supporters alike. Board members, local celebrities, sponsors, host committee members and their guests came together in one of Museum Tower’s top condos.

The views from the Tower showed the storm that was quickly approaching Dallas. At one point, staff and guests had to head downstairs to a safer, storm-proof room – but the party kept going. Catering staff worked on the fly using a small counter as a bar. Everyone lounged on the couches and chatted while we waited for the storm to pass.

The downstairs room gave us all a chance to quiet down and talk one-on-one. It became a beautiful, intimate setting that allowed us all to get to know each other better. Luckily, everyone was able to return safely to their homes at the end of the evening.

Family Gateway is truly fortunate to have such caring and dedicated supporters! I cannot wait for our Celebrity Waiter Luncheon event this September.

‘Life is a Picnic’ With King of Glory

Posted on May 8, 2013 by admin

Family Gateway was thrilled to attend the King of Glory Lutheran Church’s Annual Spring Ladies Gathering last Sunday. From the very start the event was a success. The decorations evoked a joyful picnic theme, and the warm hosts created a welcoming atmosphere.

Family Gateway’s Donor Development Manager Michelle Spangler was proud to have the opportunity to speak to the ladies about our programming and plans for the future. She was humbled by the heart-felt response she received to her remarks. In addition to contributions from members, the generous Thrivent Financial for Lutherans offered to match donations with a $500 gift.

This event was yet another display of the King of Glory’s continued commitment to ending family homelessness in Dallas. The church has been a champion of Family Gateway for years by volunteering with us, offering in-kind donations and financial support for our programming.

We’d like to thank everyone at the King of Glory Church for an amazing ‘Life is a Picnic’ afternoon.

Groupon Chooses Family Gateway for First Dallas Nonprofit Fundraiser

Posted on July 26, 2011 by admin

Groupon’s Philanthropic Arm, the G-Team, already offers nonprofits in cities like LA and NYC the opportunity to share their story and raise funding for worthy projects. And today Family Gateway became first Dallas nonprofit to be chosen by Groupon for their expansion into the Big D market.

Give now to help provide a homeless dad with a job readiness package.

We’re pleased to offer Groupon customers and Family Gateway’s supporters the opportunity to give $10 to help provide a homeless dad with a job readiness package – new haircut, shined shoes, pressed suit and transportation – to a job interview. Your gift will give a dad and a family in need a new beginning.

Family Gateway helps moms and dads experiencing homelessness to overcome their current crisis and return to self-sufficiency by providing housing, educational and employment programs. Family Gateway keeps families together and provides both children and parents the resources they need to make positive choices for their future and break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

Donate $10 between July 26-28 to help provide a homeless dad and his family with a new start.

Highland Park Students Share an Act of Artistic Kindness

Posted on June 22, 2011 by admin

Highland Park Middle School Students, Chandler Bjork and Avry Tucker, celebrate the completion of the new mural along with their friends.

Highland Park Middle School students, Chandler Bjork and Avry Tucker, helped kick-off summer camp activities for homeless children at the Annette G. Strauss Family Gateway Center with a colorful mural project. Each child was excited to slip on a smock and add their own touch of cheerful green, pink and purple paint to bring the design to life.

The girls planned and completed the 40 foot mural as part of their Girl Scout Troop 277 Silver Award Project. “A Silver Award project is done with a small group and requires that you plan the service project, complete it and then share the results,” Tucker said. The project began last year when concept sketches were presented, and this week the duo’s vision came to fruition. “The timing worked out perfectly. We were able to finish in one week and involve the children,” Bjork said.

The mural decorates the Center’s cafeteria and captures the uplifting mission of Family Gateway. “The silhouettes represent parents and children moving toward a hopeful future together, hand in hand,” explained Bjork. With support from the community, Family Gateway is able to keep families together and provide the housing, educational and employment programs children and parents need to make positive choices for their future.

Executive Director, Robert Alberts shared his thoughts about the project. “Isn’t it a wonderful thing that a simple act of generosity can have such life changing effects on everyone involved? Of course, we can’t directly connect painting a mural as a child to a successful adult life, but we do know that such experiences have a very positive cumulative impact,” Alberts said.

Each year hundreds of homeless children, moms and dads will enjoy the positive imagery of the mural as they enter Family Gateway to rebuild their lives work towards returning to self-sufficiency. In the future, many of these parents and children will return to Family Gateway with college degrees, successful careers and a desire to mentor new families. When returning, Avry hopes these children will remember the part they each played in creating the mural. “If they come back here in the future they’ll know what they did,” she said, “they can see what a great accomplishment this is and have a good memory of what they had here.”

See more videos of children and explore ways to get involved at Family Gateway.

Father’s Day Tribute to Homeless Single Dad

Posted on June 20, 2011 by admin

Larkin and Chris share a smile

Single dad and Army veteran, Christopher Price, never imagined becoming homeless after returning to Dallas following his tour of duty. His experiences and training as an Ammunitions Specialist gave this Oak Cliff native a bigger view of the world and valuable life skills. “I was deployed to Baghdad, then spent time in Germany, traveled to Spain and Amsterdam, then finished in Washington State,” said Price. “I flew in Blackhawk helicopters and was responsible for ammo from 9mm rounds to missiles.”

Back in Dallas he returned to his mother’s home to get his feet on the ground. He honed his carpentry skills building furniture; selling bookcases, speaker boxes and other items to friends and neighbors. Chris made his living in construction, “pouring concrete and digging ditches,” he said. With a big smile he added, “I’d really like a job where you can sit down and be inside!”

That future could seem impossible to someone less committed, because Chris and his daughter are currently homeless. Overcoming challenges is nothing new to Chris, who became the sole caregiver to his baby daughter, Larkin, in 2007. “My mother helped, but I learned a lot about parenting and what to do on the Internet,” Chris shared.

Homelessness became a reality in February 2011 when Chris was laid off from his job. Bills mounted and when there was no money for rent, he and 3-year-old Larkin had some tough choices. Chris considered his options: relying on family or having the courage to strike out on his own. He quickly found there are few options for single dads experiencing homelessness. “(A shelter) gave us a room, but they weren’t really equipped for children on the men’s side,” said Price “Family Gateway does help single dads and has the childcare and activities that allowed me to do the things I needed to do.”

What’s next for Chris? College. “It’s just sticking to the plan,” he said. The plan includes getting his prerequisites completed to enter El Centro’s Vocational Nursing program. “Then comes my LVN, the RN Bridge Program, an RN and finally a masters at TWC or UT Southwestern to become a Nurse Practitioner,’ shared Price. “I want Larkin to go to school and get an education. I’m hopeful my going to school will show her – that we’ll be able to motivate each other. We can play games like who has the best grades.”

Meet Chris and Larkin in this short video .

The Power of Appreciation

Posted on June 9, 2011 by admin

We all want it. We all need it. Appreciation. The simple act of being recognized for who we are, or the things we do to make the world a better place, can have a powerful effect on our thinking, actions and life choices.

Take a moment to consider the role appreciation and encouragement have played in your life. Can you remember someone who shared their time freely with you; gave you insights or advice; helped you learn something new; sent you a Mother's Day Thank You Card from a child handwritten note or even a quick email message to recognize your efforts? At the very least these acts of kindness made you feel good about yourself and the other person. And often the impact is much greater. The act of being truly seen, appreciated and encouraged by someone else can be a turning point, a life-shaping moment that helps us see ourselves and our future as hopeful and full of possibility. We feel empowered to do more and be more when others believe in us.

The Empowerment Project is all about these magic, life-changing moments. Homeless children and their parents have often lost most of their possessions and their sense of community and belonging. Feeling fearful and even hopeless are natural reactions to this crisis, but the experience can ultimately be a positive one. By sharing your time, creativity, talents, voice and resources, you can help to turn tragedy in to triumph.

So let’s get started on our exciting journey. Get involved at Family Gateway and share your comments and ideas here as we post stories, photos and video of the ways individuals just like you are rebuilding hope and opening new doors of opportunity for homeless families. Children, moms and dads may be homeless, but not hopeless.