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Sep 30, 2011 | EDOT Staff

St. Andrew's, Pearland, Works to Alleviate Homelessness

Family Promise
Volunteers chatting with teen

Over three years ago, Debbie Allensworth, Debbie Mayfield, and the Rev. Jim Liberatore of St. Andrew's, Pearland, began a process of working with Family Promise, an interfaith provider of transitional housing to homeless families. 

 

"We had a dream of assisting homeless families in our area," Liberatore said. "Hundreds of children are enrolled in schools in our area that are homeless."

 

The Family Promise model involves housing families (up to 14 people) in churches at night once a quarter. With the help of a few other churches, St. Andrew's incorporated and became Family Promise of Clear Creek, serving the northern Brazoria, northern Galveston and southern Harris counties. Both Allensworth and Mayfield served on the board of directors. Allensworth served as the first president, and Liberatore is serving as the current president. Nine other congregations are involved with a total of 13 being the goal.

 

This week, Liberatore hired the first Director, Pat Hughes, who will oversee the day-to-day operations. Clear Lake United Methodist Church will provide the Day Center which houses Family Promise offices and is a place for families to be during the day. Family Promis of Clear Creek has enough money donated to begin the new ministry, but they continue to strive for a few more congregations to be involved.

 

On November 5, St. Andrew's is hosting a "Cardboard Box City." This fundraising event teaches people what it is like to be homeless by sleeping in an actual cardboard box for a night. Youth and adults are welcome to participate, and all donations will go towards Family Promise of Clear Creek.

 

For more information or to find out how to help, contact the Rev. Jim Liberatore, 281.485.3843.