“Help Us Move In” Initiative Combats Homelessness for Families with Children Family Promise of Montgomery County

CONROE, TX -- Family Promise of Montgomery County received a “Help Us Move In” (HUMI) grant of $10,000 with a required $10,000 match to help families with children escape homelessness by engaging in sustainable solutions.

HUMI is a grant working with Family Promise affiliates across the country to prevent eviction and strengthen rehousing programs through community collaboration. Established in 2016, HUMI works with community organizations to provide services to families at risk or experiencing homelessness by offering a matching grant opportunity. Family Promise affiliates have served more than 4,692 families including over 10,000 children. www.helpusmovein.org

According to HUMI, the average age of a homeless person is 9 years old and every 2 minutes a child becomes homeless IN OUR COUNTRY. Over 40% of homeless children are under 6 years of age. Families need a home. Healthy families equate to a healthy thriving community. Our community in Montgomery County has over 800 school age youth and children that are homeless with no permanent address according to the Montgomery County Homeless Coalition combining information from all the school districts.

Family Promise of Montgomery County has a goal to raise $150,000 to cover the cost of rehousing families in their program to create long term stability. To date they have $20,000 towards their goal with the HUMI grant and a match by Genesis Medical of $10,000. Marilyn Kasmiersky, Executive Director of Family Promise of Montgomery County, offers a community challenge to get involved to help our families be successful to decrease childhood homelessness.

Dr. David P. Ellent, MD, and CEO of Genesis Medical Group donated $10,000 towards the HUMI grant match to help stop homeless children in our community.

“I accepted the Help Us Move In (HUMI) $10,000 challenge to match Family Promise’s grant requirement and challenge others to do the same. It’s just that simple.”

Dr. Ellent is an oncologist who started Genesis Medical Group 4 years ago to give people hope. He is passionate about providing affordable healthcare to enable everyone a quality of life.

“Individuals undergoing treatments are defenseless against outside obstacles, much like children. Children need protection against bad influences brought on through homelessness. Genesis Medical Group is passionate about protecting our patients, families, and vulnerable individuals to bring hope. We are honored and proud to match the funds of $10K and challenge others in the community to do the same”. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/VzUifjq-BoA

Kasmiersky is in the trenches daily with families helping them to attain their goals of independence to successfully support their children, empower parents to instill generational change, and help them to share the kindness with others they meet.

“This is an excellent initiative for Family Promise as we are looking to expand prevention and stabilization of our families into long term housing stability. The need is growing in our community. All children deserve a home”.

Family Promise of Montgomery County anticipates their new 6,000 square foot facility, (acquired through a CDBG grant) at 109 Commercial Circle in Conroe will be completed by Dec. 31, 2021, to host up to six individual families at a time as they transition every 90 days into stability, with an average of serving 96 individuals annually.

Since 2001 Family Promise of Montgomery County has been helping families in need find stable housing, develop the skills and tools to succeed independently by empowering families for success. Approved families with children are entered into Family Promises 90-day personal plan to reach attainable goals with a case manager. Topics include positive parenting skills, stress management, family safety, and budgeting. Families are provided meals, hygiene items, clothing, childcare, transportation, and shelter through partnering churches, individuals and community giving.

In 2020 Family Promise of Montgomery County provided 581 nights of safe shelter, 1,914 meals for families, and many supportive services including transportation, workforce development, continuing education, and skilled certifications into stable employment. Graduating families secure employment and are given assistance with re-housing for a permanent safe home. One family recently qualified for a home with Habitat for Humanity MCTX and will soon move into her new home!

All donations directly assist families with needs of obtaining their driver’s license, meeting medical needs, paying rental deposits, providing families with gas cards, employment certifications and covering childcare amongst many other essential services. Additional costs for the organization include maintaining the Day Center and supplying household supplies to support approximately 24 families a year.

Follow the link www.familypromiseofmc.org/donate and click on the 'Donate' button and sign up to help fundraise for our homeless families in the community. Find out more about Family Promise of Montgomery County by visiting www.familypromiseofmc.org. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FPMCT and call (936) 441-8778 8:00am-5:00pm Monday - Friday.

Learn more about Genesis Medical Group, their services and locations stretching from Baytown, Kingwood, Houston, Spring, Tomball, Huntsville, and Montgomery County in convenient locations to assist with a primary healthcare provider or specific healthcare needs including oncology, pain management, orthopedics, gynecology and rheumatology. Visit www.genesisdoctors.com or call (281) 440-5300.