We will do our part and help as far as we can, but ultimately, you choose where to go from here and create a life of sustainable independence. This is what we tell guest families who take the brave step of entering our program to learn new ways to use their skills and strengths.
Families have often been through trauma and other circumstances they cannot control, so our goal is to help them make choices now for where they want to go next.
As perhaps one of the most difficult concepts we’ve adopted as an organization, this idea of building sustainable independence is also the most important and most unique about our program. Read on to find out why.
This is part 4 of 4, exploring the different elements of our mission statement:
Family Promise of Greater Wichita unites hearts and hands to provide compassionate hospitality and empower homeless families with children to achieve sustainable independence.
Compassion & Relief vs. Long-term Help
We have very compassionate hearts in our community, and an amazing outpouring of support when we need something for a guest family. We are not short on caring.
The harder part is using that caring mindset to look at the long view. We want to fix a problem RIGHT NOW, when in fact it may need a different approach.
For example, when we have asked a guest family to navigate the bus system for their school and work needs, it is VERY tempting to give them a ride when I have a working car in the driveway. I care, and I want them to succeed.
But if I do give a ride, and I keep doing that errand, no one learns to ride the bus system. I’m not preparing allowing people to work towards sustainable independence after they leave our program.
In truth, this means that our case managers spend significant time with families making plans and goals that will work for the future, not just right now.
If we were only attempting to solve today’s problems, our job would be much quicker. But something that is sustainable takes time to build, understand, and adopt.
Sustainable independence means that, if I help you once or a few times, eventually you can take care of yourself and your family. If we don’t get to that point and I keep enabling you to depend on me for everything, have I really helped you?
We want to empower you to choose your own life from here on. We don’t do it FOR you.
Guest families commit to hard work, and we work right along WITH them towards their individually-tailored goals. These are THEIR goals, created in partnership with their Case Manager.
The Victory
And in the end, when families achieve THEIR own goals, THEY get the credit and the pride as they celebrate graduation and set up a new life with a home, employment, childcare, and whatever accomplishments mean sustainable life for them.
We would never want to take that victory for them. They did the work.
How You Can Help
Families need support in all kinds of ways as they make paths to sustainable independence. You can join the effort!
- Become a mentor to a graduate. Contact us for information on this.
- Become an ally at A Thrive Community, partnering with stably housed friends who are working to better their lives.
- Advocate for policies that support gradual independence, rather than the “cliff effect” that happens as people work their way off of financial assistance, Medicaid, etc.
THANK YOU for caring, and for engaging with the deeper issues that arise as we journey with families to truly sustainable independence.
More Resources
Check these books out if you want to get deeper into this topic! We are grateful to some other wise and caring people for help with many of these ideas:
When Helping Hurts – helpful ideas around emergency relief and longer-term development.
Down We Go: Living into the Wild Ways of Jesus – especially for the concepts of to/for/with.
Katy Penner is our Board Secretary and Communications Team chair. She is also a Marketing and Content Strategist. You can reach her at pr@familypromisewichita.org.
Family Promise of Greater Wichita unites hearts and hands to provide compassionate hospitality and empower homeless families with children to achieve sustainable independence. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
