Here's how Family Promise of Carbon County works:

Families referred to the program are interviewed by the executive director and case manager. If there is space available and the director feels the family is appropriate for the program, they will enter as guests.Otherwise they are placed on a waiting list. Community churches provide hospitality and fellowship to guests, including meals, some supplies and a place to sleep at night.During the day, guests are housed at the day center in Lehighton. This is where the director or case manager helps families connect with community resources. Each family has a unique set of goals customized to meet their current needs and work toward being self-sufficient. A van and driver are used to help families get to and from the day center.While the host congregations change every week, the day center remains the same. This allows the family to have a stable mailing address to use in job and housing searches.Volunteers are what really make this program a reality. They help in providing meals and other items to guests, assist in fundraising, but most importantly take time to sit and talk with guests. Having the ability to connect with others can give people strength and encouragement.These local churches serve as weekly hosts for homeless families in the program:All Faiths Tabernacle, Jim Thorpe; All Saint's Episcopal, Lehighton; Ben Salem UCC, Lehighton; Christ Lutheran, Jim Thorpe; Dinkey Memorial, Lehighton; First UCC, Palmerton; Jerusalem Lutheran, Palmerton; Peoples EC Church, Lehighton; Sacred Heart RC, Palmerton; Trinity Lutheran, Bowmanstown; and Zion UCC, Lehighton.Support churches are First Presbyterian Church, Lehighton; Discovery Fellowship, Jim Thorpe; Emmanuel UCC, Bowmanstown; Grace St. Paul's Methodist, Jim Thorpe; St. John's Lutheran, Jim Thorpe; St. Mark's and John's Episcopal, Jim Thorpe; St. Matthew's Lutheran, Lehighton; and St. Paul's Lutheran, Albrightsville.