For more than 40 percent of Americans, one added expense can spell financial distress. This threat of crisis looms close for far too many families ... including families in Hamilton County.
Family Promise of Hamilton County exists to ensure that every family in the community has a home, a livelihood and a chance to build a better future. To accomplish this mission, Family Promise helps families achieve sustainable independence by preventing them from spiraling into homelessness. By partnering with local organizations and community agencies, Family Promise works to meet immediate needs of shelter and meals while also offering eviction prevention and stability training.
“We really meet families where they’re at and try to address the barriers to housing,” says Family Promise Executive Director Alicia Klingerman.
In 2024, Family Promise served nearly 775 individuals in a core program. Out of that, 33 families, 116 individuals, were from Clay Township.
Like many residents, you might be surprised to learn that homelessness exists, even in Carmel.
“I think the biggest misconception is that homelessness is not always obvious,” says Alexis Lowry, Family Promise board president. “When we think of homelessness, we think of the person standing on the corner begging for food or having all their possessions in a grocery cart. In Hamilton County, it looks different.”
Family Promise utilizes shelter options that reduce trauma to children as much as possible and allow families to save money and move toward independence.
However, Lowry says that shelter is only a small part of what Family Promise offers.
“Most of what we do is prevention,” she says. “It’s not just a handout. Most people don’t want a handout. They just need a little help.”
Prevention can come in the form of rental and utility assistance. Once a family is homeless, the goal becomes to get families into housing and to keep them in housing. That’s where stability services come into play.
Lowry says people like to quote the proverb, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
“We do both,” Lowry says. “You have to feed them first, then while they’re eating we can teach them how to fish. It’s a process. We give them the tools and resources they need. It’s really a full suite of services to make sure they are able to move forward.”
Klingerman says Family Promise helps participants find jobs and walks them through lessons in financial literacy, such as creating a budget and building credit.
Though linked with a national organization, like each local affiliate, Family Promise of Hamilton County is its own 501(c)(3) and primarily finds support from local grants, local congregations and individual donations.
Urgent needs include items like cleaning supplies, toiletries and gas cards.
To make a donation and learn more about Family Promise and how you can help, visit FamilyPromiseHamiltonCountyIn.org.
“I think the biggest misconception is that homelessness is not always obvious,” says Alexis Lowry, Family Promise board president.