Construction has begun in Humble, Texas on a 5800 sq. ft. Life Skills Center for Family Promise of Lake Houston (FPLH) that will provide a caring and positive environment for children and their families who are reeling from a variety of crisis situations. These can include fire, flood, the death of a spouse, loss of a job, an eviction, or a foreclosure of a home. The Center, named Promise House will also offer admin offices, additional mentoring and counseling offices, on-site training rooms, a teaching kitchen, a computer and educational room as well as a family room, library and children’s playroom.
It has been a long journey to this point for team partners First America Homes, the homebuilding division of Signorelli Company, the project’s Builder Captain and HomeAid Houston who have worked closely with FPLH for many months to ensure the facility is built. The foundation forms have been finalized and the site preparation has been completed.
“Until a few months ago, a field near the corner of the East FM 1960 Bypass and Wilson Road in Humble was a vacant property, serving no purpose in an area that is seeing recent growth,” said James Miller, president of HomeAid Houston. “HomeAid was proud to take part in the celebratory groundbreaking last year with First America Homes and Family Promise that set the wheels in motion to get this Center completed and open for families in need. We cannot thank First America Homes, Dave Barnhart their homebuilding division president, and their vendors and suppliers enough for making this possible.”
Family Promise of Lake Houston is an agency that meets the immediate needs of homeless families while empowering them to attain self-sufficiency. During the day, families will come to their “home base” which is the Life Skills Center, where they will complete weekly goals, Life Skills Classes, Budgeting, Parenting, and GED Fast Track Certification. They can access community resources to search for job training and affordable housing. The key to their success is the fact that every family is connected to the community through volunteers from church congregations as well as through mentors in the Family Mentoring Program. Families are able to build a new community network that helps them achieve their goals of independence.
“The work Family Promise does for families in need is key to rebuilding lives and returning them back to the community to become productive members and experience brighter futures,” said Carole Brady, executive director of HomeAid Houston. “HomeAid is so grateful to First America Homes for building this Center that will change lives for years to come.”
Funders to the project include The William Stamps Farish Fund, Albemarle Foundation, Ascentium Capital and Avis Charitable Foundation. FPLH is also receiving funding from the PetSmart Charitable Foundation, who will pay for a “pet condo” on the property, allowing families to keep their pets as they work to improve their situation. The grant is part of a national agreement with the Family Promise organization.
ABOUT HOMEAID
HomeAid Houston, a 501 c 3 charity of the Greater Houston Builders Association was started in 2003. The agency builds and remodels homeless shelters for its homeless care agencies. The first shelter was dedicated in 2005. Since then, over 70 projects have been completed, adding and impacting over 1750 beds and providing over 1.3 million nights of sleep. This is a 15.8 million dollar added value in housing and improvements. Annually, HomeAid’s projects serve over 5000 homeless men, women, children and veterans in Houston.
From left to right are (first row) Laura Nelson - Isaiah 117 House Support Coordinator; Krista Patton - Isaiah 117 House Care Coordinator; Amy Burton - Isaiah 117 House Location Leader; Sarah Miller - Texas State Director for Isaiah House; and (second row) Steve Smith - Chesmar Homes VP Construction; Lawrence Dean - HomeAid Board President; Matthew Reibenstein - GHBA Board President; and Leshia Fisher - Regional Director 6B at CPS.
Cutting the ribbon are first row, left to right: Simone Adkison, Angel Reach; Lawrence Dean, HomeAid Houston; George Lindahl, Angel Reach; Kim Clark, Angel Reach; Dan Alexander, Angel Reach; Carol Watford, Angel Reach; Latonia Jackson, Angel Reach. Second row, left to right: Matthew Reibenstein, GHBA; Megan Wilridge, Angel Reach; Zariah Magee, Angel Reach; Gary Cook, Angel Reach; Franchesca Calhoun, Angel Reach; Dana Robertson, Angel Reach.