For some families, having a roof over their heads isn’t something they take for granted. Like Mariam Fadel, a mother from Plainfield who only a few months ago was living in a tent with her two young children while 7 months pregnant. She had left her home due to a domestic violence situation just as the pandemic was hitting, according to advocates at Family Promise of Hendricks County, who helped her get back on her feet.
When they met her, she had no place to live or a job. The Department of Child Services placed her children in foster care because of the situation.
“Mariam was broken. Immediately, we brought Mariam into our residential program. She was distraught and depressed,” recalls Julie Randall, executive director of Family Promise of Hendricks County.
The nonprofit that works to fight homelessness by connecting families with resources gave Mariam a temporary home, helped her find a job at a local warehouse, and helped her advocate to get her children back. The mother of three is now living in an affordable apartment in Plainfield and reunited with her children.
“It was a reunion of tears and joy like no other,” said Randall.
“I don’t know where I would be or what I would have done if it wasn’t for them,” said Mariam Fadel, who thanked the Family Promise team.
Fadel is one of 35 local families who struggled with homelessness during COVID that now has a home thanks to programs through Family Promise.
To help more people struggling in Hendricks County, the organization received a $100,000 grant from Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis, a charitable women’s giving circle that gives grant funding to area nonprofits, as part of its 2020 Change-Maker award.
Family Promise will utilize the new funds to increase the impact of their PowerHouse project, an innovative community response to help prevent evictions and quickly rehouse those who are homeless, while offering supportive services to ensure stability.
“Those struggling will be able to find or keep their home through extensive partnerships within a caring community. The COVID economic safety net will soon be gone with evictions and homelessness emerging,” said Randall.
