FPCC’s Holistic Approach to Ending Family Homelessness

From Crisis to Stability: Inside Our Family Promise Support Model

It was a rainy Monday morning when Marissa realized she had less than a week before her family would lose their apartment. Her hours had been cut at work, her savings had already gone toward keeping the lights on, and the landlord’s final notice was taped to the door. Her two children, ages six and nine, were eating breakfast quietly, unaware that in just a few days, their beds, their toys, and the little apartment they called home would be gone.

Stories like Marissa’s are more common in Cobb County than many people realize. A single unexpected expense, a health setback, or a loss of work hours can push a family from stability into crisis almost overnight. But thanks to the support model at Family Promise of Cobb County (FPCC), that moment doesn’t have to define their future.

At FPCC, we believe stability isn’t just a roof over your head,  it’s the security, tools, and relationships that allow a family to thrive long after the crisis has passed. Our programs work together to meet families where they are, whether they need a safe place to stay, help catching up on rent, or guidance to rebuild for the long term.

The Landscape of Family Homelessness in Cobb County

Family homelessness often looks different than the stereotypes. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, over 28% of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. are part of families with children. In many cases, these families are doubled up with relatives or friends, sleeping in cars, or staying in motels, and temporary shelters.

In Cobb County, rising housing costs and limited affordable rentals have made it harder for families to recover from setbacks. When rent consumes a large portion of income, even a small disruption can cause a spiral toward eviction. That’s where FPCC’s integrated programs step in, to interrupt that spiral and help families find their way back to stability.

Rotational Shelter – Safety and Community

For families who have lost their housing entirely, the first stop is often our rotational shelter program. In partnership with 14 Cobb County congregations, we provide safe overnight accommodations, meals, and support in a welcoming community environment. Families rotate weekly between different host sites, allowing us to serve multiple families at about a third of the expense of a fixed shelter facility.

The average stay in our shelter programs is about 115 days. During that time, families work closely with a case manager to set goals, search for housing, and access resources like childcare and transportation assistance.

Rotational shelter isn’t just about keeping families off the streets. It’s about surrounding them with a network of caring volunteers who offer encouragement, meals, and a sense of dignity. For many parents, this community connection is as important as the physical shelter.

Transitional Housing – Building a Stronger Foundation

For families trying to stabilize while also trying to cope with the trauma of homelessness, transitional housing offers the time and space to rebuild. FPCC currently operates three transitional homes where families can live while working toward permanent housing.

Here, the focus shifts to skill-building and future planning. Parents may be working towards a job with a livable wage, improving credit, or saving for a security deposit. Children have a stable environment for school and daily life, which research shows is critical to their emotional and academic well-being.

The results speak volumes: In 2024, FPCC graduated 11 families from our programs. Even more encouraging, 100% of our 2023 graduates were still in housing one year later. That retention rate reflects the effectiveness of pairing housing with personalized, ongoing support.

The Safety Net: Eviction Prevention

Not all families in crisis need shelter, some simply need help bridging a temporary financial gap. Through our eviction prevention program, FPCC provides targeted assistance to cover past-due rent.

The amount varies based on need, but the impact is life-changing. A single month’s rent payment can mean the difference between staying in a home or entering the shelter system. Eviction prevention not only spares families the trauma of displacement, it’s also more cost-effective for the community than emergency shelter.

For parents like Marissa, a timely rent payment can stop the clock on eviction, giving them the breathing room to stabilize income and keep their children in a familiar school and neighborhood.

The Long View: Stabilization

Housing is just the beginning. Once a family has secured a permanent place to live, our stabilization program helps them maintain it. This may include job coaching, financial literacy workshops, referrals to community resources, and ongoing case management.

The goal is to equip families with the tools they need to weather future challenges without falling back into homelessness. Stabilization services also help families stay connected to a support network, so they don’t have to face the next crisis alone.

A Pathway That Works

Every family’s journey looks a little different. Some may enter FPCC through eviction prevention and never need shelter. Others may start in rotational shelter and then access stabilization support.

What all paths have in common is the wraparound care that addresses not just the immediate crisis but the root causes of housing instability. By integrating emergency, transitional, and long-term services, FPCC helps families move from surviving to thriving.

How You Can Help

At Family Promise of Cobb County, we know that stability isn’t a moment, it’s a community effort. Volunteers, donors, and partners make it possible for us to offer these services at no cost to families in need.

Here’s how you can be part of the solution:

Give – Your donation provides safe shelter, eviction prevention, and long-term stability. Donate here.

Volunteer – Help at our day-center, mentor parents, or support events.

Advocate – Share our mission with friends, coworkers, and faith communities.

For Marissa and so many others, that support means the difference between crisis and stability. Together, we can ensure that every child in Cobb County has the foundation they need to build a brighter future.