“Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be.”
Sonia Riccoti
Dear Friends,
Families experiencing homelessness has continued to steadily increase in Durham over the past several months. According to current statistics from the City of Durham, families amid the crisis of homelessness has increased by 24% just within the last month. At FMF we are committed to working with our community partners to address this increase of unsheltered families living on
the street. One of the ways FMF has stepped up to help is by offering a place of refuge to families experiencing homelessness on the coldest nights.
When temperatures drop below 32 degrees, the city issues a White Flag warning and partners with several community organizations and first responders to help provide temporary shelter from the harsh winter weather. At FMF, we have opened three of our community rooms to help these families find a safe, warm place to stay. It’s just one of the ways we at FMF can serve these families. As always, FMF is committed to providing emergency shelter to up to 20 families, on the White Flag nights FMF is prepared to house 3 to 5 more families. At FMF we will continue to find ways to serve Durham’s most vulnerable population.
At FMF we strive to serve families experiencing homelessness in a culture focused on an attitude of and actions based on the following:
1. Seeking first to understand.
2. Knowing it’s never too late to do the right thing.
3. Walking alongside those we serve.
4. Striving to release our prejudices, judgments, and assumptions.
5. Empowering those who feel powerless.
At FMF we know that it’s important to listen. No family experiences homelessness the same. While there may be common contributors to the causes of homelessness, each family experiences it uniquely. We as service providers and solution warriors must first hear what the families say
(and what they do not say). We may think we know best, but only when we learn to stop viewing homelessness through our own lenses of privileged backgrounds and desires for justice and start listening to those experiencing homelessness will we learn how to find solutions that work. At FMF we are committed to listening and learning so we can better serve the families who are in the throes of homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.
Sincerely,