Family Promise of Tualatin Valley (FPTV) serves families and adults experiencing houselessness from the Tigard-Tualatin, Sherwood, Lake Oswego, and West Linn-Wilsonville school districts. FPTV’s goal is not simply getting families into housing; it is keeping them in housing. Family Promise of Tualatin Valley opened in March of 2019. In their first nine months of operation, they ran a rotational shelter program that provided shelter and housing navigation services to 13 families, totaling 52 individuals. Ten of these families moved into housing. Many found employment during their stay. Children stayed in their schools and in their community. During this same time period, FPTV provided over 900 referrals and connections to local services.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, FPTV changed their model to a motel-based program and expanded their capacity significantly. The motel shelter program has allowed FPTV to increase shelter capacity at a time when needs are high. Guests can settle into their own space, feel independent, and can cook food for themselves in their own kitchens. Access to healthy meals is vital for many folks who have been living out of their cars or in other uninhabitable places.
In 2020, FPTV provided 6,165 bed nights to houseless individuals in our community. One hundred eighty-two individuals received prevention, diversion, and stabilization help. They served 18,000+ meals, and 87% of their guests left the program and entered into stable housing.
In light of these achievements, I am declaring that the week of October 17 through 23rd be declared Family Promise Week in Tualatin. If you’d like to learn more about FPTV, please visit their website at: www.familypromiseoftv.org. If you are in need of assistance, email them at help@familypromiseoftv.org or call 503.427.2768.
