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Family Promise helps mother pick up pieces
(by Sali McSherry - October 05, 2011)
Family Promise helps mother pick up pieces
By SALI McSHERRY
Ericka Ruiz, a soft-spoken mother of three daughters, is taking steps to find a new job and a permanent home following a turbulent period in which her home was destroyed in a gas explosion and as a result, she lost her job.
Her oldest daughter, eighth-grader Kayla, is a singer, fifth-grader Evelyn is a cook, and second-grader Angel has her sights set on being a model.
Ms. Ruiz, with a contagious smile, said she trusts in God. While she has been teetering on a fine line due to unforeseen circumstances, she hasn't fallen. With the help of Family Promise of Greater Cleveland, she's on the right path.
Several weeks ago, she and her daughters, along with two other families, stayed at the Federated Church Family Life Center in Bainbridge for a week. The church's congregation is one of dozens of faith communities in the Greater Cleveland area that offers sleeping quarters, home-cooked food and respite through Family Promise of Greater Cleveland, according to Executive Director Walter Ginn.
During the day, the kids go to school while Ms. Ruiz is at Tremont Family Center learning skills that will help her land a job. She has experience working with children and would like to work at a preschool or day care center, but said she'd take anything to get back on her feet.
It's all about keeping families together during a housing crisis, Mr. Ginn said.
Cities cited unemployment as the number one cause of homelessness, according to a U.S. Conference of Mayors 2010 status report, Mr. Ginn said. Family Promise is the only local program for homeless families with a strong and comprehensive focus on obtaining and retaining employment, he said.
Family Promise provides crisis intervention, emergency and interim housing combined with a program to prepare adults for employment and help in their job search. Family Promise, which serves about 100 families a year, also provides community-based services for the families once they move to permanent housing, Mr. Ginn said.
Last month, after a home-cooked dinner of chicken, potatoes and vegetables along with a brownie dessert provided by some savvy volunteer cooks from the Federated Church, the children were antsy. Phil Fogarty, who coordinates the effort with his wife, Sally, walked with the kids, who carried their fishing nets to a small magical pond found within the peaceful labyrinth built behind the Family Life Center.
They laughed while they sought out bugs and fish and walked on the rocks.
Kayla, already a talented makeup artist, with requests by others to do their eye makeup, said she loved the beauty of walking the labyrinth.
Jill Cantley, of Chagrin Falls, a teenager who volunteers at the church, cuddled with a baby while watching the other kids play games. The next evening the group was to go to the movies.
Federated Church was one of the first congregations that hosted Interfaith Hospitality Network, which has merged with New Life Community and become Family Promise, Mrs. Fogarty said. It's one of two dozen churches on the east side of Cleveland to host.
Each year Federated Church is a host for three weeks. Mrs. Fogarty and her husband have been involved in the program for about 10 years and coordinators for three years.
"We were drawn to the program as it was a way to help others as a family. Our boys would go with us and play with the children in the program and help us while we served food and did dishes," Mrs. Fogarty said.
"We have so many dedicated volunteers from our wonderful church coming up with ways to make the families' time at our church special. We have taken the families to the movies, putt-putt golfing, bowling, roller skating, swimming, jewelry making, therapeutic oil painting, designing tie-dye T-shirts, and painting ceramic figurines," among other activities, she said. "Volunteers have given Mother's Day gift baskets, and taken family portraits to give to the families to hang in their new homes," she said.
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