A Place to Be – Day Services

In 2019 Family Promise of Bristol agreed to be the 501 c3 agency to help develop a day center for the Bristol area. That dream, that plan became a reality through A Place to Be – Day Services partnered with the Salvation Army of Bristol 137 MLK Jr. Blvd, Bristol TN, opening on July 12, 2022. The Day Services are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays beginning at 9am until afternoon.

Take a moment to reflect, if you are homeless in Bristol;

Where will you sleep?
Do you feel safe?
Where will you take a shower?
Where can you use the toilet?
Where will you wash your clothes?
How can you get any mail?
Who can help you get on your feet again?
Where can you get an ID?
Who can you trust?

Family Promise of Bristol (FPB) began seriously looking for a day center location in the fall of 2019. Fourteen or more locations were vetted, including Hunt Memorial UMC mission to provide services to those who are unhoused, being named Proverbs 3:27. FPB hoped to expand those services but due to zoning, we were not able to pursue. Proverbs 3:27 is open on Mondays and Fridays from 9am to 2pm.

The Salvation Army came forward and agreed to partner with FPB to provide day center services at the Salvation Army, which doesn’t offer services or a place to be during the day.

A Place to Be Day Services includes: a place to be out of the weather, restrooms, showers, laundry, mail services, breakfast and lunch, access to computers, mobile phone charging stations, and case management to help clients access resources and work toward being housed. In addition, partner agencies hold hours on site to provide services including health, mental health, employment counseling, and more. Offering these services, as well as housing resources for those who are unhoused provides opportunities to support individuals and families and to help transform lives.

To offer these services, Family Promise of Bristol needs continuing support. Yes, we need funding. FPB has been successful in receiving a variety of grant funding and has been successful in getting funding from several directions, including being a United Way agency, grants from Family Promise National, CDBG block grant funds from the Cities of Bristol TN and VA, Walmart and Sam’s grants, partnering with the Bristol Lions Club for their golf tournament, and from our annual giving drive. Some of these are matching grants that require additional funds. Some grants are reimbursement grants which require us to have enough funding to cover expenses until a reimbursement is filed and returned, which can be two months behind. Financial support is needed and appreciated. Individual donations, church budget allocations, special offerings, application to special funds, any of these methods of giving would be greatly welcomed.

We need volunteers. We have great staff members but not enough to fully staff the hours we want to be open. Enrich your life with serving; volunteer duties include working with the showers, the laundry, the computers, the general room, driving a minivan to take people to appointments, and much more. Volunteer training is offered on a regular basis.

For more information about the day services or to learn more about donating or volunteering, email info@FamilyPromiseofBristol.org or call 423-528-3036.