Alternative Christmas - Family Gateway, A Dallas-based Not-for-Profit Serving the Homeless Families of Dallas

Family homelessness is a hidden epidemic in Dallas and across the country. Today, families from across socio-economic groups are living with relatives, in their cars or on the street due to a lost job, unexpected illness or family tragedy.
Family Gateway’s facilities, programs and community partnerships are specifically designed to serve the needs of these fragile families. By providing children and their parents with a nurturing, family-centered environment coupled with counseling and training, families are strengthened, empowered and able to return to a life of self-sufficiency.
What We Do Family Gateway breaks the generational cycle of homelessness by providing individualized care to homeless families with children; restoring the dignity, stability and self-sufficiency of the family unit.

Recently, Family Gateway joined with Integrity Asset Management to provide Permanent Supportive Housing to 150 otherwise homeless families in Dallas. These families now live in safe housing with supportive services provided by Family Gateway. An additional 18 families also live in Permanent Supportive Housing at other Family Gateway facilities. All told, Family Gateway provides transitional housing, and long term support housing to more than 200 Dallas families who otherwise would not have stable living arrangements.
History Family Gateway evolved from a1985 mayoral task force study of Dallas' growing problem of family homelessness. In 1986, then Mayor Pro-Tem Annette G. Strauss spearheaded the effort to build a refuge for an increasing number of families living on the streets, victims of the collapsed Texas economy.
The vision was a facility where homeless families could stay together as a family unit. A coalition of congregations responded, and Family Gateway Center opened its doors in 1986 to serve 30 families per day, or approximately 100 children and adults. In September 2000, the Center was rededicated as the Annette G. Strauss Family Gateway Center, in honor of Annette’s commitment, time and effort to helping homeless families in Dallas.
Central Congregational Church is one of those congregations and has served on the Family Gateway Board since Family Gateway was founded.
What Services Family Gateway Provides
Family Gateway provides comprehensive services to both children and their parents, including: transitional housing, child care, counseling, job skills training, employment search, job placement assistance and community transition services.
The program restores dignity, stability and self-sufficiency to the family unit in an atmosphere of emotional, social and economic empowerment.
Family Gateway Center offers programs in the following areas:
• Transitional, Supportive and Permanent Supportive Housing
• Adult Programs and Training
• Children’s Programs
• Community Transition Services
How Your Donation Helps
$25 – Provides new bedding and pillows for a child and parent
$50 – Provides one family with transportation to doctor’s appointments, interviews, school, and/or work for one week
$100 – Covers the cost of a month’s supply of children’s medication
$250 – Provides three nutritious meals a day for 30 families

You can make a difference. Visit www.Familygateway.org for more information and opportunities to help break the cycle of homelessness.