Raised:
$00%Goal:
$20,000

Lawton

Hosted by Family Promise of Lawton

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The Coldest Night of the Year is a winterrific family-friendly fundraising walk in support of local charities. Let’s change the tune for people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness... because it’s cold out there.

Event Day Details

Save the date - CNOY Day is February 22, 2025!

StartGoogle Map

501 NW Ferris Ave, Lawton, OK 73507

Holiday House South

Holiday House south Pavilion

Lawton Maps

Check out this year's CNOY route maps below:

2/5kmView + print!

About Family Promise of Lawton

Family Promise of Lawton is a homeless shelter program that works at keeping homeless families with children together and safe while also helping them achieve independence and stabilized housing. We offer in depth attention to trauma informed care and encourage individuals to make a change in their family’s story. Our facility is specially designed to take families offering them private spaces and access to a kitchen. We housed 12 families (35 individuals, 19 children) last year and are on our way to double that this year. Our program shelters these families until they are housed.

Some of the resources we provide for our families with case management hours include:

-On site case managers: Our case managers go the extra mile to create weekly individualized plans that will contribute to each family’s success. These plans included but are not limited to employment support, parenting classes, nutritional support, educational evaluations and supports, financial literacy, referral services for therapy (in conjunction with our medical advocate), pregnancy resources, and any obstacles that might prevent a family from becoming stable. In addition to the service plans, case management also helps families apply for low-income housing, or private landlord rentals. Once a family is expected to move out of our facility; case management shifts to establishing all deposits from other local agencies, acquiring donated furniture, setting up transportation from their new home, and any other service that might make their transition smoother and less stressful.

-On site extended case management: Case manager hours are not limited to current clients, but also include our graduates’ support. When we successfully establish a family in permanent housing, we assess their stay at the shelter as a team. In a collaborative effort we determine how many case management hours they will need to stay in their homes. Important factors such as fragile health, mental illnesses, lack of work history, and overall behavior contribute to the estimated amount of support from case managers. Part of the extended case management includes unannounced home visits to guarantee families are complying with their leases and maintaining a safe and clean environment for their children. Extended case management also connects qualified clients with donated vehicles. For example, two guests this year, received donated cars at no cost to them, dramatically changing their chances of staying housed.

-On site medical advocate: Our advocate schedules and attends any medical appointments with willing clients. This has improved our program outcomes because a healthy family is more likely to stay housed and employed once they graduate our program. Using both state and federal programs that our clients qualify for, the medical advocate allows clients receive informed and regular medical care.

-On site transportation: Family Promise has two vehicles we use to transport clients to medical visits, school, daycare, and work. As they stay in the shelter, they can schedule a ride with no cost to them. We also have a moving truck that we use to reduce the costs associated with moving. As they transition into permanent housing, we help them establish their own means of transportation.

-Full-service shelter: While waiting for permanent housing, our families stay comfortably in a clean and safe environment. Here at Family Promise offer seven private rooms with locks along with a sensory playroom, two living rooms, a fully furnished dining room for communal meals, and an industrial sized kitchen that is fully stocked with supplies for the families to cook their own meals. We also offer private refrigerator and freezer space as well as designated cabinets for dry goods.

- On site pet resources: A partnership with The Comanche County Pet Resource Center allows families to keep their pets. One of the most heartbreaking situations for service providers is having to ask a family to give up their pet to enter a shelter. The trauma can be even more significant to the children experiencing the grief of separation anxiety. Our on-site residential advisor has been with several animal rescues over the years and has the knowledge and experience to help families make better choices for them and their pets. If a pet is approved after vetting, we allow our families to keep one pet with them at the shelter. If the pet is not a good match for the shelter due to size or temperament, Family Promise works to help find an appropriate foster that can help the family until housed. Sometimes with a heavy heart the family might decide to surrender the pet for multiple reasons. In that situation we partner with local rescues to adopt the pet out to a safe and healthy home. No matter what the outcome of the family pet, all animals that come through our program leave with up-to-date shots, spay, or neuter, and basic veterinary care at no cost to our clients.