A solution rather than a Band-Aid.

That's how James Cummings describes Family Promise of Casper, a new organization that aims to help homeless families get into safe, stable homes

Family Promise isn't a shelter. Instead, the organization relies on churches and civil groups to temporarily house families while parents learn skills they'll need to become self-sufficient.

"We are helping people get back on their feet and stay there," said Cummings, who serves as the group's executive director.

Beginning Dec. 1, families will stay at a different church each week. Volunteers will take care of their meals and transportation, and during the day, Cummings will provide education and job training for the parents.

"The goal here is to help the parents achieve that independence, that economic self-sufficiency," he said.

Any religious or civic group in the area can participate. The help is needed, Cummings said, because homelessness in Wyoming is a larger issue than most people realize.

"This is an opportunity to walk the walk," he said. "This is an opportunity to deliver human compassion and help people truly in need, right here in our own backyard."

The program

More than 150 Family Promise organizations dot the country, and one already exists in Cheyenne. They are each independent affiliates modeled after a program created by a New Jersey group.

The national program claims an 80 percent success rate in helping families obtain stable housing.

The effort is supported by private donations and grants. In Casper, seven congregations have already signed up to shelter families, but Cummings said he's looking for more organizations to volunteer.

Families go through an extensive application process before being accepted into the program. They are referred to Family Promise from human services organizations and are interviewed, screened for drug use and mental health issues and undergo background checks, Cummings said. They must also agree to follow certain rules, such as abstaining from smoking and drinking.

Participants don't have to be of a certain religion, and church volunteers are prohibited from proselytizing.

"It is not about religious orientation," Cummings said. "It is about helping people in need."

Family Promise differs from some shelter organizations in how they house families. At other places, men may be separated from women and children -- even if they're part of the same family. Cummins said his group views keeping families together as an essential part of regaining their independence.

"We know from years of research, the worst thing you can do when somebody is under stress is separate them," he explained.

Beginnings

It took nearly four years to bring a Family Promise affiliate to Casper. Dave Reynolds, a retired engineer who grew up in Casper, got the effort started.

Reynolds served in a Family Promise organization in Phoenix, where he witnessed people change their lives after going through the program. After moving back to Casper in 2003, he decided his hometown could benefit from a similar group.

"I felt we needed to have something to fix the problem instead of just being kind and feeding them," he said.

As it happened, Family Promise officials already had their eyes on Casper. In 2006, they held a meeting to discuss forming an affiliate here. Reynolds attended and soon found himself leading the effort.

"I held up my hand and they made me president," he recalled. "You know how that goes."

The process wasn't quick. It took time to set up a nonprofit group and find the right people to help run it. Organizers also needed enough churches for the program to run properly.

"There were lot of times it seemed like an impossible task, but I guess this proves it is not," Reynolds said.

Cummings started as director in September, leaving behind a child and family therapy practice. The Powell native said he was looking for a change and stumbled upon Family Promise while searching for something on the Internet.

The opportunity to help children with even more serious needs than the kids he served in private practice attracted him, he said.

"I'm a native here and I just want to know that the people in this state are being taken care of and they have the basic things all people deserve," he said. "And I think shelter and a safe place to sleep at night is definitely one of those things."

Reach reporter Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com. Visit tribtown.trib.com/JoshuaWolfson/blog to read his blog.

To help

Family Promise organizers are looking for more Casper area churches and civic groups to participate. They are also seeking monetary or other types of donations. For more information, or to donate, contact James Cummings at (307) 234-9343. More information on Family Promise can also be found online at http://familypromiseofcasper.org.