Night Without a Bed

Eight-year-old Abby never expected she’d be doing her homework in a motel room every night. But when her dad lost his job, her family had to give up their home. They moved into a motel, and Abby went from having her own bedroom to sharing one room with her entire family. It was hard for her to focus on school or imagine a happy future 

Abby’s not alone, 1 in 16 children in the U.S. experiences homelessness by the first grade. They and their families can be found sleeping in motel rooms, with friends, or even in their cars. And kids who face homelessness suffer in other ways, as well. They’re more likely to drop out of school, repeat a grade, suffer from depression, and attempt suicide. 

You can show your support for children and families battling homelessness and raise awareness of this crisis by joining Family Promise’s first Night Without A Bed sleepout on June 20, 2020. 

Put up a tent in your back yard. Make a fort in your living room. Wrap up in blankets on the sofa or in a sleeping bag on the floor. Give up your comfortable bed for one night and share the experience with friends and family. Post photos of your Night Without A Bed on social media, tag FamilyPromiseOR, use the hashtag #NightWithoutABed, and ask sponsors to support your efforts to help families battling homelessness. 

Thanks to Family Promise, Abby’s parents found employment, the family moved into housing, and Abby’s life began returning to normal. Join Family Promise of the Mid-Willamette Valley on June 20 to help more families like Abby’s.