top of page
All Posts


Home for the Holidays
"It's incredible how many bad things happened in a very short amount of time," Sarah remarked. Joe and Sarah looked like any other Cleveland family—two kids, two dogs, jobs, and a routine. But beneath the surface, hidden financial complications left them vulnerable. When a child's serious illness struck, everything unraveled in a single devastating week: job loss, eviction, and mounting pressure with nowhere to turn. What happened next would test their resilience and reveal t

Eva VanHook
14 hours ago1 min read
Â
Â
Â


November is Homeless Awareness Month
Eva conducting a Point in Time Survey I often get asked, "How many homeless do we have in Bradley County?" I wish I had a simple answer, but like most complex issues, it's not that straightforward. What our annual count reveals—and more importantly, what it doesn't reveal—tells a story that every member of our community needs to understand. The reality of homelessness in Bradley County goes far beyond the numbers you might expect. From the hidden populations we can't count to

Eva VanHook
Nov 251 min read
Â
Â
Â


Our Local State of Housing
Before the pandemic, I could move a family from homelessness into housing in 8 to 10 weeks with less than $2,000. COVID changed everything, and recent data from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency paints a bleak picture: 2,807 low-income households in our community are competing for just 1,901 affordable housing units. This mismatch is forcing families to pay 40% or even 50% of their income on housing, leaving no room for emergencies or savings—and this is why we have a

Eva VanHook
Nov 251 min read
Â
Â
Â


Shifting Gears
Sometimes Life Forces Us to Shift Gears When We Least Expect It What happens when a year of planning comes crashing down in a single morning? Family Promise of Bradley County's signature event, the Cleveland Circuit Ride, faced questionable storms that forced a last-minute cancellation. But this unexpected turn of events mirrors something deeper happening in our community – nearly half of our neighbors are living one disaster away from losing everything. Picture showing a fam

Eva VanHook
Nov 251 min read
Â
Â
Â


This Summer Has Been A Lot
This summer has been a lot… of good… but still a lot. Last fall, we had the opportunity and were awarded a grant from the Bradley County...

Eva VanHook
Aug 121 min read
Â
Â
Â


Starting Something New
When I first started with Family Promise of Bradley County, I worked really hard to educate audiences I had access to on the realities of...

Eva VanHook
Jul 171 min read
Â
Â
Â


Last Minute Opportunity. Invest In Change.
Help Me Bring Affordable Housing Solutions to Bradley County Since 2011, I’ve worked with Family Promise of Bradley County to support...

Eva VanHook
Jun 121 min read
Â
Â
Â


Community Action Month: A Time to Reflect and Reconnect
Someone recently reminded me that May is Community Action Month, and it really got me thinking— how am I showing up for my community? How...

Eva VanHook
May 272 min read
Â
Â
Â


What I've Learned
I’ve always had a heart for people struggling with housing, believing that everyone deserves a place to call home. In the winter of 2011,...

Eva VanHook
Mar 72 min read
Â
Â
Â


Family Promise to Host First-Ever Giving Day Event
SUMMIT, NJ, OCTOBER 25 – This October, Family Promise Affiliates across the country will participate in Family Promise’s first Giving...

Eva VanHook
Mar 25, 20202 min read
Â
Â
Â


Family Promise Week Recognized by NJ Government Officials
GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY AND SENATOR CORY BOOKER RECOGNIZE FAMILY PROMISE WEEK 2019. This week, October 20th through October 27th is Family...

Eva VanHook
Mar 25, 20201 min read
Â
Â
Â


Family Promise Celebrates National Make a Dog’s Day!
For National Make a Dog’s Day, we’re celebrating our partnership with PetSmart Charities: Pets with a Promise Nearly 70 percent of...

Eva VanHook
Mar 25, 20202 min read
Â
Â
Â
bottom of page