FAIRHOPE, Ala. — It’s been said that it takes a village to solve many of the world’s ills, but the solution can actually begin with a single house becoming a home. Ecumenical Ministries Inc. (EMI), a United Way agency, is putting that theory to the test by helping Family Promise of Baldwin County provide shelter and a fresh start for homeless families.

EMI, with the support and hard work of Fairhope United Methodist Church youth led by Jennifer Myrick, as well as adult volunteers, renovated a house east of Greeno Road in Fairhope so it can be used as transitional housing for homeless families with children. The property was then leased for a minimal amount to Family Promise, and that organization will use it to help one family at a time overcome the hurdles they face.

Sally Deane, EMI executive director, said the two-bedroom, one-bath home was built for a client in need 20 years ago. It was returned to the group when the woman passed away in 2010.

“We decided to fix it up and lease it to Family Promise for their transitional program. We can help more families this way,” she said. Deane noted doing so fits within EMI’s core mission because it enables the agency to do more toward putting a dent in the county’s growing homeless problem.

Deane said Myrick “thought it would be a great idea for the kids to fix it up … We transformed a house that wasn’t livable into a nice home.”

Gathering in teams, the teens and others repaired cosmetic problems, including replacing flooring, painting walls and cleaning the property. The work took about three or four months to complete. Once done, the house was fully furnished from the inventory of Emmy’s Thrift Shop, an EMI fundraising effort.

The annual lease agreement with Family Promise contains an option to renew, and Deane said the financial terms are set so EMI can cover property taxes. The project was made possible with donations from various groups, businesses and individuals, including a $2,000 grant from the Mapp Foundation.

“The majority of the population doesn’t realize how many homeless there are in Baldwin County,” said Mike Brokowsky, executive director of Family Promise. “They’re not chronic homeless like in Mobile.”

He pointed out that unlike some of the more visible homeless on the other side of Mobile Bay, those living here without a roof over their head are often one- or two-parent families with school-age children. Too often, he added, they do not seek the assistance they need.

Brokowsky said, “A lot of times, people are too prideful to come into a shelter program. They would rather sleep in their car. You just can’t bring your wife and your kids into a shelter. Those that do come into a shelter are blessed; so are the volunteers.”

Family Promise enlists a network of 14 host churches which rotate up to four homeless families at a time between the physical facilities, while another five houses of worship act as support systems by supplying volunteers.

“We are an interfaith hospitality network,” Brokowsky said. “The volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization.”

The families each receive a private room in the host church, a continental breakfast, ingredients for a brown bag lunch and a hot meal in the evening. They also are given the solid foundation they need to turn around their situation.

The families are assigned a case manager who guides them through the process of getting back on their feet. The breadwinner is required to complete three employment applications each day in order to remain in the program. Transportation is provided, if needed.

No matter where the family is housed at any given time, the children continue to attend classes in familiar surroundings. Brokowsky said, “We’ve made a commitment to keep the children in their school. We feel their friends and social network are important for their stability.”

With the addition of the EMI house, the Foley-based Family Promise now operates three transitional homes. Another is in Fairhope and one is located in Bon Secour. Each family selected may live in one of the homes for a maximum of six months. The residences are intended to be their last step in the road leading to renewed independence.

Because there are currently few houses in the program, Brokowsky carefully chooses which families will live there. He said, “I try to be a good steward. If the family is working toward the goals, and won’t take advantage of the opportunity, I make the decision to place them in the home. They need a little more time to save up (money).”

Brokowsky acknowledged there is a tremendous stigma associated with being homeless in our society, though a bad economy has increased the number of men and women struggling to hang on.

“People think of the chronic homeless with alcohol- and drug-abuse problems that are sleeping in the streets of the large cities,” Brokowsky said. “The demographics (in Baldwin County) are normally single moms with multiple children.”

Although an annual homeless census is taken by volunteers each year, there is no way to accurately gain an exact number. Brokowsky said many live unseen within encampments in wooded areas, or in vacant houses.

“This is a prosperous county along the water, but there is a homeless problem,” he added.

Deane agreed. She said, “Rural homelessness is harder to pinpoint because they live in their cars, or they’re doubled up in their friend’s or neighbor’s place. Having an asset (like the house EMI leased to Family Promise) that helps homeless people helps us fulfill our mission. It’s important to Baldwin County.”