COEUR d'ALENE - Family Promise, the nonprofit organization dedicated to providing transitional housing for families, closed its doors effective Thursday afternoon.

Executive Director Cindy Wood said financial difficulties forced the decision.

"We're sad," Wood said Thursday. "There were many tears at the board meeting when this was decided."

The plan is to re-open Oct. 18, in time to provide housing for families before winter sets in, but fundraising goals need to be reached to help make that happen.

The decision was made earlier this month, and the three families who were living at the center in St. Luke's Episcopal Church at 501 Wallace Ave., have been notified and have either secured or were close to securing other living arrangements when the news came.

Family Promise, which has three paid staff, took a financial hit when it was denied three grants for which it had applied, totaling about $36,000, earlier this year.

"We're really thin on funds right now," Wood said, adding that the center had been $2,000 short on its bills each month recently. "We want the community to know, especially our donors, what's going on with the organization."

Family Promise celebrated its three year anniversary in April. Wood said she will continue to work raising funds and setting up the annual Cardboard Box City fundraiser Oct. 14. The fundraiser generates money from people and sponsors who pledge support by sleeping out in chilly conditions in cardboard boxes.

The goal is to raise $60,000.

Wood will be the only paid staff not on hiatus, as she will work at 85 percent of her wage organizing pledge drives and the fundraiser with volunteer help.

She thanked her donors on Thursday, and promised to do everything to ensure the center re-opens, and for good.

Family Promise operates on a roughly $115,000 budget, funded by grants and private donations. It helped around 20 families, or 70 individuals per year, over 90-day stays. Seventy-two percent of the unemployed people who entered the home eventually found work, staff said.