When Family Promise began, it was a local response to a problem in Union County, New Jersey.
It continues to have roots in communities across the nation.
It continues to have roots in communities across the nation.
1986: THE FIRST NETWORK NATIONWIDE
Karen Olson was rushing to a business meeting when she passed a homeless woman on the street. On impulse, Karen bought her a sandwich. Karen became aware that homelessness brought profound feelings of diminished self-worth and disconnection from society. Karen and her two sons began delivering lunches to homeless people on the streets of New York. Word spread through various congregations who then developed similar programs and in 1988 the National Interfaith Hospitality Network was formed. Affiliates began developing programs for transitional housing, childcare, and homelessness prevention.
Karen Olson was rushing to a business meeting when she passed a homeless woman on the street. On impulse, Karen bought her a sandwich. Karen became aware that homelessness brought profound feelings of diminished self-worth and disconnection from society. Karen and her two sons began delivering lunches to homeless people on the streets of New York. Word spread through various congregations who then developed similar programs and in 1988 the National Interfaith Hospitality Network was formed. Affiliates began developing programs for transitional housing, childcare, and homelessness prevention.
2003: We Become Family Promise
We changed our name, from the National Interfaith Hospitality to Family Promise, to reflect our broad range of programs and our vision of ending family homelessness. The name refers to the promise, in the sense of commitment, which communities make to families in need. But it also refers to the promise, the potential, inherent in every family.
Over the past three decades, Family Promise has continued to expand our scope and our reach. Today, we comprise more than 200 Affiliates across 43 states and are the leading national nonprofit addressing the issue of family homelessness
We changed our name, from the National Interfaith Hospitality to Family Promise, to reflect our broad range of programs and our vision of ending family homelessness. The name refers to the promise, in the sense of commitment, which communities make to families in need. But it also refers to the promise, the potential, inherent in every family.
Over the past three decades, Family Promise has continued to expand our scope and our reach. Today, we comprise more than 200 Affiliates across 43 states and are the leading national nonprofit addressing the issue of family homelessness
2019: FAMILY PROMISE of METRO EAST TAKES UP THE BANNER
A group of dedicated volunteers who had been part of another similar family shelter system that no longer existed, were determined that they were going to continue the work needed to provide safe shelter for children and their families. They contacted Family Promise and started the work to become a new affiliate. Then COVID happened!
2020 EVEN A PANDEMIC WOULD NOT STOP US!
We continued working, formed a board of directors, contacted churches and individuals who had been part of the previous shelter network and others who were not, wrote bylaws, filed to become a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, identified a place for a Day Shelter and started preparing it for families, and did fundraising and more fundraising.
A group of dedicated volunteers who had been part of another similar family shelter system that no longer existed, were determined that they were going to continue the work needed to provide safe shelter for children and their families. They contacted Family Promise and started the work to become a new affiliate. Then COVID happened!
2020 EVEN A PANDEMIC WOULD NOT STOP US!
We continued working, formed a board of directors, contacted churches and individuals who had been part of the previous shelter network and others who were not, wrote bylaws, filed to become a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, identified a place for a Day Shelter and started preparing it for families, and did fundraising and more fundraising.
2022: FAMILY PROMISE of METRO EAST OPENS TO ITS FIRST CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
In 2022 with the pandemic subsiding, we were ready to hire an Executive Director and Housing and Resource Navigator continued to do the work that was still needed to welcome our first guests, children and their families who were experiencing homelessness.
Family Promise of Metro East held our first volunteer training, expecting about 40 individuals ready to dig in and help, but had standing room only when 80 people showed up!
In 2022 with the pandemic subsiding, we were ready to hire an Executive Director and Housing and Resource Navigator continued to do the work that was still needed to welcome our first guests, children and their families who were experiencing homelessness.
Family Promise of Metro East held our first volunteer training, expecting about 40 individuals ready to dig in and help, but had standing room only when 80 people showed up!
And finally, on July 18, 2022, our first family sat down for dinner at the very first host site, Grant Park Presbyterian Church. We have since welcomed more families. Providing support and resources until they are able to access stable housing of their own, because every child deserves a warm and safe place to sleep at night.
THE WAY FORWARD
Nationally, Family Promise has served more than 1 million family members since our founding more than 30 years ago, and together they aspire to change the future for 1 million children by 2030 through our community-based programs.
But the core of what we do is still local—partnerships within the Portland Metro area changing lives.
Locally, we continue to work hard, determined to continue until all families have equitable access to housing and the chance to build a better future.
Find out how you, your family, your congregation, your business or your organization can help here.
Or invest in the future of families in our community by donating here.
You can find out more about houselessness in our neighborhoods, Family Promise and the work they are doing around the United States here.
Nationally, Family Promise has served more than 1 million family members since our founding more than 30 years ago, and together they aspire to change the future for 1 million children by 2030 through our community-based programs.
But the core of what we do is still local—partnerships within the Portland Metro area changing lives.
Locally, we continue to work hard, determined to continue until all families have equitable access to housing and the chance to build a better future.
Find out how you, your family, your congregation, your business or your organization can help here.
Or invest in the future of families in our community by donating here.
You can find out more about houselessness in our neighborhoods, Family Promise and the work they are doing around the United States here.
