Family Promise

Founded in 1986, Family Promise began in the midst of an emergent crisis; the previous year, the primary cause of foster care placements among children in New Jersey was neither abuse nor neglect – it was their mothers becoming homeless. Communities and congregations came together to take action and forged a novel approach: using resources in the community to help those who had lost their homes, including buildings for shelter, community partners for services, and volunteers to staff overnights. This model created community among families and volunteers and gave immediate needed support to families while preserving their safety and dignity.