Endowment fund offers promise for those facing homelessness
Milford. The effort will help by offering assistance for families in emergency situations.
| 15 May 2023 | 02:39
Family Promise in Pike County Case Manager Erika Ambrose (l), and Executive Director Enid Logan, examine one of several historic pieces that will be preserved in the renovation of a building recently purchased to help unhoused families in the county. (
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A new endowment fund is being established to offer emergency assistance for families and individuals facing temporary homelessness via the Greater Pike Community Foundation
Family Promise of the Poconos is responding to the growing need in the county by establishing The Promise of a Better Future Organizational Endowment Fund that will strengthen its long-term sustainability and improve financial stability to see its programs succeed in the future.
“This Fund is going to help ensure that what we start today will continue to address the evolving needs of at-risk and homeless children and their families in the future,” executive director of Family Promise, Enid Logan, said. “We can’t predict the future and an endowment fund with Greater Pike will help Family Promise be better poised to change with the evolving needs of the community.”
Family Promise has been assisting homeless individuals and families by using hotels, at a cost of $9,000 to $11,000 per month. In 2022 alone, 28 households from the county were provided emergency shelter, meals, and case-managed support.
Recognizing that this is not a sustainable model, Family Promise recently purchased a property in Milford that currently is undergoing renovations and is expected to open later this year. According to Logan, the space will be able to house up to four families at one time and will function as an in-person 211 access site for those in need.
“We have seen a rise in emergency needs for families and individuals, including youth ages 18-21. We have been able to provide more rent and utility assistance. Our holistic approach helps us to provide preventative as well as future services,” she said.
“Homelessness is one of the greatest social determinants of health a person can experience, and we stand proud with Family Promise as they establish the Promise of a Better Future Organizational Endowment Fund to ensure housing stability for our most vulnerable,” said Jess Zufall, executive director of the Greater Pike Community Foundation.
Online donations to the Promise of a Better Future Organizational Endowment Fund can be made at https://greaterpike.org/fund_list/ (scroll down to the fund name for the link).
Greater Pike helps individuals, families, and local businesses to provide a permanent and personal way to give back to the community. For more information, contact the executive director at 973-580-3091 or jesszufall@greaterpike.org, or log onto www.greaterpike.org or Facebook.com/GreaterPike.
