10 New Family Promise Affiliates Partner with Help Us Move In (HUMI) to House Families

Even though Carmen was working long hours as a certified nursing assistant, she was having trouble paying rent on the apartment she shared with her 2 daughters.

Michelle’s husband abruptly turned her family out of their home, but only after depleting the savings she had from her consignment shop.

These two mothers and many others like them, found housing and assistance through Family Promise’s national partnership with Help Us Move In (HUMI).

We are proud to announce the selection of 10 new Family Promise Affiliates as grant recipients in a national partnership between Family Promise and HUMI, a Washington state-based nonprofit working with communities to fund and create programs helping families facing housing crises. The model is based on the shared beliefs of the two organizations that a combination of case management, opportunity, and community can empower the families we serve toward self-sufficiency. The mission of the partnership is simple: to ensure children are Homeless No More.

These ten Family Promise Affiliates have been selected for the second cycle of grants through HUMI. The initial ten Affiliates that participated in the pilot round are just starting their second year with the grant and they have already seen success. In total, the pilot Affiliates served over 862 children from 387 families utilizing funds from this program. According to Allie Card, Executive Director at Family Promise of Greater Denver, “The HUMI grant has allowed us to nearly double our impact in the community. By providing a small amount of rental assistance, 89 families were prevented from experiencing homelessness or were supported as they transition out of homelessness.” Other benefits of the program include increased visibility and awareness, the resources to build new relationships and joint services with other organizations in their communities, and, of course, the ability to move children and families into homes more efficiently.

Here’s how it works: Each participating Affiliate receives a $20,000 Homeless No More Challenge Grant from HUMI over two years ($10,000 per year) to launch a program aimed at sustainable prevention and rehousing for families experiencing homelessness. The grants are not hand-outs: each Affiliate must raise an initial $10,000 before HUMI awards their $10,000 grant. Further, the Affiliate is then expected to engage the community and match the funds with another $20,000 each year. This double challenge match is designed to reinforce a self-sustaining habit of contributions from the community going forward.

The first year HUMI Grants totaled $100,000 and by using this unique matching model, the pilot program locations raised an incredible $367,958 more in their communities, totaling $467,958 to help families with children. Current participant Tara Pagliarini, Executive Director at Family Promise of Brevard, has seen great success in the program’s first year: “The HUMI match allows us to reach out to a new pool of donors that are interested in having a direct impact on families. These donors then plant the seeds that will continue to support housing in our community after the grant cycle ends.”

These Affiliates will establish a Working Group to manage the program within the community, and will identify families to receive assistance and determine how much temporary assistance each family needs to successfully move into and support a stable home. The funds are restricted to rental assistance, housing arrears, and move-in expenses, including security deposits. The goal of the Challenge Funds is a 50/50 balance between preventing family evictions and assisting families with move-in costs.

“Because of our partnership with HUMI, hundreds more families across the country have had their homeless prevented or were able to achieve housing more quickly,” said Family Promise CEO Claas Ehlers. “The HUMI program generated nearly a half-million in additional community giving last year—and will double that this upcoming year. Partnerships like these help Affiliates address the full scope of homelessness by providing resources for prevention and stabilization, in addition to our core work in shelter. We thrilled to continue working with an amazing organization like HUMI.”

Help Us Move In Executive Director Sarah Scherer is enthusiastic about the two organizations working together. “HUMI is very excited to partner with Family Promise and multiply the impact for vulnerable families across the United States to become HOMELESS NO MORE!”

The partnership’s impact is best put by a mother who benefited from HUMI. “In a time of need, this program helped me. When family couldn’t and wouldn’t help, you did, and for this I am very thankful.”

The Affiliates selected for the second grant cycle are: South Sarasota County (FL), Metrowest (MA), Hawaii (HI), Colorado Springs (CO), Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (NY), Davie County (NC), South Bay (CA), San Gabriel Valley (CA), Lima-Allen County (OH), and Irving (TX).

About Family Promise
Founded in Summit in 1988 to address homelessness in Union County, Family Promise has grown into a national organization with more than 200 Affiliates in 43 states. Since then, Family Promise has served more than 825,000 people, the majority of them children. Family Promise Affiliates serve more than 90,000 people each year by providing shelter, food, and a host of other comprehensive support services.