Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis

Description

We shelter families with children till they can find housing, then we work with them for two years to retain housing. Founded in 1994, we are unique for three reasons: 1) We accept any family that comes, regardless of the makeup of the family--something rare for traditional shelters in the United States that separate by gender, age of children, or don't allow same sex couples, three generational families, or sibling groups. 2) We serve twice as many families per dollar invested thanks to a network of 30+ congregations that actually host the families in their own facilities, with volunteers sleeping on site each night and providing meals/transportation out of their own pocket. 3) We are beginning in 2020 to advocate for policy changes to curb the eviction crisis, and are piloting a first-in-the-nation shelter model through renting a private apartment. As a shelter, we believe it is not enough to receive 10 calls per day for help from families, and not ask why so many families are in a position to have to call.