Happy New Year!

Some of you reading this may remember when RAIHN first opened its doors to families in April 2004, with a call to action: assisting families experiencing homelessness to achieve sustainable independence. Staff, the Board of Directors, and our committed congregations have steadfastly continued this work for nearly 18 years, with over 40 congregations (1,800 volunteers) coming together to serve needs greater than their own, providing compassionate hospitality and shelter to 540 families, including 1009 children. RAIHN evolved and grew over the years to include robust initiatives to prevent homelessness, divert a shelter stay, and stabilize families long-term. Following the lead of the national organization, RAIHN changed its name in 2020 to Family Promise of Greater Rochester, reflecting this growth and the organization’s continued commitment to the inherent promise in each family served.

And now, as we enter year 3 of a worldwide pandemic, we are faced with yet another significant change. With the series of pivots from the congregational model of shelter, to sheltering in a motel, and finally to utilizing apartments as shelter, we realize that while we can’t forecast the future of the pandemic, we can and must act proactively to set the organization on a path of stability, much like we do for the families in our Shelter Program. The Board of Directors and staff have made the decision not to return to the congregational model of shelter. We pause with this sentence…to invite you to give yourself and your community some space to reflect on this decision and process through any emotion that comes to mind.

If you were involved in the details of the weekly rotations at your congregation or volunteered regularly, you might take this time to reflect on a special moment with a family or a volunteer or perhaps an unexpected situation that arose.
If you are new to Family Promise or volunteered at the Day Center, perhaps you take this time to realize what an impact the congregational model had on the lives of so many families sheltered and cared for within Rochester’s sacred spaces.

As for next steps, we will continue to shelter families within apartments as we make a final decision on the purchase of the Day Center at 142 Webster Avenue. If this purchase is realized, we will access the 4 apartments on the 2nd floor as shelter, with the hopes that if and when the pandemic wanes, we can shift the shelter program to a more family-centric, trauma informed, equitable model by inviting volunteers into the Day Center space to share communal meals, provide care for children during enrichment classes, answers phones, and/or join a “maintenance/repair” team.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO FINDING NEW WAYS TO ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS AND MAINTAIN OUR INTERFAITH PARTNERSHIPS WITH YOUR CONGREGATION, THE TRUE FOUNDATION OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

Join us as we celebrate the milestones, transitions, and transformations of the organization over the past 18 years. Despite inevitable change, we remain committed to our vision: Family Promise of Greater Rochester will have achieved success when affordable, decent, equitable housing is seen as a human right and every family has a place to call home. We look forward to our continued work with you in achieving this vision.

With gratitude and blessings,
Kim Hunt-Uzelac, LMSW (she/her)
Executive Director