NEWS 2023

Greater Pike Endowment Fund Shows Promise for Homeless

May 9, 2023

Erika Ambrose, Case Manager for Family Promise in Pike County, and Enid Logan, Executive Director, examine one of several historic pieces that will be preserved in the renovation of the building recently purchased to serve a growing Pike County population.

MILFORD, PA – The promise of emergency help for families and individuals facing temporary homelessness is getting a leg up by establishing a new endowment fund with Greater Pike Community Foundation.

Family Promise of the Poconos is responding to this growing and critical need in Pike 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,” said Enid Logan, Executive Director of Family Promise. “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, twenty-eight households from Pike 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. The Milford location 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, Logan explained.

“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 added.

“The commitment on behalf of Family Promise of the Poconos speaks to the dedication of their leadership and board of directors to honor the needs of families and children that will experience homelessness in their lifetimes,” said Jess Zufall, Executive Director, Greater Pike Community Foundation. “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.”

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 Jessica Zufall, Executive Director, at (973) 580-3091, jesszufall@greaterpike.org, or visit www.greaterpike.org, Facebook.com/GreaterPike and Instagram at greaterpikecf.

Erika Ambrose, Case Manager for Family Promise in Pike County, and Enid Logan, Executive Director, review the plans for renovations of the building recently purchased to serve a growing Pike County population.

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