Emergency Shelter
Our emergency shelter program and warm hospitality are the foundation of the Family Promise model.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/25e6af_98419bbeff4b43aeacc539c12f730a03~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_433,h_313,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/25e6af_98419bbeff4b43aeacc539c12f730a03~mv2.jpg)
Across this country, communities offer hospitality to families through Family Promise Affiliates such as ours. The innovative model — using existing space like congregations and volunteers motivated by compassion —has helped hundreds of thousands of children and adults nationwide. Working with community resources, we Family Promise Affiliates provide comprehensive and targeted services, including extensive case management, at 1/3 the cost of traditional shelters. Furthermore, we serve families of all compositions, often providing their only shelter option in a community.
And it works.
On average, 88% of the people served in the shelter program secure housing within nine weeks. Because of the depth of services and community support, families stay housed, and we Affiliates provide both prevention and stabilization services to increase their impact.
COVID-19 CHANGES
Unfortunately, the innovative model did not abide by social distancing guidelines put into place after the start of the pandemic. Therefore, we had to change how we house our families. The result was the creation of our static site model. This model allowed us to successfully re-house our families into static locations. Static locations are a fixed site for the families to stay, and volunteers to provide the hospitality from afar. The static site model also engages our congregational and community partners. We are more than happy to say that our families are doing well and are all safe.
HOW IT WORKS
Family Promise of Hudson County’s emergency shelter program has been running on the static site model
for some time now. This model allows us to successfully re-house our families into static locations.
A static location is a fixed site where a family can stay and volunteers provide hospitality from a distance.
These locations enable our families to have the stability needed to get themselves back on their feet.
If you are a landlord or property owner in Hudson County and have a unit available to rent
for one of our static locations,
please email b.vanderpool@familypromisehudsoncounty.org
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/827c6d_5ea9aa5082984b58afcd3d08db52fa30~mv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/827c6d_5ea9aa5082984b58afcd3d08db52fa30~mv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg)
A COMMUNITY RESPONSE
In every community, these core elements exist. By bringing the community together on the issue of family homelessness, we address a major social problem in a holistic, effective way. Once the community becomes engaged, people understand the root causes of family homelessness and take steps to address them. Family Promise of Hudson County has created multiple community initiatives that target the issues of poverty and homelessness on a local level.
A LONG-TERM SOLUTION
Not only does our 88% success rate mean many more families are stably housed, but it also saves the community a tremendous cost in comparison to far more expensive interventions. Our approach of keeping families together, identifying their strengths, and partnering with the community for solutions means that families are at much lower risk of returning to homelessness.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Family Promise of Hudson County changes lives. We served many families since we began, giving them the ability to realize their true potential. We also changed the lives of our volunteers, giving them a meaningful outreach right in their own communities.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/827c6d_9501d072d3ba43db9f497e3808a09c4e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_464,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/827c6d_9501d072d3ba43db9f497e3808a09c4e~mv2.jpg)
Get Email Updates