Family Promise is the nation’s leading organization working to prevent and end homelessness, to assist the families in the program.  While guests are trying to get back on their feet families are able to stay together while getting much-needed support. The organization’s vision is a nation in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. What began as a local initiative in Summit, NJ, has become a national movement that involves 200,000 volunteers in 200+ communities in 43 states.

Temple Emanu-El volunteers provide hospitality, companionship, and most importantly, community. We are proud that Temple Emanu-El is a part of this very important work. Prior to Covid, TEE worked with Family Promise to provide comfortable accommodations for guests (turning classrooms into bedrooms), meals, companionship, transportation and a variety of necessities and niceties donated by our members.

Due to Covid, the way Temple Emanu-El and other supporting congregations/churches assist Family Promise and their guests has shifted slightly. Although we no longer physically host our guests, we support them throughout the year in various ways including bi-annual fundraisers, providing meals throughout the year, and various uplifting outreach such as providing Mother/Father’s Day goodie bags and holiday gifts.  

Our program with Family promise is important because it helps us look at homelessness in a different way. We have an opportunity to be a part of people’s lives as they take the steps to get back on their feet and obtain permanent housing.