Family Promise Montco PA

A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Marsha Eichelberger Family Promise Montco PA is committed to preventing and ending homelessness for families with children. The ruling on June 28, 2024, by the Supreme Court in Grants Pass v. Johnson punishes individuals and families for living in poverty and being unhoused. At Family Promise Montco PA, we prioritize treating those facing housing crises with dignity and compassion. In 2023, we provided 10,344 bed-nights of shelter to those in need. Our Country is currently facing an affordable housing crisis for low-income households. In Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, which has the third-highest eviction rate in the state (averaging 22 evictions per day), families struggle daily. Although the answer to homelessness isn’t simple, we believe that by working together and providing increased resources to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness, everyone can have a safe, stable, affordable, place to call home. Let’s come together to acknowledge and help our unhoused neighbors -- not fine or incarcerate them – and advocate for solutions at the local, state, and national levels. 

A message from our Executive Director, Marsha Eichelberger from our June Inter-Connected Newsletter. Making Food More Accessible We are excited to share that Family Promise Montco plans to launch an online ordering system, Order Ahead, at our Food Pantry in Roslyn. Order Ahead aims to expand access to pantry items through a discreet and convenient click-and-collect grocery ordering system that reduces the physical and social barriers encountered by neighbors facing food insecurity. The program enables individuals facing hunger to order food from our food pantry in Roslyn, with the 12 temperature-controlled lockers having these features: - accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - use the Order Ahead app to register, shop for available items, place orders, and receive confirmation - receive reminders and a pickup code to retrieve items It may be that factors such as transportation, stigma, and time are barriers that prevent individuals from seeking help. For people who are uncomfortable seeking food assistance, the platform offers a more private and discreet experience. Our Food Pantry Manager, LaToya, shared “it is incredible how this innovation will allow us to reach even more families in need, meeting them where they are and offering flexibility with pickup times. This step forward is crucial in our mission to combat food insecurity and bridge gaps in access to essential resources. Together, we’re making a meaningful impact on our community. Here’s to progress and empowerment!”

Housing is a Human Right! We've shared about our Day of Advocacy in Harrisburg with the Collaborative Advocacy Network of Bucks-Mont Collaborative - but what does that mean? Why were we there? Well, we created this video to share our WHY. We hope you will join us as we continue to advocate for affordable housing and access to behavioral health policies.

A Message from our Executive Director, Marsha Eichelberger We Made Our Voices Heard On May 7, nine members of the Family Promise team and I traveled along the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Harrisburg to participate in a Day of Advocacy, held at the state Capitol. Sponsored by the Collaborative Advocacy Network (CAN), a vital component of the Bucks-Mont Collaborative, our goal was to raise awareness about two critical issues affecting our community: affordable housing and behavioral health access policies. Policy goals and budgetary needs to enhance housing affordability and strengthen the behavioral health system—both of which significantly impact the well-being of Pennsylvanians—were voiced throughout the day. We joined over 100 people in meetings with legislators from Bucks and Montgomery Counties, and we also attended a press conference in the Rotunda. In the video above, you can see my colleagues and me joining others in emphasizing that “housing is a human right.” The opportunity to share information and local narratives about the challenges faced by our Montgomery County neighbors was empowering, reinforcing the importance of advocacy. Pennsylvania’s current state legislation represents a significant step toward supporting Family Promise as we address the intersecting crises of homelessness, mental health, and lack of support services. As a nonprofit organization that has received Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE) funding to support our work, we’ve witnessed positive change through advocacy efforts. PHARE funding supports the creating of new affordable housing units and the preservation of existing ones, rental and utility assistance, assistance for home buyers, and blight remediation initiatives improving our local communities and neighborhoods. Our collective presence in Harrisburg amplified our voices, ensuring that these critical issues received attention. Thank you to Bux-Mont Collaborative for organizing our meetings with legislators and leaders to share information and stories about the challenges facing our neighbors. To stay informed about community and policy updates impacting Bucks and Montgomery Counties, visit the CAN website and look for ongoing stories in our monthly newsletter.

Thankful for the Family Promise Montco PA team who showed up and spoke up to advocate for affordable housing policy.

Our staff and volunteers had a great time in Harrisburg with Bucks-Mont Collaborative and other nonprofits from Bucks and Montgomery Counties. As a group we spent the day to advocate and met with local representatives to tell them the importance of affordable housing and access to behavioral health systems. We are so thankful to have such empowering, encouraging, and inspiring neighbors in South-Eastern Pennsylvania. #CANyouhearusnow #weCANdothis #BucksMontCoadvocates

Happy National Volunteer Month! During one of our recent Family Promise staff meetings, we gathered as a team to share thoughts and stories about our amazing volunteers who provide tireless support across our programs. The dedication and selflessness of our volunteers warm our hearts and illuminates our purpose. The image above visualizes the words that our team members believe best describe our volunteers. This staff engagement, lead by Executive Director Marsha Eichelberger, felt like stitching together a vibrant quilt—a tapestry illustrating kindness, resilience, and shared purpose. The visual below illustrates how working with volunteers makes us feel as we partner together to support families experiencing homelessness and hunger. We continue to be inspired every day and celebrate the very essence of coming together to help one another—the power of giving, connecting, and making a difference.

We are so proud to be a beneficiary of the Rotary Club of Blue Bell's award-winning event, Chefs of the Burbs! Every year we have a great time with our community, testing food from local restaurants, and sharing our mission. There are only a few tickets left - we hope to see you there on May 22nd!

On Tuesday, May 7th, the Bucks-Mont Collaborative’s Collaborative Advocacy Network (CAN) is hosting a press conference at the Capitol building and series of legislative visits with our local elected officials to talk about two critical issues to our communities: affordable housing and behavioral health. All are welcome to this event. A pre-event training will be hosted on April 17th. For more information or if you are interested in participating, you can follow this link: https://lnkd.in/eBv-rYNu We really want to show Pennsylvania how much enthusiasm there is for supporting affordable housing development in our communities!

A Message from our Executive Director, Marsha Eichelberger, as shared in our March Inter-Connected Newsletter. The Faith Community Is A Vital Partner In Addressing Homelessness and Hunger The housing crisis in our community is a pressing reality. Montgomery County now has the third-h rate of evictions in Pennsylvania, recording 22 evictions per day. Last month, my Family Promise Montco colleagues and I joined over 200 people for a Community of Practice event, ‘Meeting the Moment: Taking Action on Homelessness and Affordable Housing in Montgomery County’ hosted by HealthSpark Foundation. Interfaith communities pay a crucial role in developing actionable, person-centered responses to these dual crises. As a panelist on a conference session discussion about the partnership with faith communities, a shared belief was voiced about the allyship they provide to our work. Serving others involves recognizing the needs and struggles of others. The phrase “living out their faith” is witnessed daily in the compassion and empathy to others that our Interfaith Hospitality Network volunteers give to our caregivers and their children experiencing homelessness. My team and I have also witnessed the swift and enthusiastic response when calls for help are made to coordinate food drives for our community food pantry. Faith becomes tangible when we serve others, and our volunteers often express a sense of receiving more from the experience than what they give. As our community faces the ongoing challenges of implementing housing policies that promote sustainable, long-term solutions for homelessness and hunger, Family Promise emerges as a beacon of hope. We deeply understand the significance of collective action and the strength found in unity. Living out our faith propels us to actively engage in constructing a more resilient and interconnected community. Through collaborative efforts, boundless compassion, and unwavering commitment, Family Promise stands alongside our faith communities, working tirelessly to forge a brighter future for those experiencing homelessness and hunger. Make sure you don't miss the next edition of our E-Newsletter! You can sign up by following this link: https://lnkd.in/ekgWv3xQ to stay up to date with all things Family Promise Montco PA!