Letter from the President – November 2018

At our recent Gala, I said that Family Promise ‘s mission has evolved into far more than simply providing a family with a roof over their heads, because it’s not just about housing—it’s about poverty. So we are addressing the poverty issue and the many causes that lead to a family becoming homeless.

This problem is not going away. Two months ago, we received calls from 45 families who were homeless or, within days, going to be homeless—that’s over 500 families a year. This in Bergen County!

I announced that our vision is to own a building so that we can expand and provide all of our services . . . and more . . . in one place. Owning such a site will enable us to be part of the community and serve even more families and individuals who need our help.

And then, just the other day, The Record reported that the number of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families in New Jersey has increased by 16% from 2010 to 2016. Nearly 40% of NJ families are ALICE families.

All of the families that we help are ALICE families, but with one significant difference—they are homeless, too.

Our announcement to expand and help even more families is coming at the right time. We will keep you posted as we move ahead.

Paul R. Shackford
President
Board of Trustees