What is Family Promise?
Family Promise is committed to helping families facing homelessness throughout Monroe County. As fast as possible we move our families into safety and provide them with hot healthy food. Our Case Manager works with each family to plan their rapid return to independent housing. We help with the services a family might need, such as: securing housing, employment, job training, and connecting to services.
Because of our unique approach of teaming with local congregations we do not put any time limit on how long a family can remain in our shelter program. Yet, on average, our families return to independent housing in about 80 days. We become friends with our families and follow up with them for at least a year to make sure their return to independent living is permanent.
Everyone deserves a home
Family Promise of Monroe County does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations or marital status.
We work to accomplish our mission through our Network Components:
- Host Congregations. Eight to thirteen host congregations make up the Family Promise Network and provide the overnight accommodations and evening meal to families on a rotating schedule.
- Day Center. Guests spend the daytime hours at the Day Center, the homelike shelter, which also serves as the office space for the Family Promise staff.
- Volunteers. An average of 20 compassionate volunteers are involved during each host week. A primary coordinator, working with 1 or 2 assistants, oversee the Network program within each congregation.
- Support Services. Case Management staff work with guests to accomplish goals needed to successfully exit the program, as well as coordinate and refer the best possible services from other community agencies.
- Transportation. The Network provides transportation between the host congregations and the Day Center on a daily basis.
Congregational support
Family Promise of Monroe County is part of Family Promise, a national organization. The name refers to the promise, in the sense of commitment, which communities make to families in need. But it also refers to the promise, the potential, inherent in every family.
Family Promise has come to represent not just the programs that touch the lives of more than 67,000 people in need annually and engage more than 180,000 volunteers. It represents a national movement that believes we can address family homelessness—right here in our own communities.
“Our job doesn’t end with creating Affiliates. Our focus every day is on helping them march towards excellence,” said Family Promise President Claas Ehlers.
The public is welcome to attend. If interested in attending the training, please call (570) 420-8589 to register. Light refreshments will be served.
Enid Logan
Executive Director
Enid joined the Board of Trustees in October 2017. She began her career as a journalist, and was the Executive Director of a group of newspapers, before joining a large health care provider as director of Public Relations & Development. She subsequently worked for various non-profits in the areas of communication, marketing and development and management.
Samantha Iorio
Case Manager
Samantha has a bachelor’s degree in administrative justice and more than seven years experience as a case manager. Samantha serves residents in Monroe County community.
Stephanie Everson
Case Manager
Stephanie has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and has been a case manager for the past 10 years. Stephanie serves residents of Pike County.
Board of Trustees 2020-2021
Adam Blistein, President
Trish Wingerter, Vice President, Secretary
Rita Scheirer, Treasurer
Sonia Sarmiento
Pat Sayler
Gail Foster
Host Congregations:
East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church
Kirkwood Camp
Mt. Pocono United Methodist Church
Mountainhome United Methodist Church
Streamside Camp & Conference Center
Stroudsburg United Methodist Church
Stroudsburg Wesleyan Church
Trinity Episcopal Church
Zion United Church of Christ
Zion United Lutheran Church
Support Congregations:
Cherry Lane United Methodist Church
Christian Missionary Alliance Church
East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church
Innovation Church
Most Holy Trinity Parish
Mountainhome United Methodist Church
Pocono Grace United Methodist Church
Pocono Lake United Methodist Church
Poplar Valley United Methodist Church
St. Luke’s Catholic Church
St. Matthew’s Catholic Church
St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Smithfields
St. Paul’s United Church Of Christ
Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Salem United Church of Christ
Tobyhanna United Methodist Church
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Poconos
Wooddale United Methodist Church
