Family Promise of Knoxville

Mission Statement: Family Promise of Knoxville is a non-profit organization uniting the faith community and other area social services to provide shelter, meals, and comprehensive support to families without homes, enabling them to achieve sustainable independence.

News Flash: Family Promise of Knoxville is pleased to announce that we have hired a new Director of Family Support Services. Anne Umbach earned her Master's degree in Social Work from Georgia State University and has worked for Interfaith Outreach Home in the Atlanta, GA area. She has had experience working with the homeless population for the last three years. She will begin with us on September 1st. We are very excited to have Anne join the Family Promise team. She will be an excellent addition. You will have a chance to meet her at the Pasta Cook-Of.

Unfortunately, with the addition of Anne, Jennifer Jarvis will be leaving us after August 31st. She has done an absolutely awesome job of helping with the Pasta Cook-off and the families. She will be missed.

Thanks to our Pasta Cook-Off Sponsors. It's not too late to sponsor this important event that provides a significant portion of our annual budget. Please consider becoming a sponsor, purchasing ticket to this fun event, or making a donation to help families in need.

What is Family Promise?
Factsheet

What We Do: Family Promise of Knoxville is an affiliate of the national Family Promise organization. Family Promise of Knoxville unites the Knoxville community and local resources to do what individuals alone cannot do. The cornerstone of Family Promise of Knoxville is our Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN).

Through the Family Promise IHN, we have united 12 "host" congregations and 18 "support" congregations in the Knoxville area, numerous volunteers, our core staff, and local social services agencies into a synergistic team that provides temporary housing, meals, and assistance to families without homes to help them become self sufficient.

Family Promise of Knoxville has established the Family Promise Academy that provides classes on nutrition, parenting, household finances, and budgeting to current IHN guests, former guests, and families in the community that need assistance. We believe that teaching life skills and parenting skills to families strengthens these families and the community overall. Classes are held regularly.

Family Promise of Knoxville is establishing a Family Mentoring Program that pairs volunteers with families that have graduated from our IHN program. Please contact the Family Promise Executive Director, Joyce Shoudy, if you are interested in becoming a family mentor to find out family mentor details and responsibilities.

Purchase Tickets or become a Sponsor
of the
4th Annual Family Promise Pasta Cook-Off

Host Schedule

Click here for details on giving a Gift to Family Promise of Knoxville. We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit public charity.

Donate to Family Promise of Knoxville via PayPal.

Please consider a donation to Family Promise of Knoxville; your donation goes directly to helping homeless families become self-sufficient. All donations are tax deductible.

For information on becoming a host or support congregation, please contact Tere McDonough.

Family Promise of Knoxville Brochure

Get Ready for the 2009
Family Promise of Knoxville
Pasta
Cook-Off!

Thanks to all of our 2009 Sponsors and Volunteers!

How the Family Promise
Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN)
Program Works

Each Sunday morning, guest families rotate to the next host congregation in the Network, where families are provided private accommodations for the upcoming week. Guests are transported between host churches and our Day Center by the Family Promise van drivers in our large van. School-age children are transported to and from school through arrangements with Knox County School District.

During the Day

At Night

IHN guests use our Day Center, known as Harley House, which provides an address and safe place for families during the day. School-age children attend school and working parents attend work.

The Family Promise Executive Director (Nicole Craig) and Director of Family Support Services (Joyce Shoudy) have offices at the Harley House, and are available Monday through Friday from 8 am until 5 pm.

The Director of Family Support Services works intensively with guest families in the network as they seek childcare, housing, jobs, medical assistance. Our staff provide guidance to guests so they can find and connect with resources that will help them become self-sufficient.

So far, ~ 70% of families participating in the Family Promise IHN program have successfully graduated into housing.

Families stay at one of our 12 host churches in the evenings and overnight. Volunteers from our host and support congregation teams

prepare and serve meals,
serve as evening or overnight hosts,
help set up and tear down guest accommodations, and
help with laundry.

Volunteers also organize activities, such as family game night, tutoring, arts and crafts, or outings.

Special classes on nutrition, parenting, and budgeting are sometimes provided in the evening for parents via the Family Promise Academy, and volunteers are needed for childcare or children's activities during class times.

Volunteer Information

How can I help?

Become a Volunteer
Make a donation
Tell others about Family Promise
Consider serving on the Board of Directors or a committee. Please contact Tere McDonough
Contact Anne O'Connor if you would like to volunteer at the Day Center

We desperately need donated window treatments and some living room furniture that is in good condition and able to withstand the constant use for our day center. Please contact Joyce Shoudy if you can help.

IHN Volunteer Coordinators Corner

Volunteer Coordinator meetings are held quarterly on the 4th Tuesday of the month.

Please join us at 6:30 pm for information, ideas, lessons learned, and fellowship.

Location: Church Street
United Methodist Church, Room 120
(located downtown on the corner of Henley and Church Streets, )

IHN Program News

Check out our latest factsheet for the latest statistics and information on the IHN program.

Room at the Inn - Hallmark Magazine

Hard Life for a Child - Knox News 11/4/07

Learn more about Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities

Recent Successes!

Several of our families have recently moved into housing. Thanks to all of the volunteers who have made this possible and for your generosity in helping these families set up house.
Redecorating or Reorganizing? We have a need for used, good condition, bunk beds, cooking utensils, pots and pans, dishes, glasses, bookshelves, dressers, and plastic storage containers. Please contact Joyce Shoudy if you can help.

Updated 8.13.09