Indiana County Family Promise

According to the 2010 Census, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, has a population of 88,880 and one shelter for homeless individuals. The shelter ("Pathways") is located in the town of Black Lick and has a 14 bed capacity. However, due to space constraints, Pathways can only provide services to one family at a time. In the winter of 2009-2010, it became known that at least 2 families were sleeping in their cars during the winter and one of those families had a new born baby. In response to this need, a series of Community Meetings were held over the summer and fall of 2010. The agenda for the community meetings was to increase awareness of the problem of homelessness in Indiana County and to present the Interfaith Hospitality Network as a way to respond to this problem. At the community meeting on August 17, 2010, Michele Faught the Director at Pathways presented a "Statement of Need", indicating Indiana County was experiencing an increase in people being homeless, especially families.
An Interfaith Hospitality Network develops through the leadership and commitment of members in the community. Committees to work on the different aspects of developing a Network began in September 2010. A Host Church Recruiting Committee was formed to recruit thirteen Host Congregations. A Day Center Committee was formed to begin looking for an existing facility that had the resources to house the Day Center. The Fundraising Committee worked on estimating the first year’s expenses, establishing a budget and developing and implementing a fund raising plan. The Transportation Committee explored the most reliable and cost-effective transportation options for transporting families from the Day Center to the Host Congregations. The Core Committee guided the work of the other committees, developed the Network’s governing body, formed the Network into a nonprofit organization, began the search for a Network Director and evolved into the Board of Trustees.
In October 2010, the Core Committee adopted the Articles of Incorporation as prepared by Ross & Ross, Attorneys at Law. In addition, Board Officers were elected; President-Mike McElhaney, Vice President-Chad Jestes, Jeff Mack , Treasurer, Donna Overdorff and Doris McAnulty , co-Secretaries.
A final Community Meeting was held at Church of the Nazarene in Homer City on November 16, 2010. At this meeting representatives from the National Organization Interfaith Hospitality Network attended and presented the Family Promise model for assisting families to develop sustainable independence.
November 2010 the First Covenant Agreement to serve as a Host Congregation was signed and submitted to the Core Committee. This became the springboard for publicity to advertise that churches were committing to this new ministry.
In January 2011, the Indiana Gazette publicized the Network’s first article, making reference to the first Covenant Agreement being turned in.
In February 2011, the IRS approved Family Promise of Indiana County, Inc. as a 501(c) (3) Tax Exempt entity and issues a certificate.
In the winter 2011, components of the network were coming together. The Core Committee that had developed the Network disbanded and a working, decision making Board was formed. Pastor Michael Fischer was elected Vice President of the Board when Chad Jestes moved out of the area.
In July of 2011, Family Promise became a Network Affiliate of the Interfaith Hospitality Network.
A few more Host Congregations were needed and in August 2011 a lunch meeting with the Board and the clergy of the potential host congregations was held. As a result, fourteen Host Congregations signed Covenants to be part of Family Promise.
The first major fund raising event was held in September 2011. Family Promise of Indiana County and Pathways Shelter in Black lick were the beneficiaries of monies raised in the Run for Shelter, a 5K race/walk held on the Hoodlebug Trail.
In September of 2011, a Letter of Agreement was signed between Covenant Way Church and Family Promise of Indiana County to house the Day Center on the ground level of Covenant Way Church. Plans were developed to remodel a bathroom into a shower room and to install a laundry area.
An agreement was made with the Church of the Resurrection to use their 14-passenger van to transport the Family Promise Guests.
In September of 2011, with all other components of the Network in place, the Board began recruiting efforts for the position of Network Director. In November of 2011, Carole Reed was hired as the Network Director. November 19-21, 2011, the Director of the Midwest Region of the Interfaith Hospitality Network, Elizabeth Tore trained the Board, Network Director, Host Coordinators and the initial group of volunteers.
The first family (pregnant mother with 3 children) was accepted into Family Promise December 21, 2012 and the first congregation to host was Grace United Methodist Church.
Until the Shower Room could be completed, the YMCA gave Family Promise Guests access to the showers at their facility. Families were transported by the Network Director to the Laundromat once a week until the laundry area could be completed.
By the Open House on February 19, 2012, the Shower Room and the Laundry area in the Day Center were completed.

Board Members:
Mike McElahney-President
Connie Merriman-Vice President
Jeff Mack-Treasurer
Donna Overdorff-Secretary
Brett Dinger-Congregation Relations
Erika Farester-Fund Raising
Jen Jaworski-Publicity
Meg Marley
Kathy Koons
Rebecca Driscoll

Host Congregations include:
Blairsville Presbyterian
Black Lick Circuit UMC
Brush Valley UMC
Calvary Presbyterian
Church of the Resurrection
Clymer Presbyterian
Covenant Way
Faith Lutheran
Grace UMC
Graystone Presbyterian
Homer City UMC
New Life Lutheran
Trinity UMC
Zion Lutheran

Support Congregations include:
Calvary UMC-Brush Valley
Christ Episcopal
Clymer UMC
Creekside UMC
First Christian Church
Harmony United Presbyterian Church
Harvest Anglican
Seward UMC
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Starford UMC
Tanoma UMC