When someone contacts Family Promise of Philadelphia (FPP) or walks into their office space in Mt. Airy, they aren’t likely to hear the word “no.”

The nonprofit — formerly known as Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network — helps families overcome housing instability by preventing eviction, providing shelter, and supporting self-sufficiency.

However, the small but dedicated staff goes above and beyond that mission. FPP may focus its efforts on housing instability, but the organization also gives out everything from food and clothing to diapers and even mattresses.

Sylvia Forman, board president of FPP, believes this level of support is vital.

“The biggest thing I appreciate about the services of Family Promise is the wraparound support,” Forman said. “We’re not just going to give you rent. Let’s give you diapers and you can come back for food and things like that.”

Sama Alghali, director of family services, has learned that “no” is not an option from working at FPP.

“We don’t really say ‘no,’” Alghali told the Local. “We don’t have a food pantry, but we have food. Our mission isn’t to buy food, it’s to provide housing. Yet we have food because we know that’s what people need. … If we can’t provide it ourselves, we’re going to give you a resource that can provide it for you.”

FPP’s services

In 1991, 12 congregations in Northwest Philadelphia came together to form an affiliate of a national program called the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Philadelphia was the 12th network to join, but the organization has since grown to roughly 200 affiliates nationwide.

The majority of FPP’s work serves residents in Northwest Philadelphia. However, the organization is citywide; families from throughout Philadelphia have been helped by FPP’s services.

The main programs of FPP include eviction prevention, shelter services, and case management. To help families facing the possibility of eviction, FPP can provide financial assistance. The organization also assists with shelter diversion, or avoiding shelter. This service helps families that may be couch-surfing or living in hotels or storage units.

In terms of providing temporary housing, FPP has a shelter called the Promise House, which fits four or five families at a time. The nonprofit also works closely with its host congregations to search for temporary or transitional housing.

Lastly, FPP offers ongoing case management services to ensure that families can maintain living long term in their own homes. Staffers teach families about topics such as budgeting, savings, and tenant rights.

After working with the FPP team, 92% of families never return to a shelter. However, according to Robert Byrne, executive director of FPP, there is always more work to be done.

“The truth is we aren’t doing enough,” Byrne said. “The [School District of Philadelphia] reported in November that the number of homeless children in Philadelphia has increased by 32% since 2022. We need to do more, but we can’t do it alone. We are dependent on our community to support the amount of work that we do.”

During a time when many nonprofit organizations are having their federal funding cut, FPP has avoided having to retract their services. In fact, they are growing.

“We’ve got such a robust supporter base here in the community that strongly believes in our work and wants to contribute to making a difference at times like these,” Byrne said. “In 2024, there were 102 families that we prevented from becoming homeless. Last year, in spite of everything happening and it being the first year that I know of that we didn’t receive federal funding, we helped 127 families. That’s a 25% increase and this year, our goal is to help 200 families avoid becoming homeless.”

Changing the conversation

According to Byrne, housing instability is more prevalent than people may think.

“I don’t think people realize how many housing-insecure families there are in our own backyard,” Byrne said. “Homelessness in general is more visible in other parts of the city than it is in the Northwest, but it very much is present here in the Northwest.”

Through the work being done at FPP, staff members hope not only to make a tangible difference in preventing homelessness, but also to change how people think about the issue.

“Homelessness can look like anything,” Alghali said. “It could be your neighbor. It could be the person that you see every day in the grocery store. The face of homelessness is not what people think it is. I would really like people to know that just because people show up everyday, doesn’t mean they have a permanent place to live. They need our support.”

For Florence Gelo, a board member of FPP, there needs to be more awareness about the broader societal structures that lead to homelessness.

Being unhoused “is not a personal failure,” Gelo said. “[People need to] become aware of the structures that exist in our culture that create these problems. It’s not the person. We don’t have to be afraid. We don’t have to think they’re inferior. It really is systemic and that’s so important to communicate.”

On April 1, FPP will be hosting a Hop and Shop event, giving away free bedding, pillows, blankets, clothes, and shoes for underserved families. To learn more about the organization or donate, visit familypromisephl.org.

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.