History
Family Promise of Greater Cleveland is the combination of two organizations with rich histories. Learn more about our founding organization’s beginnings and how they came together.
New Life Community
In the summer of 1990 four families moved into their apartments in a building on Kinsman and East 154th Street as part of a pilot project called New Life Community. New Life Community had been shaped gradually over two years through an ecumenical prayer group organized by Tom and Grace Uhle after Tom was awakened in the night with a clear sense of a call to provide a transitional housing program for the homeless families of Cleveland. He invited others to join him in prayer as they developed a ministry to the homeless. New Life was modeled after a program in Dallas called Interfaith Housing Coalition.
In 1992 the founders of New Life Community bought the St. Cecelia’s Parish School building for $1 from the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, and raised the money to renovate the interior into 14 apartments with offices and program space on the lower level.
The space in the building has been set up very much the same as it was when the building was first renovated. The programming has occurred onsite and has always been comprehensive in nature. 20 years ago and today the head of household learns how to manage finances, improve parenting skills, learn job skills, find housing, and most importantly, how to believe in themselves. The outcomes have consistently been outstanding: 85% of the families who complete the program leave with employment and permanent housing.
While New Life Community was always a non-denominational program, it was founded in prayer and the same prayer group – now called the Mission Group – has met weekly since the founding of the organization. The love and concern for each resident exhibited by the staff and volunteers was the basis for the program’s success. When someone believes in you, it is easier to believe in yourself.
Interfaith Hospitality Network in Cleveland
IHN was always a family affair for Kay Bork, founder of Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cleveland. While living in Cincinnati, Kay’s two young sons loved to volunteer with IHN. After moving to Cleveland, her sons asked when they could once again play with their IHN friends. Kay learned that IHN had not yet come to Cleveland. National IHN encouraged her to take action and start a local affiliate. Kay hesitated to take on the responsibility, but she says she listened to call within her and believes God put her on the path that led to founding IHN.
Kay’s enthusiasm for IHN and her passion to help homeless families was contagious. Soon enough churches and synagogues had agreed to host. The start was not entirely smooth, but, one by one, the challenges were met and fears allayed. After much hard work, the first host week occurred in July 1998 at Church of the Saviour, Cleveland Heights
In the early days Kay remembers that there were many challenges. But the immediate benefits proved that IHN was critical. Families welcomed warmly by host congregations told her they never knew that so many people cared. IHN opened new doors for homeless families. Cleveland’s IHN has grown to heights that Kay never imagined. Many families received a second chance because of her decision to heed the call and do what she believes is God’s work through her hands. And, even more people have gotten a chance to learn about homelessness and experience the joy of caring for their neighbors through volunteering with IHN. It’s also gratifying that a generation of IHN volunteer children, like Kay’s sons who are now grown, have grown up learning what they live…to help others.
Family Promise of Greater Cleveland
Family Promise of Greater Cleveland grew out of the shared mission and close collaboration of New Life Community and Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cleveland. After two years of careful planning, our Boards of Directors voted to combine organizations and become Family Promise of Greater Cleveland. All board members were offered the opportunity to continue their leadership as trustees of the new organization.
Why merge? By combining our staff and resources we build upon our strengths to provide higher quality and more expansive services. Cost savings from the merger can be reinvested in programming that helps families remain stable in their new homes long-term.
Both organizations were in strong positions when we came together. That puts us on even stronger footing as we move forward as Family Promise of Greater Cleveland.
We’re an affiliate of national Family Promise, the parent of 162 affiliates spread from Alaska to Florida. As an affiliate we’re free to create programs to meet local community needs but we are connected to a pool of resources in homeless services research and best practices, government relations and advocacy to have an even stronger voice for homeless families.
Visit the national Family Promise site to learn more.
