Family Promise Union County, better known as FPUC, in Elizabeth, NJ, is Family Promise’s flagship program overseen by the national office. Like all our Affiliates, FPUC tackles the crisis of family homelessness through comprehensive services that address homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, and stabilization support.

Despite the economic disruption and a prolonged affordable housing shortage exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, FPUC continued to serve families in crisis. Working with more than 120 landlords, FPUC safely sheltered 12 families in apartments. Even more impressive, all the families who graduated from the shelter program moved into permanent housing.

FPUC also focused on homelessness prevention efforts and helped 200 families avoid the trauma of losing their homes. Because of access to support like rent and utility assistance, financial literacy education, and life skills development, 73 children and their families will never know the anguish of experiencing homelessness. FPUC also administered CARES Act funding for 113 households.

As always, volunteers and partners played a critical role in helping FPUC families navigate their return to stability and independence. 1,500 volunteers supported families through item drives, donations, academic tutoring, move-ins, day center support, health and wellness activities, budget counseling, and tax preparation. FPUC also partnered with local organizations and agencies to offer families cooking workshops and a vaccine information clinic, as well as housewares, furniture, automobiles, and more. In addition, FPUC took advantage of Family Promise’s partnership with Grow with Google to help guests and graduates further their careers and earning potential through digital training and skills development.

In August, Hurricane Ida devastated the FPUC day center as well as hundreds of households in Union County. Staff relocated to temporary quarters and continued to work with families, including many who were displaced by the storm. Meanwhile, FPUC volunteers helped clean up and sort through debris. The damage was extensive, and FPUC continues to search for a new space.

Learn more about our Hurricane Ida recovery: