Updates from RAIHN
Announcing RAIHN’s Expansion and New Name
The Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN) has grown since opening its doors in April, 2004, from a network offering only emergency shelter in congregations, to a holistic program including prevention, rehousing, and aftercare for families in crisis. The national program to which we are connected changed its name from “Interfaith Hospitality Network” to “Family Promise” when its programming exceeded just shelter. Although the acronym RAIHN has served us well over the past 16 years, it is time for us to make the same shift in order to more fully capture our critical programming growth. Our name change to Family Promise of Greater Rochester better reflects increased impact on families to RAIHN’s constituency and funders.
Family Promise refers to two core concepts: the promises we make to families, and the promise and potential of each family become self-sufficient and thrive. The star logo represents the 5 points of the program: Shelter, Prevention, Stabilization, Community, and Promise, and allows us to put the multiple facets of our comprehensive approach under one purpose-driven name.
Peoples’ Emergency Fund to be Administered by Family Promise of Greater Rochester
An additional change to RAIHN, and Third Church’s relationship to it, will improve efficiency for people in need. Since its administrative reboot 15 years ago under the effective leadership of Gale Myers, the Peoples’ Emergency Fund (PEF) has distributed emergency funds for rent and utilities to people who come to our door. Gale has now “retired” from a job well-done. Therefore, at its February meeting, the Session voted to transfer the funds and the administration of this program to Family Promise of Greater Rochester, formerly RAIHN. Family Promise has expertise and dedicated staff for the effective disbursement of funds, as well as a program for follow-up with clients served. While Third Church will continue to seek and provide monetary support for PEF, we will no longer administer it in-house. We believe the shift will improve the longer-term outcomes for those we serve.