Family Promise of Western New York was founded 25 years ago by faith communities who offered families experiencing homelessness the gift of hospitality.
In 1994, Family Promise of WNY began as the "Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Buffalo." We are an affiliate in a national hospitality organization with the mission of helping families experiencing homelessness achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response. The organization originally developed utilizing a rotational model where faith communities offered meals and overnight accommodations in collaboration with a Day Center that would help with case management during business hours.
Regionally, the organization came to Western New York when Reverend Daniel Weir, the then Director of the Erie County Commission on Homelessness, arranged for various clergy from Erie County to meet with the national Interfaith Hospitality Network in 1993. Interested clergy and congregational members worked diligently throughout the next several years to create the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Buffalo (IHNGB). A Board of Trustees was formed and IHNGB was incorporated in December of 1994. The following eleven congregations committed to becoming founding host sites:
Over the years, we've partnered with hundreds of faith communities across Erie County.
Today, Family Promise of Western New York has grown into a thriving, single-site shelter. And while our engagement with faith communities has changed, their legacy of support continues to
keep our program strong.
Turn a house into a home when a family moves out of shelter by helping secure new apartment essentials!
Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.
Check out our wish list for items we currently need in shelter or give us a call to coordinate something tailored to your community!
Take up a collection, integrate us into your tithe or use us as a "charity of choice" at your next benefit!
Got a garden club? Know how to make fleece-tied blankets? Love Meat Raffles? We need you!
Our program is based on the value of hospitality that is found in every religious tradition and provides the framework which allows volunteers to put their faith into action in order to directly minister to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
All Saints Lutheran Church
Amherst Community Church
Blessed Trinity RCC
Bread of Life Church
Buffalo Vineyard Church
Christ United Methodist Church
Clarence Church of Christ
Clarence United Methodist Church
Crossroads Lutheran Church
Elim Christian Fellowship
Elma United Methodist Church
Epiphany United Church of Christ
First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
Hamburg Unitarian Universalist
Hamburg United Methodist Church
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
ISNF Masjid An-Noor
John Newman Mission Community
Life Church Buffalo
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary RCC
Nativity of our Lord RCC
New Covenant United Church of Christ
New Hope United Methodist Church
North Presbyterian Church
Orchard Park Community Church
Orchard Park Presbyterian Church
Queen of Heaven RCC
Parkside Lutheran Church
Saint Christopher RCC
Saints Columba-Brigid RCC
Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Orchard Park
Saint John Vianney RCC
Saint James United Church of Christ
Saint Joseph University Parish
Saint Mark's Episcopal Church
St. Mary’s RCC
Saint Martin De Porres RCC
Saint Peter and Paul RCC
Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church
St. Stephens-Bethlehem United Church of Christ
Saint Vincent de Paul RCC
Temple Beth Zion
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Orchard Park
Trinity Episcopal Church in Hamburg
Trinity Episcopal Church
United Methodist Church of Hamburg
Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst
Unitarian Universalist Church of Hamburg
University Presbyterian Church
Village Church
Zion Dominion Global Ministries
Zion Lutheran Church