Prevention Endowment Initiative
Prevention Endowment Initiative
Family stabilization is the foundation of healthy communities.
Individuals, organizations, and corporations who invest in the Prevention Endowment Fund are investing in a stable Rochester for years to come, impacting families, neighborhoods, schools, landlords, faith communities, health care systems, the local economy, and beyond.
Cara’s Story
When her landlord sold the house she rented and her lease was not renewed, Cara and her three children were in a bind. The financial expense of moving includes truck rental and security deposit, which is difficult on a month-to-month budget. But moving is also time-consuming and can require taking time-off an hourly-wage job: new schools, new community, establishing new utilities, and physically moving boxes and furniture. Plus, there is the emotional toll on the family and extremely limited housing stock in Rochester available to low-income families. With just $455 from Family Promise of Greater Rochester and a whole lot of creativity and hard work on her part, Cara and her kids were diverted from shelter and have a new place to call home!
The reality
Families in Rochester experience housing instability due to
Lack of affordable housing;
Below-living wage pay;
Bias, racism, and historic redlining, housing, education, and economic inequities that continue to pervade our community.
These systemic inequities have created a reality where Black and Latino children make up 91% of childhood poverty in Monroe County. The average household income for Black and Latino families is just $29,952, the equivalent of one full-time employee working minimum wage (ACTRochester's Hard Facts, 2022).
Righting these systemic wrongs will take time and policy changes and the need for eviction prevention in Rochester far exceeds the response. FPGROC receives over 100 requests for assistance during an average WEEK and can only help a total of 8-9 families per MONTH.
Let's start stabilizing now, together.
The opportunity
FPGROC’s Prevention & Diversion Program provides funding, case management, and one year of aftercare services to families to keep them in their homes, divert them from shelter, or assist them in securing safer, sustainable housing. Over 80% of families served remain stably housed one year later.
FPGROC’s operational budget stabilizes 100 families each year with an average of just $748/family. The income earned through a $1.5 million prevention endowment would DOUBLE the number of families served annually. Your gift or 3-year pledge of any amount will stabilize families, communities, and the Greater Rochester area for years to come.
The Goal
Raise $1.5 million for the Prevention Endowment by 2024 to be able to ...
Double the annual number of families stabilized and ...
Continue as a steady provider of eviction prevention and shelter diversion in Greater Rochester in perpetuity.
FPGROC accepts one-time or pledge gifts of cash, those utilizing other assets, or through planned giving. Family Promise of Greater Rochester will accept publicly traded stocks and bonds at fair market value, gifts of mutual funds, exchange-related funds (ETFs), or individual bonds, Individual Retirement Account Rollover, and life insurance policies.
Join the movement to ensure every family has a stable place to call home in Greater Rochester.
Kim Hunt-Uzelac, Executive Director
Family Promise of Greater Rochester
142 Webster Avenue | Rochester, New York 14621 | Office: 585-506-9050
Prefer to support current families in need of assistance? Learn more about our programs below and giving opportunities here.
Ja’Mia’s Story
When a fire burned their home and everything they owned, Ja’mia and her seven children moved into a hotel room for two months, paid for by a local church. Grateful for a place to stay, two small rooms and a microwave for eight people is incredibly challenging. But so was finding enough money for a security deposit. Funding from FPGROC’s Prevention & Diversion Program helped Ja’mia regain housing and avoid a shelter stay. On their last Aftercare call, Ja’mia’s case manager learned that, while Ja’mia continues to juggle many stressors, housing insecurity is no longer a concern.
Marissa’s story
Marissa rented an apartment with substandard living conditions and reached out to Family Promise. Like other current and former FPGROC families, Marissa isn't just Spanish-speaking; she only speaks Spanish. This presents both language and cultural barriers, especially since not all agencies in our community have translation services readily available. FPGROC is lucky to have multiple case managers and staff who are fluent in Spanish, and with their help and a security deposit, she and her baby have moved into a safer place without violations!
Mr. Taylor’s Story
Proudly employed by the state, Mr. Taylor’s hours were cut back due to the pandemic and he fell behind in rent. At first, the amount was meager, but then he was diagnosed with cancer. Mr. Taylor needed immediate surgery and treatment and could not work at all. With his wife, mother, and children at home, he was beside himself. Family Promise’s case managers were able to help him with back rent, and also with rent going forward for three months thanks to the community partnership distributing pandemic related eviction prevention funding (EPPI/ERAP). Today, FPGROC continues to follow-up with Mr. Taylor and is assisting him with applying for disability until he’s able to work again.
“Your professionalism, compassion and determination to help me prevail to the point where I could cope and move forward in a positive way. You took time to listen and hear me and genuinely cared about my unforeseen situation. You are an exceptional example as a frontline contact representative of Family Promise of Greater Rochester which clearly welcomes all.”
Mr. Taylor
Learn more about our programs
Prevention & Diversion
Shelter
Program
Transitional Housing
Aftercare & Stabilization
A copy of our most recently filed financial report is available from the Charities Registry on the New York State Attorney General’s website (www.charitiesnys.com) or, upon request, by contacting the New York State Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005, or us at 142 Webster Avenue, Rochester, NY 14609. You also may obtain information on charitable organizations from the New York State Office of the Attorney General at www.charitiesnys.com or (212) 416-8401.