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Frequently Asked Questions

Family Promise was originally known as IHN, or the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Las Vegas. Established as a non-profit organization in April, 1996, Family Promise is a unique project that deals specifically with homeless families in the Las Vegas valley. Our commitment is to find and implement long-term solutions to low-income and homeless families in our communities. We are not a religious organization although religious belief motivates many of our volunteers and supporters. Churches and synagogues — faith houses — shelter our guests. Family Promise does not promote religion.

Family Promise uses, literally, dozens of volunteers in Clark County. More than a dozen Host Sites (churches and synagogues) host homeless families, taking turns for one week every 3-4 months. Volunteers at the Host Site of the week provide and eat a nutritious dinner with the families and provide activities for the children. A male and female volunteer stay with the families at the Host Site. Each family is given their own room. A trailer transports folding beds each Sunday to the Host Site. In the morning, volunteers from the Host Site provide breakfast and a sack lunch. A van then transports the families to the Day Site where a washing machine, clothes dryer and showers are available to the families.

     The Day Site, dedicated in March 2006, is located at 320 South 9th Street in Las Vegas. It is centrally located and is close to most social services, schools and daycare. In the evening, guest families are again transported to the Host Site of the week. The Day Site is used 7 days a week. It has a living/dining room, kitchen, office, playroom, bathroom and laundry facilities. The Day Site is fully ADA compliant. You can e-mail our staff at Family Promise by addressing your messages to: lvihn@earthlink.net.

Family Promise receives referrals from various agencies as well as direct calls from individuals seeking services. Family Promise only receives one- or two-parent families with at least one child. The family must be homeless or on the verge of homelessness.

     Family Promise of Las Vegas is one of very few agencies that can provide services to single fathers with female children. We do not separate parents at night by gender; we believe that families should stay together.

Participants are screened to determine if they have a desire to become independent and self-sufficient. Background checks are administered to ensure that serious offenders are not accepted into the program. Family Promise is a 30-day program, and extensions are made if the family is achieving its goals.

     Once a family is evaluated and accepted into the program, an intake (which includes a needs assessment and a family action plan) is completed. The Family Care Counselor monitors each family daily to ensure that families stay on track with their respective plans. The main goals are to get the children into school, help families acquire housing and employment, and provide healthcare, clothing and furniture. This is accomplished through conversations, interviews, written documentation and the weekly submittal of 80% of their income to go into savings.

Our Mission Statement:
"Partnering with faith houses and community organizations, we assist families in the Las Vegas Valley to transition from homelessness to stability and independence through compassionate guidance, shelter and education."

Our mission is to:

• Coordinate an interfaith collaboration to provide hospitality, shelter, meals and other support services to homeless families.
• Provide structure and compassionate guidance to assist families in their efforts to secure jobs, housing and stability.
• Provide a safe, healthy and homelike environment for the families in the program.
• Offer members of different faith communities an opportunity to work in an outreach ministry within their own faith building, church, mosque or synagogue.
• Become a catalyst for other service initiatives such as job counseling, parenting classes, etc.
• Develop a support network to serve families during and after their stay in the program.
• Witness to the Las Vegas community a compassionate and effective way to respond to homelessness.

A Family Care Counselor for Family Promise monitors each family daily to ensure that families stay on track with their respective plans. The main goals are to get the children into school, help families acquire housing and employment, and provide healthcare, clothing and furniture. (This is accomplished through conversations, interviews, written documentation and the weekly submittal of 80% of their income to go into savings.)

The Family Care Counselor has a small caseload (3-5 families) and is able to provide each family with intensive help. The Counselor networks with many agencies including:
     • State Mental Health and local healthcare clinics
     • Day Care providers including Variety Early Learning Center, Smart Start, and NALA Daycare Center
     • Local public schools and the Title 1 Homeless Education Program
     • Housing, to include all local housing authorities and locall housing nonprofits
     • Resources including Clark Co. Social Services, Clark Co. Family Services
     • Job services including NV State welfare, Nevada Partners, Job Connect and the Las Vegas Urban League, among many
     • Numerous other services including furniture and household goods, with valuable support from A Lift Up Furniture Bank

Clients are always able to provide input to the Family Care Counselor and the Co-Directors.

Yes! Very successful!

The homeless population in Clark County has reached crisis proportions where it is estimated that 11,000 people are homeless on any given night ... and 40% of them are families with children.

     Nearly 80% of Family Promise's clients move into their own housing within 30 days of entering the program. Because Family Promise limits its clients to 14 parents and children at one time, the Family Promise staff is able to work closely with parents as they search for a way out of homelessness. As a small program, Family Promise also puts less strain on the host site communities.

     Family Promise is a safe program. All participants are screened by the Family Promise staff, and families make a covenant with the program to ensure compliance and cooperation with the host sites.

A "Host Site" is any church, mosque, synagogue, or other faith community that can assist Family Promise by providing overnight shelter to Family Promise's families. Family Promise transports families to the host site at about 5:00 pm and transports them back to the Family Promise Day Site the next morning at 7:00. The Host Site provides nutritious meals at dinner and breakfast as well as helping the families prepare a sack lunch. Volunteers prepare the meals and remain at the Host Site overnight, provide security, assistance and guidance.

The following is a list of Host Sites and Support Communities that help and support Family Promise of Las Vegas:

A family can place calls directly to IHN or make arrangements through a variety of agencies. IHN only receives one- or two-parent families with at least one child. The family must be homeless or on the verge of homelessness.

     Participants are screened to determine if they have a desire to become independent and self-sufficient. Background checks are administered to ensure that serious offenders are not accepted into the program. Family Promise is a 30-day program and extensions are made if the family is achieving its goals. Want to know more? Do you have a family - or yourself - in mind as a candidate family? If so, contact us at (702) 638-8806.

Click {HERE} to send an e-mail to IHN and tell us about your needs.

Family Promise is a 30-day program. Once a family is evaluated and accepted into the program, a needs assessment and family action plan are completed. An Family Promise Family Care Counselor monitors each family daily to ensure that families stay on track with their respective plans. The main goals are to get the children into school, help families acquire housing and employment, and provide healthcare, clothing and furniture. This is accomplished through conversations, interviews, written documentation and the weekly submittal of 80% of their income to go into savings.

All donations are tax deductible and donations by PayPal, cash, credit card or check are always welcome. Family Promise puts every dollar to good use including costs for daily operations, family benefits, and special projects such as landscaping, purchase of a new van, and additional storage areas. We also use donations for furniture, maintenance, fuel, fees, for items such as carpet & upholstery cleaning, window washing, disinfecting and cleaning of areas, etc.

Click on the button to donate to Family Promise via PayPal.

You may choose to designate your contributions to a specific program such as Mentoring, Family Support, Building Program, , Operations although it is not necessary and we will apply it wisely to the greatest need.

Family Promise provides many things such as household goods, clothing, diapers (all sizes), bus tokens, towels, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent and much, much more to our families. Items must be clean and in good condition. Damaged or soiled goods will not be accepted. All donations are tax-deductible. Please donate household goods and furniture to A Lift Up Furniture Bank

Family Promise volunteers give of their hearts and they find blessings as never seen before. Volunteers may be asked to fix or deliver food (to host sites), fix or deliver food to families, help with general chores and more.

First of all ... Thank you! Family Promise volunteers are the life blood of our operation. Often, Family Promise attracts people who have never been involved in the faith communities' programs. Volunteers are motivated by their faith in God. Volunteering is as easy as raising your hand. Why not volunteer today? By clicking the button below, you can start a new and wonderful phase of your life.

Click {HERE} to volunteer by e-mail