Our Board
Nick Claxton
Interim President
Catherine Smith
Vice President
Filippo Bergamini
Treasurer
Beryl Evans
Secretary
Monica Kolb
Recording Secretary
How It All Started
Get Involved
The first Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) was founded 28 years ago in Union County, New Jersey as a response to suburban and rural homelessness, where opportunities for struggling families were sparse. The founder, Karen Olson, was a marketing executive who developed promotional campaigns for consumer products. One morning, on her way to a meeting, she saw a homeless woman, someone she’d seen over and over again on her way to work. She decided to buy a sandwich for the woman.
Soon, Karen and her two young sons began frequent trips to New York to hand out sandwiches to the homeless. As she came to know some of the city’s homeless people, she began to understand the profound loss and social disconnection that homelessness causes. That understanding turned into an enduring commitment. Karen turned to the religious community for support convinced that there were many who shared her concern and that together they could do what they couldn’t do alone. Within ten months, eleven area congregations came forward to provide hospitality space within their buildings and the first IHN (now known as Family Promise) was born.
The Philadelphia network was the 12th network to join and the first urban affiliate. PIHN welcomed its first guests in 1991, a family that had been living on the streets at Love Park in center city. Over the past three decades we have expanded our reach and our services, helping thousands of families.
Learn more about our National Organization
Our History
Meet the Team
Bob Byrne
Executive Director
Latrice Parr
Director of Housing and Social Services
Rachel Falkove
Executive Director Emeritus
Diane Jones
Homelessness Prevention Coordinator and Facilities Manager
Lina Fetter
Bookkeeper and Financial Manager
Anita Lyndaker-Studer
Northeast Consultant
Josh Peskin
Campaign Development and Community Building Consultant
Congregations
St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church
Host in the Northwest
Germantown Jewish Centre
Host in the Northwest
Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration
Host in the Northwest
Unitarian Society of Germantown
Host in the Northwest
Second Baptist Church of Germantown
Host in the Northwest
St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Host in the Northwest
St Raymond Catholic Church
Host in the Northwest
St Paul's Episcopal Church
Host in the Northwest
Oak Lane Presbyterian Church
Host in the Northwest
New Covenant Church
Host in the Northwest
Mishkan Shalom
Host in the Northwest
Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia
Host in the Northwest
Our Supporting Network
Co-Host Congregations
Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting
Co-Host in the Northwest
Annunciation Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Co-Host in the Northwest
Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church
Co-Host in the Northwest
Christ Ascension Lutheran Church
Co-Host in the Northwest
Church of the Good Shepherd
Co-Host in the Northwest
Enon Tabernacle Church
Co-Host in the Northwest
Falls of Schuylkill Presbyterian Church
Co-Host in the Northwest
First Presbyterian Church in Springfield
Co-Host in the Northwest
Germantown Community Presbyterian Church
Co-Host in the Northwest
Germantown Friends Meeting
Co-Host in the Northwest
Grace Epiphany Episcopal Church
Co-Host in the Northwest
Jewish Children's Folkshul
Co-Host in the Northwest
Northeast Congregations
United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd
Northeast Congregation
Tabor Lutheran Church
Northeast Congregation
St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church
Northeast Congregation
St. Lukes United Church of Christ
Northeast Congregation
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Northeast Congregation
Crescentville United Methodist Church
Northeast Congregation
Byberry Friends Meeting
Northeast Congregation
Oxford Circle Mennonite Church
Northeast Congregation
Grace Presbyterian Church
Northeast Congregation
By Grace Alone Church
Northeast Congregation
St. Mark’s Church, Frankford
Northeast Congregation
Saint David’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Northeast Congregation
Schools & University Partners
Chestnut Hill Academy
School Partner
Chestnut Hill College
University Partner
Friends Central
School Partner
Germantown Friends School
School Partner
Girard College
School Partner
Gladwyne Elementary School
School Partner
Greene Street Friends School
School Partner
Henry School
School Partner
Hill School
School Partner
Miquon School
School Partner
Montgomery County Community College
University Partner
Moore College of Art
University Partner
Supporting Congregations & Seminaries
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Supporting Seminary
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
Supporting Seminary
Christ Church – St Michaels
Supporting Congregation
St Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church
Supporting Congregation
Trinity Lutheran Church
Supporting Congregation
Cedar Park Presbyterian Church
Supporting Congregation
Key Organizational Partners
Nationalities Services Center
Partner
Jewish Community and Family Service of Greater Philadelphia
Partner
Feast of Justice
Partner
Caring for Friends
Partner
Neighborhood Associations, NE and NW Philadelphia
Partner
NEST Northeast Services Team
Partner
Jefferson School of Population Health
Partner
HELP USA
Partner
FSPN Family Services Provider Network
Partner
City of Philadelphia, Office of Homeless Services
Partner
Philadelphia Mural Arts
Partner
Felix
Volunteer
Amanda Mahany
MSW Student Intern
Franz
Volunteer