Presently, Family Promise draws on the efforts of more than 180,000 active volunteers from both secular community organizations and a 6,000 congregation-strong interfaith coalition operating across more than 200 affiliates, in 42 U.S.

Olson organized a conference of 200 people from the local religious and service communities, and brought their attention to the high incidence of homelessness among families in the county.

Olson and the group went on to establish the Interfaith Council for the Homeless of Union County in October 1986, a network consisting of initially eleven diverse congregations that would provide shelter and meals to families on a rotating basis.

[6] The Interfaith Council for the Homeless of Union County developed and implemented Family Promise's core emergency shelter program, which became the model for similar initiatives across the country.

The national office helps each Affiliate tailor programming to their localized needs of community outreach, family mentoring and social advocacy.

National programming was also expanded from providing emergency shelter to focus on addressing the underlying causes of homelessness through provision of long-term assistance to low-income families in the form of job training, parenting classes, a financial literacy curriculum and transitional and permanent housing.

[7] Most Affiliates adopted the name change, though some opted to continue operating under older Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) moniker.

Volunteers often remain in contact with former guests, either informally as individuals or through organized extended support programs, helping the newly housed families maintain long-term self-sufficiency.

The national office assesses the degree of need, meets with local leadership and offers guidance on organizing community support.

[12] It provides training and support for activities such as recruiting host congregations, securing a day center, forming a board of trustees, hiring staff, developing budgets and raising funds.

Host congregations provide overnight shelter, meals and support services on a rotational basis for up to five families for one week every two or three months.

[23] Voices Uniting mobilizes clergy, volunteers and former program guests as an advocacy group working to affect local and state policies that help alleviate poverty and address homelessness.

Families bring their filled boxes back to the organization that arranged the project for a communal donation to any charity of their choosing.

[30] The program was designed with the assumption that housing stability is in large part dependent on the ability to manage personal funds, and the curriculum covers a range of subjects including developing household budgets and understanding interest.

[31] Family Promise has partnerships with a number of corporations, including PetSmart, Woodforest National Bank and the Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

A major concern for people seeking to escape abusive situations or unstable living circumstances is the welfare of their animal companion, but most shelters do not accept pets.

[35] Charity Navigator has awarded Family Promise a 4/4 star rating (reflecting a current score of 99.97/100 percent) for sound fiscal management and organizational commitment to transparency and accountability four years in a row.