MEDIA ADVISORY: National Leader on Family Homelessness Shares Concerns About Expiration of Federal Eviction Moratorium

March 5, 2021

Family Promise national and local experts share national and local trends on family homelessness during COVID-19 pandemic

What: The economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have had a drastic impact on America’s low-income families. With employment status, childcare options, and access to services limited, more families than ever are at risk of losing stable housing. As the end of the federal eviction moratorium nears, millions of families risk homelessness. Across the country, Family Promise Affiliates are already seeing an increase in families in crisis. Unfortunately, this is likely only the calm before the storm.

During this press conference, Claas Ehlers, CEO of Family Promise, and a panel of experts will share:
• An update on where things stand today nationally in regards to family homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic,
• Information on what Family Promise hopes to see from policymakers in the coming months,
• Stories from local Family Promise providers on how national trends are playing out in communities across the U.S.,
• What we expect to see when the federal eviction moratorium expires and what action is needed now.

Who: Family Promise National is the leading national nonprofit fighting to prevent and end family homelessness in America. We have over 200 locations in 43 states. Panelists include:
• Claas Ehlers, President & CEO of Family Promise
• Katrina Bostick, Executive Director of Family Promise of the Coastal Empire (Savannah, GA)
• Dana Ortiz, Executive Director of Family Promise of Lawrence (Lawrence, KS)
• Stacy Pollard, Western Regional Director of Family Promise

When: Friday, March 12, 2021 at 1 PM, Eastern Time.

Where: Virtually, via GoToWebinar. Register here.

Why: The federal eviction moratorium is currently scheduled to expire on March 31st, potentially putting millions of American families at-risk to lose their housing.


Participant Bios:

Claas Ehlers is the Chief Executive Officer of Family Promise, the national nonprofit leader on the issue of family homelessness. His primary goals are to implement new strategies to empower families, deepen and broaden existing services at Family Promise, and increase the participation of volunteers outside the faith community. Claas frequently presents on the issues of family homelessness and volunteer engagement.

Katrina Bostick is the Executive Director of Family Promise of the Coastal Empire. She brings more than 20 years of on-the-ground experience in social services and business, including an early career in banking and finance. For the last four years she has led Family Promise of the Coastal Empire (formerly known as Family Promise of Greater Savannah) and advised Coastal Empire area nonprofit organizations on ways to effectively collaborate and build sustainable resources in our community. She is a passionate advocate for the homeless population and other causes including the promotion of gender equality and diversity and helping at-risk teens. She envisions a world where differences are not just tolerated but celebrated. The mission of Family Promise of the Coastal Empire is one that is very much in line with her personal mission of empowering children, families, and the community, while celebrating and embracing the differences we share.

Dana Ortiz is the Executive Director, Family Promise of Lawrence, KS. Dana has served as the Executive Director in Lawrence, KS for 10 years. Dana’s background is varied, and she has experience in agricultural sciences, pharmaceutical development, project management, teaching biology, and even a bit of wine making in her earlier days in California. Prior to joining FPL on staff, Dana was a volunteer with the Family Promise of Lawrence, serving as a coordinator for a hosting congregation. The Lawrence, KS Affiliate was launched in 2008. In 2010, they served 14 different families. In 2020, they served 395 different families.

Stacy Pollard has over ten years of experience working in the homeless services field. She has served as Regional Director for Family Promise since 2016. As Regional Director, Stacy provides Affiliates with training, support, and resources to enhance program service delivery and operations. Stacy also serves as Chair of the Family Promise Government Relations Committee, coordinating policy work and advocacy efforts. Stacy holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, with an emphasis in Management and Community Practice.


About Family Promise

Family Promise envisions a nation in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. What began as a local initiative in Summit, NJ, has become a national movement that involves 200,000 volunteers in 200+ communities in 43 states. Family Promise delivers innovative solutions for family homelessness including prevention, shelter, and stabilization services. We have served 1 million family members since our founding more than 30 years ago, and we aspire to change the future for 1 million children by 2030 through our community-based programs.


Contact: Katie Coughlin, Family Promise
kcoughlin@familypromise.org

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