A New Position but a Familiar Face

“I am honored to serve as the Executive Director of Family Promise of Harrisburg Capital Region, an organization that has been a part of my life for more than a decade. Ten years ago, my family participated in the Family Promise program during a time when we needed support the most. The compassion, dignity, and opportunity we were given changed the course of our lives and planted a seed I could never have imagined would grow into this moment.

Six years ago, I returned to Family Promise of Harrisburg Capital Region as a Case Manager. At the time, I never would have imagined that I would one day have the privilege of leading the same organization that once supported my family. This journey has been both humbling and deeply meaningful.

I am incredibly grateful to the past Executive Directors for their guidance, belief, and support along the way. And to our current staff, thank you for making every day feel less like work and more like working alongside family. My lived experience, combined with years of frontline work, continue to drive my passion for ensuring families facing housing instability are met with hope, compassion, and real opportunity… just as my family once was.” ~Stacey Coldren

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Family Update

Jeff and Tasha continue to thrive in their new chapter. Jeff has been working at the same job for well over a year and is truly enjoying it, even with all the overtime he gladly takes on. Tasha is a full-time in-home caregiver for her mom (pictured) and is looking ahead with excitement to finishing her GED in the coming year.

Their girls are absolutely loving having a place to call home. They share a room, but each side reflects their own unique personality, one decorated in every shade of pink with Hello Kitty, and the other in cool grays themed around Five Nights at Freddy’s. 

During a recent visit, I got to meet Scooby, the family’s dog! Scooby is a barrel of fur, slobbery kisses, and enough enthusiasm to knock you over with love.

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Harrisburg Academy Joins FPHCR for MLK Day

In a two-hour whirlwind, students, parents, and staff from Harrisburg Academy helped with a 450-piece mailing, built a spreadsheet, sorted toys, created a spring bulletin board, and assisted with a few other tasks! We also spent some time talking about what we do and homelessness in general. Thank you!!

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UP Programs Update

Brrrr…it’s cold outside! Not fit outside for man nor beast – much less families with children.

And yet, so many of them are struggling, right now, to figure out how to keep a roof over their children’s heads and keep food on the table while scrambling to pay for heat. This is the plight of so many right now. And while Family Promise can’t fix it all, we can absolutely make an impact.

This month our Catch UP program had at least 15 applications for help with back rent placed within 24 hours – far more than we can assist in a month! Nevertheless, we try to meet with each and every one to at least provide advice, resources, and a compassionate ear for their trials. Even if we can’t assist financially, we can help them connect with food banks, utility assistance, and landlord tenant advise to help them navigate their situation. 

Our shelter program is weathering through- literally! During times like these, we are so very aware of the importance of having a warm place to sleep and a space to be where you can hold your loved ones close. We have a light house currently, as our family of 9 have moved on, but we’re actively interviewing families in need. Our current family is diligently working to save money and get a car soon, which will save her so much money on Ubers!

“When I get back on my feet completely, I will be in touch and stay in touch for guidance for credit building and financial budgeting/saving techniques. God bless you guys for the work you do to help others in need truly a blessing.”

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From the Intern Desk

It’s been about a year since I started my role as an intern here at Family Promise HCR, and my appreciation and dedication to this organization continue to grow each day I come into work. After studying social work for two and a half years, I was searching for an organization that aligned with my passion for helping others in meaningful, sustainable ways while also allowing me to better understand the system and what families experiencing homelessness face each day. I wanted to be part of work that addressed not only immediate needs, but also the long-term well-being of individuals and families. Since I’ve started, I have gained a deeper understanding of housing instability and how profoundly it impacts every aspect of a family’s life.

With the guidance, mentorship, and constant support of the staff and volunteers here at FPHCR, I have grown in many ways and strengthened my skills to provide compassionate, family-centered support to those who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of it.

As I began to grow more comfortable and confident in my role a year ago, I began coming into the Day Center regularly, shaking off the new hire jitters, and stepping into my responsibilities as an intern. At that time, there were two families in the program, and it didn’t take long for me to recognize what made Family Promise so special. I began working alongside Susan, our community engagement associate, and spent much of my time in her office, smack dab in the middle of the Day Center, making it a natural gathering point and an ideal space for family foot traffic.

Even when our families weren’t knocking on her door with questions or popping their heads in to say hi, their presence filled the space. You could hear them laughing out in the living room as cartoons played, the steady hum of laundry being done, the sounds of food being prepared downstairs, and children joyfully smacking their toys against the hardwood floors. It was noisy, but it was good noise. Those sounds represented a family that had a warm and safe place to sleep at night. It represented a family that could sit down and have a meal together. It represented a family that was able to wash their blankets and put them in the dryer extra-long so they could have the extra warmth to snuggle up to right away. That noise meant safety. It meant stability.

I watched those families graduate from the program and still hear their names float around the Day Center, with glowing updates about how they’re doing. What I will truly never forget, though, is the first family I watched transition from program entry into stable housing. Courtney’s family (2025 graduates) impacted me in a specific way and helped me see firsthand the importance of the work our organization does as a shelter program. What I learned through the work with her family, and what I continue to see in every family who has entered the program since, is that even during an incredibly difficult circumstance like homelessness, there are still moments of joy, laughter, and comfort. Those moments matter.

I remember watching Courtney’s kids try on their homecoming outfits and proudly showing them off with huge smiles on their faces. Seeing that joy reinforced why this work matters so deeply to me. It was a reminder that our goal is not only to provide shelter, but to help families reclaim the small moments that make life meaningful. Every individual deserves the opportunity to have a warm bed, a roof over their head, and a safe place to call home. Access to those basic needs is what allows families to shift their focus from survival to living. It creates spaces for moments like homecoming dances, planning out how to decorate their bedrooms, or relaxing together in the living room to watch a movie. Housing provides more than security; it provides safety, comfort, and the ability to have those tiny moments of joy without a sense of worry about where they’ll lay their heads to sleep after those moments are over.

Witnessing Courtney’s journey through the program and celebrating her transition into stable housing was a powerful moment for all of us here at Family Promise. For me, it was the first time I truly felt like part of the team that helped make that success possible. Though I walked into my initial interview feeling certain this was the right path, experiencing that triumph in real time solidified that this was the organization I had been searching for throughout my education. It affirmed that this work aligned best with my passion and my values; I found the place where I felt like I truly belonged.

Since then, I have had the opportunity to observe and learn about case management for families who entered the program toward the end of 2025, gaining more insight into the many moving parts that support each family’s journey. Now, I am officially serving as a case manager for our first family in the program in 2026, which is a role I take immense pride in. While it’s only been a year, I feel extremely confident in my skills and my growth in this position. That confidence didn’t grow, though, without the help of the amazing staff here at Family Promise. The unwavering support and meticulous guidance I have received from Stacey, Christine, Susan, and Krissy in the past year throughout my internship have played a major role in preparing me for my future here at Family Promise and future case management roles.

I will never grow tired of telling people what I do or of sharing my passion for Family Promise as an organization. This place has shaped me both professionally and personally, even in the short year that I have been here. I am endlessly proud to be a part of this team that works every day to create stability, hope, and lasting change for families in our community, and I look forward to every day I get to come in and continue that work.