The Power of Community in Ending Homelessness with Ted Taylor

Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:

How Family Promise grew from serving 30 families a year to over 400 through community partnerships.
Ted shares how Family Promise started with just two staff members, no funding, and a looming $80,000 balloon payment — and grew into a $3 million organization with five sites and 21 staff members. He explains how the model thrives by partnering with faith communities that provide food and shelter, making it one of the most cost-effective approaches to homelessness in the U.S.

Why container housing villages and shared housing models could be the future of affordable housing.
When the original plan to build a dome shelter was disrupted by COVID, Family Promise pivoted to creating Legacy Village, an innovative community built from repurposed shipping containers. Ted details how these secure, cost-effective units can house multiple families and why shared housing may be the key to making long-term housing affordable for more people.

The importance of welcoming pets in shelters — and how a chance call from PetSmart changed everything.
Ted tells the story of how families would often decline shelter if it meant leaving their pets behind, putting them at even greater risk. A surprising call from PetSmart led to the nation’s first in-shelter pet sanctuary in 2012, eventually expanding nationwide. He also shares some of the challenges (puppies, barking, insurance issues) and the unexpected joy that comes from ensuring pets can stay with their families.

About Ted Taylor and Family Promise of Greater Phoenix:
- Website: https://familypromiseaz.org/
- Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-taylor-a9991a12/

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