1985
Ben Beltzer hired as Executive Director of Presbyterian Housing Coalition. Ben had founded and run a transitional housing program in Missouri for ten years with his wife Patsy.
1986
Changed name to Interfaith Housing Coalition, developed an on-site children’s program and became a partner with the Junior League of Dallas.
1988
A donated house was delivered to its current location, 5600 Ross Avenue in two pieces. Used as an administrative building, the home continues to serve as a metaphor for the home and hope that Interfaith staff seek to offer.
1988-1990
Interfaith shared offices, staff, and financial resources with Habitat for Humanity to help reinstate Habitat’s Dallas program.
1991
Interfaith acquired a 26-unit apartment complex on Munger Avenue.
1992
Interfaith named a Dallas Morning News Charity for the first time.
1993
Established on-site pastoral counseling for adults, play therapy and comprehensive summer programming for children.
1994
Formed an after-school program, an alumni program for former residents, and grew to 200+ volunteers with a $500,000 annual budget.
1996
Interfaith received the national Samaritan Award for compassionate, efficient and effective solutions to homelessness.
2000
Initiated the “HOPE 2000” capital campaign to fund facilities expansion, with a goal of $1.7 million dollars.
2002
Interfaith purchased and began renovating a 24-unit complex. The Hope Street Center also underwent renovation for employment programs, additional office space, and expanded services.
2003
Launched the “Second Step” program to serve longer-term transitional housing residents and created an Interfaith Housing Coalition Foundation to develop sustainable funding.
2004
Ben Beltzer retired after 18 years of ministry and former program director, Linda Hall named Executive Director.
2005
Interfaith selected as a Crystal Charity Ball beneficiary. Funding supported a Waldorf-based children’s curriculum and a new teen leadership program. Interfaith also opened the Beltzer Hope Center that served more than 1,000 families in relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
2006
Interfaith developed a strategic plan to provide a replicable model for community-based homeless prevention programs, with more than 10 organizations across the country utilizing Interfaith’s curriculum, program models, and staff trainings materials.
2009
Launched EQUIP program via partnerships with local churches and organizations to recruit mentors. As a way of creating further stability for graduate families, the transitional housing program was lengthened to an average of 9-12 months per family.
2012
Interfaith added an Employer Partner Program and Vocational Assessment as a result the average graduate wage increased from $9.48/hour to $12.19/hr. Interfaith increased mandatory savings rate to 40% which result in an average graduate savings increase from $1500 to $5021. Interfaith developed the Greater Academic Performance Program to provide academic assessments and individualized tutoring for children who are behind in reading and math.
2016
Interfaith Housing Coalition changed name to Interfaith Family Services and rebranded logo.
2017
Interfaith Family Services hosted its groundbreaking ceremony on November 30th 2017 to kick off the construction of its new Family Empowerment Center, created to provide hope for families as Dallas continues to identify ways to reduce its poverty rate and provide options for the working poor. Click here to see video footage from the event.
