Navigating the Seasons of Change - A Message From the CEO

Dear Friends, 

As we enter the colder months, we are reminded that life is filled with changing seasons. For our neighbors facing financial hardship, an unexpected bill, a rent increase, or a loss of income can quickly turn a difficult season into a crisis. When the cost of keeping a home becomes overwhelming, the stability of a family—and their ability to stay warm, safe, and secure—can be at risk. 

At Interfaith Works, our Connections program helps bridge the gap between financial hardship and housing stability. When funding is available, we can provide clients with up to $500 in assistance toward overdue rent and utility bills. This support can offer a critical lifeline, helping a neighbor remain in their home, keep the lights and heat on, and regain their footing during an uncertain time. 

We are grateful for partners like PEPCO, whose continued generosity strengthens our ability to support neighbors struggling to meet essential expenses. Their gift is a meaningful reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together to address the challenges facing our community. We also recognize the City of Rockville’s leadership in addressing housing affordability through its ban on algorithmic rent pricing, which takes effect at the beginning of the new year. These efforts represent important steps toward a more equitable community where our neighbors have a fair opportunity to find and maintain stable housing. 

Still, there is more work to do—and we cannot do it alone. 

Together, we’re navigating the seasons of change. As temperatures drop, our neighbors need us more than ever. We invite you to continue standing alongside Interfaith Works through your generosity and your advocacy. By supporting programs like Connections and championing policies that protect housing stability, we can help ensure that our community’s most vulnerable neighbors are not left to navigate these difficult seasons alone. 

Thank you for being part of this community and for helping us meet our neighbors where they are. With your continued support, we can face the challenges ahead together, bridge the gaps that put stability at risk, and build a stronger, more resilient community—through every season of change. 

With gratitude, 

Lauren Puryear 
Chief Executive Officer 
Interfaith Works