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INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK (IHN) |
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Purpose
Background IHN is a unique response to homelessness that combines volunteers from the religious community with a full-time professional staff who provide a range of needed services to help families find permanent housing and reintegrate into the community. Host Congregations are area churches and synagogues that provide meals, private sleeping space and volunteers to create a temporary “home away from home”. Support Congregations assist the Host Congregations by providing additional volunteers to donate/prepare meals and assist with evening activities and overnight duty. In the Fall of 2005, SJC presented a proposal to explore the possibility of First Church becoming a Host Congregation. Over the next several months, a number of meetings and discussions were held with members of the congregation, the Board of Trustees, the Director and staff of IHN,and several “experienced'” Host Congregations. The Committee took seriously all questions and concerns expressed by members of the congregation and attempted to systematically address each one. It was decided to request support for a one year “pilot” program, to be evaluated upon completion of that period. Once assured that there were more than a sufficient number of willing volunteers, all of whom would be presented with a Volunteer Handbook followed by a two hour mandatory training workshop, this plan was overwhelmingly approved and adopted. SJC wrote and received a grant from the UUA Fund for Social Responsibility to defray the cost of cots and linens. SJC was delighted that Beth Adam Humanist Congregation, St. John’s Unitarian, Heritage Unitarian Universalist, Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship, and Walnut Hills Christian accepted our invitation to be our Support Congregations, providing many of the volunteers and support with start-up materials. First Church hosted IHN families in May and June of 2007, for the requisite total of four weeks during that church year. Admittedly, we were “feeling our way'” around new territory. We certainly learned much and gained confidence as we went along. Most everyone involved had a positive and enjoyable experience, as evidenced by feedback discussions and written evaluations submitted by both volunteers and homeless guests. This involved over forty volunteers from First Church. Current and Future Activities The Board has given its approval to continue the program in the coming year. Therefore, First Church will be IHN Hosts in the Spring of 2008. All of our 2007 Support Congregations have agreed to continue. The “Volunteer Handbook” is being updated and modified to reflect needed changes and make for smoother functioning. The Committee will be working on setting up the weekly schedules, required tasks and volunteer assignments. A volunteer orientation is planned for March 2008 to insure that all volunteers—both returning and new—are “on the same page.” Training opportunities are also available for individuals interested in becoming “family mentors”. These volunteers follow up with IHN families in need of assistance as they reintegrate into the larger community. It is important that the congregation view IHN as a church-wide program and not just the project of a dedicated few. The committee seeks to maintain frequent communication with all church members, keeping them abreast of activities, progress, needs, and ongoing opportunities for wider involvement. We are delighted that we have been able to add three new denominations to the ranks of the more mainstream faith groups which have for over 15 years participated in IHN.
Contact
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