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Interfaith Hospitality Network
United States
Interfaith Hospitality Network
Project Coordinator:
Ed Gemerchak
Project Overview:
The mission of the Interfaith Hospitality Network (Cleveland, OH, USA) is to provide hospitality, meals, and support to homeless families in the Greater Cleveland area through a network of religious congregations. IHN works with over 60 congregations and has 3,000 active volunteers, and is one of the few organizations that works to keep homeless families (parents and children) together during times of homelessness. Many organizations are able to support only women and children, or only men. IPM supports IHN’s mission to keep all children who are guests of IHN enrolled at their home school, and provides financial support to defray the costs of transporting the children from churches (where families sleep while guests of IHN) to school each day.
http://www.ihncleveland.org
Recent Accomplishments:
• Jump Start: 81 workshop attendees; 27 volunteers involved in planning and teaching programs. Programs new in 2007 included landlord/tenant relations and nutrition and wellness.
• HOPE: 13 HOPE outings were held with 102 volunteers participating. Tutoring and enrichment hour with “no television” during school hours were offered to 100% of guest children.
• Just Neighbors: 12 congregations were trained in and participated in the Just Neighbors curriculum
• Interfaith Advocacy Project: IHN planned the IAP project and recruited 10 congregations to participate. IAP is now underway with the first issue (National Housing Trust) rolled out to liaisons.
• Welcome Wagon: IHN furnished the residences of 100% of guests needing this assistance (20 homes).
• Mentoring/Support Partners: 9 guests received mentoring by trained mentors. As a result, this program has been changed to pair guests with “support partners” during their IHN stay (as opposed to initiating contact after exit). This resulted in the program being on track to serve 20 guests in 2008.
Number of People Directly Served by Project:
150 homeless individuals in 42 families, 101 of which were children.
Goals for 2010:
• New classes in 2008 will include motivational development and computer training. The Project has changed the name of this programming to Support Partners and is matching guests with partners upon their entry into the program rather than after exit. This has, and will continue to, improve use of and satisfaction with the program.
• IHN will continue to modify and expand the programs to address its guest needs throughout 2008 to create a holistic program that meets as many needs as possible.
IPM Funding Goal for 2010:
$4,000
Community Impact:
Millette and her 9 year old son, Jordan, moved to Cleveland from Philadelphia. Although Millette had some money and believed that she would find work quickly, things did not turn out the way she had hoped. Her money ran out and she did not want her son to be exposed to the shelter system that she used to work in. She wanted Jordan to be in a safe place while she worked to make things better for the two of them. IHN welcomed Millette with open arms in May 2007.
Millette worked hard to find affordable housing and a job. Millette and Jordan now live in transitional housing. Millette is leading a church choir and is working as an outreach worker in HIV/AIDS prevention. Jordan is in fourth grade and is doing well in school and at home. “One of the best things about IHN is that everyone here wants to help.” Millette and Jordan directly benefitted from the services provided by the Homeless Guest Support Project. While in the network, Millette attended JumpStart training sessions on budgeting, resume writing, and nutrition. Jordan was transported to his school in Cleveland Heights. She and Jordan also participated in HOPE events to the theatre and swimming. Once they exited the network, IHN helped make their house a home with a Welcome Wagon and Millette continues to work with a mentor one-on-one for additional assistance and support.
How your donation may be put to use:
$83 provides transportation support to one homeless child from the Cleveland area, so they are able to be enrolled in their “home” school while they are guests of IHN.
$450 helps cover expenses related to transportation expenses for one month.