INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK (IHN)

IHN is a unique organization designed to provide
temporary emergency shelter, meals and services needed to reestablish
independent living by homeless women and families in Clark County.
Many factors contribute to
homelessness including unemployment, eviction, physical and sexual
abuse. Women and families wishing to enter the program are screened by
an experienced staff member and an individualized service plan is
developed for them. It can involve finding a job, finding housing, or
both.
Our church is one of ten churches that provide overnight lodging,
dinner, breakfast, and food for packing lunches for the guests. The
churches rotate the housing with each providing one week’s lodging.
During our week volunteers set up and take down beds, provide meals,
serve them and stay as overnight hosts. We currently have four other
churches helping and one week’s hosting will typically involve 60 – 75
volunteers. During the day the guests return to the IHN Day Center at
501 W. High Street in Springfield. There they can shower, do
laundry, pursue
housing or job leads and obtain any other needed assistance from the
staff. A phone, newspaper and information about all other
Clark County agencies are available to the guests. In
addition, transitional housing is available for two additional
families.
IHN provides up to 30 days
emergency housing, 3 meals daily, employment and housing
counseling, referrals to other appropriate agencies, a Day Center with
use of address, phone, showers, and laundry facilities. IHN also provides help in obtaining birth
certificates or other identification needed for employment, housing,
SSI, etc. as well as needed transportation to the host churches.
Bus tokens are also available.
This is a practical application of
our Christian faith and volunteers are always needed to help set up or
take down, to provide food, to set tables and serve dinner, and to
stay with the guests as overnight hosts. For more information, or to
volunteer to help, you can contact Gerald or Harriet Bennett or the
minister.