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Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cleveland |
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Mission The Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cleveland is a private, non-profit organization providing hospitality, meals, and support to homeless families through a network of religious congregations and community organizations. IHN mobilizes Greater Cleveland’s religious and civic community to respond to the needs of our community’s most vulnerable: homeless families. The mission of the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cleveland is to provide hospitality to homeless families. IHN offers compassionate care to homeless families, alleviates the trauma of homelessness and assists families in securing a stable home. IHN provides a caring, dignified environment of overnight hospitality in church and synagogue facilities, and provides an array supportive services to help families become self-sufficient. History IHN is part of a national organization of 129 local independant networks called "Family Promise." Cleveland’s Network started in July of 1998 with eight participating congregations and a handful of volunteers. Since then IHN has grown to 68 congregations and 3,000 active volunteers. In 2004 IHN doubled its capacity to serve homeless families by opening a Family Center and Network on Cleveland’s West Side. In 2006 IHN initiated the Homeless Family Support Project: 5 volunteer-led programs designed to support and nurture homeless families. Service Model IHN employs an innovative and economical model of care. Each evening congregations and their volunteers welcome homeless families as guests into their church or synagogue buildings, providing meals and overnight shelter. Each day guest families utilize one of two Family Centers where they care for young children and work with a social worker to regain housing and self-sufficiency. IHN’s 2007 cash budget of $463,300 was exceeded by the value of volunteer in-kind donations. IHN Programs 1. Food & Shelter – Through IHN congregations become temporary homes in which families are treated as guests and are able to maintain their dignity. IHN guests are sheltered each night in church and synagogue facilities throughout Greater Cleveland and are cared for by congregation volunteers. Guests stay for a week at each host congregation, arriving at 5:30 p.m. and leaving at 7:00 a.m. Most congregations provide hospitality 4 weeks a year. Host congregations convert classrooms or a social hall into bedrooms for their host week (roll-away beds and room dividers are provided). Volunteers serve home-cooked dinners, lunch and breakfast, spend time with guests in the evening and stay with guests overnight. Most volunteer shifts are 2 to 3 hours. Some congregations act as support congregations, providing volunteer support to a nearby hosting congregation. 2. Transportation - IHN transports guest children to and from the school they attended before becoming homeless, and transports families between the hosting congregations and the Family Centers. Through this program guest children are able to maintain a stable and consistent “school life” while their “home life” is disrupted. IHN also provides bus tickets for guests to use while seeking employment, housing and other services. 3. The Family Center – During the day guest families use one of IHN’s two Family Centers as their home base. The Shaker Heights and Tremont Family Centers both include: showers, laundry; private rooms; kitchen; workspace used to seek housing and employment. 4. Homeward Bound Project - IHN guests receive professional, social work case management and practical support to help them regain housing and stability. 5. Homeless Guest Support Project –This project marshals the time and talent of IHN’s volunteers to provide specialized support to homeless families.
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