Volunteers help homeless families
Local churches provide shelter, food,
hospitality
ANN ANDREWS
Special to the Statesman Journal
August 22, 2007
"What can I do to help?" asked volunteer
Peggy Paine as she entered the kitchen
at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. The
sweet smell of a baked ham filled the
air. Volunteers were cooking dinner,
setting tables and welcoming families.
It was the first of seven nights that
Our Savior's Lutheran Church would host
homeless families as part of the Salem
Interfaith Hospitality Network. Formed
in 1999, the network began as a partnership
of seven faith communities to address
the growing issue of homelessness in
Salem. Today, it consists of 32 faith
communities of many denominations. The
churches work together to give shelter,
meals and hospitality to families with
children who don't have a home.
According to the national nonprofit
organization Family Promise, of which
SIHN is an affiliate, families with children
make up 40 percent of the homeless population.
There are many reasons why families find
themselves without a home. Job loss,
illness and struggles with family members
can contribute.
For Salem families, the common denominator
is the inability to find housing that
they can afford. Steep rental deposits,
rising expenses and low incomes can push
a family to the brink. And local resources
are in high demand. Section 8 vouchers
can help a family supplement rent with
federal dollars. Once applied for, the
wait for a voucher in the Salem area
is 12 to 18 months.
Struggling families find SIHN through
referrals from churches, agencies and
the Salem/Keizer Homeless Program in
the school district. To be eligible,
a family must consist of at least one
parent and one child 17 years old or
younger. Three to four families, up to
14 people, can be in the network at one
time.
Richard Zielke, SIHN executive director,
said 14 faith communities are hosts that
take turns housing families overnight
in their facility for one week. Families
get a private place to sleep, meals and
the opportunity to do normal family activities.
The other 18 faith communities support
the hosts by providing food, supplies,
volunteers and financial donations.
As a host, Our Savior's Lutheran Church
welcomes families three times per year.
"We have about 50 volunteers who help
out during the week," said Dorothy Leonard,
who coordinates SIHN volunteers for Our
Savior's. Volunteers prepare meals, greet
families and stay throughout the evening
to support families as needed. They organize
children's activities, provide child
care relief, help with homework or just
offer companionship.
Alan Swearingen and his 12-year-old
foster son, Dakota Flowers, welcomed
families as they arrived at the church.
"We help them settle in, find which
room is theirs, carry things in, and
get the kids set up," Swearingen said.
Dakota was looking forward to an evening
of games in the gym with the other children.
Both planned to spend the evening hanging
out with families and to sleep overnight
in case of emergencies.
"We just try to make them feel like
they are a guest in our home," said Swearingen.
"These are people with faces, names,
personalities, likes and dislikes, just
like us."
Lynelle Littke was cooking the dinner.
She was inspired to help by the spirit
of cooperation shown by churches.
"I really love the idea that faith
communities, regardless of denomination,
get together to assist people who need
help," she said. "And I can cook. It
takes so little of my time."
Once morning arrives, families eat
breakfast, then travel to the SIHN Day
Center in West Salem. Zielke and family
caseworker, Greg Kornspan, work out of
the Day Center and are available to help
families find their way through the system.
"We are the administrative arm of
the network," said Zielke. "Greg meets
with families to help them set goals
and identify what they need to accomplish
to get out of this situation."
Parents hunt for jobs, apply to agencies
and use the center's computers, phone
and fax. They also can do laundry and
take showers.
Families can stay up to 30 days in
SIHN, though extensions can be made if
families are working toward their goals.
About 50 percent of families move to
permanent housing, Zielke said, and about
45 percent move to other transitional
housing.
Zielke and Kornspan stay in touch
with families for a year after they leave
the network, providing support and training
to keep families healthy.
"Last year we helped 39 families,"
Zielke said. "Fifty-nine were adults
and 73 were children, with half of the
children under the age of 5. This year
we are on track to help 50 families.
We're always hoping to do more. Our overall
goal is to see 85 percent of the families
who come through SIHN move to a stable
situation and maintain it."
For the volunteers who share their
time each week, getting involved with
SIHN is a way to make a difference.
"Most people want a better world,
and people try to achieve it in a lot
of ways," Leonard said. "I really believe
that it is important to get involved
in our home community to make it a better
place to live. To help people get into
their own homes. To give them support.
It strengthens our community. Every time
we have a family in their own home, working
a job, that is a stronger family."
Ann Andrews is a writer who lives
in South Salem. You can reach her at
andrews.ann@comcast.net..
|
The
backyard has easily accessible parking
spaces. It is unpretentious. The sign
in the front yard gives a clue as to
what is inside but it is usually ignored
by those passing by. 
Each
week on a rotating basis these churches
help by providing dinner, a place to
sleep, and breakfast. The hosting churches
represent many denominations, as do the
supporting communities of faith. They
minister their faith the old fashion
way ā€“ by offering help, love and hope.
They also try to provide a family with
their own space to sleep so their privacy
is honored.
