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The Interfaith Hospitality
Network
The Salem Interfaith
Hospitality Network (Salem IHN)
is a response to the growing need
to provide shelter, meals, assistance,
and compassion to families without
homes. Salem IHN is an affiliated
Family
Promise
organization, an organization founded
in 1986 in Union County, New Jersey.
Salem IHN became the 59th Network
in the country when it opened its
doors in May, 1999.
Salem IHN seeks to
unite the religious community in
its efforts to assist homeless families
in Salem and the surrounding area.
Currently, the Salem Network consists
of 14 Host faith communities and
17 Support faith communities. The
Hosts donate their space to house
homeless families overnight for
one week, every three months on
a rotating basis. Support faith
communities offer additional volunteers
and supplies to assist a nearby
Host. Each morning, our guests are
transported by van to the Day Center
where the Family Case Manager or
the Executive Director works with
them to find permanent solutions
and help them regain their independence.
The Network Director also refers
families to agencies providing support
in health care, job training and
other services that work to solve
underlying causes of homelessness.
Salem IHN works in
partnership with the
Salem-Keizer School District Homeless
Program and other community
agencies to identify, select and
provide help to homeless families.
Salem IHN serves only families referred
by clergy, social agencies, or individuals.
Guests may not be substance abusers,
and they are required to attend
budgeting and parenting classes.
In addition, all guests are expected
to understand and follow Network
Guest rules. Breaking any of these
rules may mean that guests will
be asked to leave the Network.
Salem IHN volunteers
provide homeless families with basic
human needs--shelter, safety, and
sustenance--with a spirit of warmth
and hospitality. Faith communities
provide temporary "homes" in which
families are treated as guests of
the congregation. In this environment,
guests can maintain their dignity
and self esteem. The kindness of
hosts can help alleviate the hurt
and alienation of homelessness,
and both volunteers and guests can
grow and learn from each other.
While SIHN cannot
solve all the problems of homeless
families, the support provided by
caring people in the Network can
make a traumatic time easier for
the families served. It can give
guests the help they need to begin
to solve their problems. And, it
can give them hope and comfort as
they work to regain their independence.
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