Families with children are one of the fastest-growing segments of the homeless population today.
The Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) of Northern Kentucky knows that it can’t change those statistics alone.
IHN already partners with over fifty churches, a thousand volunteers and several social service agencies to provide temporary housing and support for homeless families. By keeping the entire family together, IHN is unique among local services aiding the homeless; other agencies are forced to separate fathers and older boys from mothers and small children. IHN host churches open their doors weekly to house families overnight, providing homemade dinners and breakfasts, games and relaxation for all members of a family. And with 98% of IHN’s work being done by volunteers, fund-raising dollars go directly to support the guest families IHN serves.
But in a downturn that just won’t let go of the economy, IHN is seeing many more children and their families in homelessness today. “The shelter is completely full,” states Warner Allen, executive director for IHN of Northern Kentucky. “And we have over 60 families on our waiting list. Of those, 145 are children.” Those waiting may be staying with relatives, but many are in their cars or on the streets and in critical need of help.
So IHN has developed new programs recently that share social workers and resources between agencies, partner with local colleges for training and education, and offer job coaching and resume building at the Day Center, where families go during the day to plan for their future. Sharing resources is the only way to give each family the intense case management necessary for them to rise out of homelessness.
Allen understands first-hand the fears and worries these families face.“I was homeless as a child. I know what these families are going through.” The key to success is keeping the entire family together, he believes. By supporting mom and dad in their job search and training, by mentoring youth and by offering education in life skills and financial literacy to everyone, many families can and do rise out of homelessness at IHN, never to return.
Do Good:
Attend: “A Taste of Homelessness,” a fundraising event for the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Northern Kentucky with wine tastings and hors d’oeuvres, Oct. 27th from 6-8pm at The Ascent at Roebling’s Bridge, Covington, www.nkihn.org
Volunteer: to mentor a youth, help with financial or life skills counseling or serve a meal at one of the many churches who host IHN families around the year.
Support: IHN with donations of furniture and other household items to establish a new home for families who have lost everything and are starting over.
By Becky Johnson
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