Fact: On any given day in Travis County, 25,000 children between the ages of 5 and 12 reside in families with incomes below the Federal poverty guidelines. Some of them live week to week. It is astonishing to realize how much these people are just like the rest of us…hard-working, responsible, and caring.
Well, let’s start with one of the ministries we are involved with at CPC.
Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) – A program of Foundation for the Homeless
This is a shelter program that is based on a national model that provides basic room and board accommodations while they work towards achieving permanent residence and self-sufficiency. In Austin, a network of “host” churches (or other entities) will house up to 4 families for a week at a time at their facilities while also providing hot meals, shower and laundry facilities, and basic supplies. The network also includes “support” churches (or other entities) that will provide volunteer and supply support for the host entity that they work with.
What is so wonderful about IHN is that volunteers will see and experience the positive results from their involvement! Families that enter the program have a great chance of achieving permanent residence and self-sufficiency. We have a good core of volunteers for IHN and we occasionally get a chance to talk to the families. We LOVE it when a family lets us know that they will have their own residence soon! And they are so thankful for our hospitality! Hugs and prayers are often exchanged as they leave after their week-long stay, and some of us even joke that we hope we don’t see them when our next host week arrives! (In other words, our mutual hope is that they will have permanent residence by that time!)
If you are part of a congregation, community group, or other organization that is not currently involved in this valuable outreach, you are strongly encouraged to communicate this to your congregation or group and organize a team to help! If desired, your team may begin in a support role, then may become a host at a later time, or your team may have the facilities to become a host immediately. Most of the volunteer activities during a host week are easy and require only a short time commitment:
· Help cook/host meals for the families
· Check and buy supplies as needed; donate food or supplies
· Help with move-in (carry guest belongings to rooms, set up rooms and make beds, set out towels, etc)
· Spend a night at the host facility
· Help with move-out and clean/restore rooms used
· Help with washing bedding and towels after host week ends
Foundation for the Homeless is always eager to meet or talk with potential volunteers. We provide screening and training for IHN volunteers and anyone working with children. Volunteer application forms may be downloaded at http://www.foundationhomeless.org/ and faxed to (512) 453-6732.
We are also eager to recruit new congregations as host or support congregations for Family Promise/Interfaith Hospitality Network Shelter Program. Contact Shelby Menina, IHN Director at smenina@foundationhomeless.org or Sharon Lowe, Executive Director at slowe@foundationhomeless.org or call 453-6570.
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