What Are The Advantages of The IHN?

• Humane Shelter: Overnight lodging and meals are provided by each participating congregation in private, safe, healthy, "home-like" accommodations.
  
• Cost Efficiency: An IHN can maintain low expenses by relying primarily on existing resources in the community; churches and synagogues for shelter space, social service agencies for screening and referrals, existing day facilities and hundreds of volunteers.
  
• Support Services: Volunteers in existing programs have played a major role in providing additional support services for Network guests. This has resulted from volunteers experiencing firsthand the difficulties that the homeless face.
  
• Provisional Shelter: The Network program does not institutionalize shelter as a permanent solution to homelessness. It is not a substitute for affordable housing initiatives.
  
• Catalyst for Change: Individuals and congregations participating in the Network often develop other initiatives to aid the homeless such as renovation of housing and transitional housing. Volunteers not only become advocates on an individual basis, but many - frustrated by the desperate situation the homeless face - begin to seek changes leading to permanent solutions for homelessness.
  
• Social Concern: Congregations experience ownership of the program as their outreach work to the homeless.

About the Program

Frequently Asked Questions