How the Nat'l Interfaith Hospitality Network Began...

On an impulse in 1981, a former business commuter bought a sandwich for an elderly, homeless woman whom she often passed on her route in New York City. "I just wanted to drop that sandwich and move on," remembers IHN founder Karen Olson, "but she grabbed my hand and we talked for several minutes. I realized she was hungry not only for food, but even more for human warmth and compassion."

Serving that sandwich changed the course of Karen's life. She got to know that woman, named Millie, and many of New York City's homeless people after she and her two sons began delivering sandwiches to them in Port Authority Bus Terminal on Sunday evenings. In listening to their life stories, they learned that homelessness is more than just "houselessness"...it often means the more profound loss of family, friends, and the support system that connects most of us to a stable life.

Karen soon learned that even in her home community of Union County, NJ, there were hundreds of homeless people, including many families. Believing that there were many who shared her concern, she looked to the religious community for help. The first step to involvement needed to be education. At a congregation-sponsored conference in October of 1985, over 200 participants listened to Wendy, a homeless mother of two, describe her ordeal of trying to keep her children safe while living in her car and in a run-down welfare motel. Her story as well as presentations by clergy members and advocates for the homeless, promoted the necessary awareness.  Representatives from area congregations soon began working together to find a solution.

"At first, we tried to renovate a building for a family shelter, but finances, the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome, and red tape stalled our efforts," remembers Karen. "But we soon realized that if we worked together, we could do what we couldn't do alone."

Within ten months:
  Nine churches and one synagogue came forward to provide hospitality space within their
      buildings.
  The local YMCA agreed to provide showers and a room for the families during the day.
  A car dealer discounted a van.
  A foundation provided a grant for the rest.
So, on October 27, 1986, the first Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) opened its doors.

Word spread quickly about the program, and within nine months, another ten congregations formed a second Network. Initiatives such as transitional housing, childcare and family mentoring programs and outgrowths of the increased awareness and involvement of community members, developed over the next several years.

The success of the Networks led other congregations to seek help in developing similar programs, and by 1989, National Interfaith Hospitality Network, (now known as Family Promise) was formed with the mission to spread the program to all parts of the country where people of faith could work together to help homeless families.

Today, many thousands of volunteers have turned their thoughtful concern about homelessness into shelter, meals, and comprehensive support programs. Their service was recognized by President George Bush with the Volunteer Action Award, the highest volunteer honor bestowed in the United States.

While each Network is different and reflects local needs and resources, together they share a common mission. Family Promise joins Networks together in the commitment to spread the program to where it is needed, and to share resources and information.

Family Promise provides member services and benefits:
Technical assistance on all aspects of program development, implementation and operation.
Published guides and videotapes.
A volunteer training curriculum.
An annual conference.
Speakers bureau.
Quarterly newsletter and information updates.
Promotional materials printed with the IHN logo.

Above all, IHN is about people caring. IHN volunteers are part of a growing, grassroots movement that brings congregations together to help homeless families achieve independence and to work for permanent solutions. The values underlying this movement, compassion, generosity, and understanding and valuing others, unite and affirm all of us in the work ahead.
 

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