Interfaith Hospitality Network

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HOSTING

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CONCERT

Welcome

We can't assume

that individual acts

of love and charity

will, by itself, end

homelessness.

We need to act

with both our

hearts and our

minds.

HOME

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Welcome

Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Gainesville (IHN) is a nonprofit organization created to provide shelter and comprehensive support for homeless families with children.IHN unites and coordinates the collaborative efforts of volunteers from all faiths to shelter and feed homeless families. Families are housed in area houses of worship, where congregation members provide meals, transportation, and companionship for the guest families.Staff members of IHN oversee the network and also provide comprehensive case management, including counseling as well as assistance in locating jobs, medical care, day care and school placement, and ultimately affordable housing.The goal is to provide immediate shelter while equipping families with the knowledge and resources they need to sustain their independence in a home of their own.

Family Promise

IHN Host Congregations

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First United Methodist Church Grace United Methodist Church Covenant Presbyterian ChurchHoly Trinity Episcopal Church The Family Church Trinity United Methodist Church United Church of Gainesville Westminster Presbyterian Church Unitarian Universalist Fellowship First Presbyterian Church

Family Promise: An Introduction To An Interfaith Hospitality Network

ABOUT

Success Stories
Melissa is the mom of two young children. In January 2009 she called Interfaith Hospitality Network in distress. She had been living with family only to discover a family member abusing her son. Upon making this discovery, she left the home. For a short while she was welcome at her friends home, but the welcome quickly wore off. Melissa did not know what IHN was at the time of her call. She was simply given the number as someone who might be able to help. At the time of Melissas call Interfaith Hospitality Network did not have any space in the shelter service, but there were spaces in transitional housing. As Melissa had a job, the IHN case manager was able to recommend her for this service. Melissa and her two children came to live in an IHN apartment with three suitcases, a car, Melissa's job, and each other. IHN, though the generosity of our supporters, was able to furnish Melissa's home and support her as she focused and got her life back together. Melissa and her children are now in permanent housing. The children are in school. Melissa is employed. All she needed was some time to focus on the small steps necessary-- like medical care, childcare, financial goalsin order to get back on her feet and provide her family with the stability they need in order to thrive. Melissa is now a strong advocate in her church for a ministry to the homeless.

Who We Are
IHN of Greater Gainesville, an affiliate of Family Promise, is a volunteer-driven organization that unites communities of faith in a collaborative effort to assist homeless families with children. While in IHN care, families are sheltered in participating houses of worship, with each host congregation providing shelter for one to two weeks at a time up to five times per year. Congregations turn their educational rooms into accommodations for the families, and the families move to a new church home each week.

Video production courtesy of Two-Head Video, Inc

SERVICES

Case Management

A skilled case manager assesses each family upon entrance into the program, determining those factors that contributed to the family homelessness. The Case Manager links families with services and resources and helps them find affordable housing.

Support Services

Support Services - Families are provided with such support services as money management and parenting classes. Additionally, staff from the Alachua County Crisis Center facilitate a support group for the adults in the family. Aftercare - To help ensure stability, families are offered the services of the case manager indefinitely after graduation

Host & Support Congregations

Host Congregations - Area churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship provide three meals a day, private sleeping space, and volunteers to create a "home away from home" for the families. Congregations host on a rotating basis approximately four to five times per year. Support Congregations - Area churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship provide volunteers to assist the host congregations.Archer United Methodist ChurchBnai Israel Emmanuel Mennonite ChurchFellowship With Christ ChurchFirst Missionary Baptist ChurchFlemington BaptistGreater Bethel AMEHoly Faith Catholic ChurchJohnson Chapel Baptist ChurchKanapaha Presbyterian ChurchLubavitch Jewish CenterMt. Pleasant United Methodist ChurchNorthwest Baptist ChurchPnai Or Jewish RenewalQueen of Peace Catholic ChurchSanctuary of Enduring Faith MinistriesServants of Christ Anglican ChurchTemple Shir ShalomThe Seraphim Center & ChapelThe VineyardUniversity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Daycenter

Serves as a home base while adults look for jobs and apply for services. Also provides laundry facilities, showers, telephones, a mailing address, computer facilities, and a children's playroom. The IHN Case Manager is located at the Day Center.

Schooling

Children already enrolled are transported to their home school or day care and back each day. The Case Manager helps find day care, aftercare, and appropriate schools for those children not already enrolled when the family enters the network.

Transportation

Families who do not have their own vehicles are transported to work, school, or the Day Center each morning, then back to the congregation facility each evening.

HOSTING
IHN is looking for NEW Host CongregationsWhy do it? Take a look at the Video!Everyone in your congregation, from age five to 85-years-old, will receive a great blessing by volunteering in some way during your week of hosting IHN families. Your congregation members will get so much joy and satisfaction working together to provide safety, a clean shelter, meals and a helping hand for families in crisis.Contact the IHN Director 352-378-2030

Success Stories

Tamera is a single-mom with four children. In September 2009 the family came to live in IHN shelter. Tamera and her children found themselves homeless due to a relationship breakup. In her past Tamera had been a nursing assistant, but she let her license lapse. When she came into the program, she was willing to take any job necessary in order to make ends meet. Her goal was to get her license renewed and ultimately work as a CNA again. Until she had a regular job she could not save money to do this. Tamera did not have a high school diploma or other work experience. She was finding it difficult to find a job. In October the case manager spoke with Tamera about IHN paying for her to study and take her licensure exam. Tamera was thrilled, enrolled in the class, and passed the test. Within a matter of days after receiving her license, Tamera was employed at a local nursing home. And upon receiving her first check she was setting up her own apartment.Her children, who had only known the stability of IHN for several months, were thrilled to be moving into a home of their own. Tamera might have made it without IHNs support, but it would have been an even longer and more difficult road. Before coming into IHN she had tried to make it on her own. The support of IHN was what made the difference for her.

DONATE

Why Donate to IHN

How to Donate to IHN

Wish List/Needs
Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Gainesville is an exceedingly cost-effective program. Local congregations provide accommodations for the guest families, prepare meals, and staff the shelter. As a result, our budget is less than half of what it would be if we had to pay for shelter space, meals, and staffing. However, we still have operating costs and staff expenses that must be met.Together our Shelter and Transitional Housing Programs cost approximately $260,000 to operate. With these funds we are able to provide 3800+ nights of Shelter and 4100+ nights of Transitional Housing in a given year. Additional services provided include comprehensive case management, education and skills training (e.g., life skills, parenting, and financial management classes), counseling, transportation, and so on.IHN of Greater Gainesville is supported by donations from individuals, churches, congregational judiciaries, businesses and corporations, clubs and organizations, public and private agencies, and by fund-raising events such as our Annual Golf/Walk Event. Your gift helps to provide immediate shelter for homeless families with children and helps to get them back on their feet, into housing of their own. And your donation is tax deductible.
NEEDS FOR GUESTS• Diapers - all sizes• Underwear for men, women, and children - all sizes• Socks for men, women, and children - all sizes• Sundries - Deodorant, disposable razors, toothbrushes• Baby Wipes• Suitcases• Large plastic tubs to carry clothes/personal items ITEMS FOR CURRENT GUESTSAND THOSE IN POST-SHELTER CASE MANAGEMENT• WalMart and Target gift cards (for clothing and personal care items)• Grocery store gift cards• Long distance telephone cards• Gas Cards• Movie and bowling passes (for weekend use for guest families)• Gift certificates for fast food restaurants (for weekend lunch treats for guest families) DAY CENTER SUPPLIES• Laundry Soap and Liquid Bleach (Guests use several bottles/week . . .)• Paper towels• Toilet paper• Kitchen-size garbage bags• Kleenex• Soap - for bathroom and kitchen• Cleansers - for bathroom and kitchen OFFICE SUPPLIES FOR STAFF AND GUESTS• Printer cartridges - #15, 78, 56, 57, 22, 940• Copy paperMISCELLANEOUS• Towels and wash cloths for Day Center• Scatter rugs with rubber backing
You can donate online using the secure PayPal link located at the bottom of the page.You can mail a check or money order to: Interfaith Hospitality NetworkP.O. Box 5189Gainesville, FL 32627-5189 If you provide a donation in honor of someone, we will send them an acknowledgment card and list the donation on our website. Similarly, if you make a donation in memory of someone, we will send their family a card and list the donation on our website. Planned Giving: In addition to gifts of money, other common methods of planned giving include setting up a Donor-Advised Fund, making a bequest in your will, or giving appreciated assets. • Making a Bequest - You may specify distribution of your assets through your will. You should always work with your attorney to draft or change your will. Bequests to IHN of Greater Gainesville will not be taxed as part of your estate. • Life Insurance You can specify IHN to be the beneficiary of life insurance. • Appreciated Assets - Gifting appreciated assets (typically equities, or stocks) can provide a significant tax advantage. Your gift would provide you an income tax deduction equal to the current value of the asset, a higher value than your original cost. As long as the asset is classified as a long term capital gains property (held for at least 12 months), you also avoid paying capital gains taxes on the growth of the asset.For example, if you gift a stock purchased for $5,000 that has appreciated to a value of $15,000, the value of your tax deduction would be $15,000. (If you sold the stock, $10,000 of appreciation could be subject to capital gains taxes). As a nonprofit organization, IHN is not subject to capital gains taxes and benefits from the fully appreciated value of your gift. • Donor-Advised Funds - A Donor Advised Fund gives the donor the ability to set up a donation to qualified nonprofit organizations and have the funding managed by a third party who provides oversight and due diligence, while still allowing the donor to maintain ultimate control over how and when the funds are granted to the recipient.

LINKS BOARD STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF
Sam MutchPresidentHelen McCuneSecretaryJoy ErbesTreasurerRosie & Tony CauterucciDirectorsMike LattimerDirectorKathy FranksDirectorGina GiovincoDirectorBeth HainesDirectorMakaya McKnightDirectorWilliam (Wes) ShortDirector
Gwain DavisExecutive Director & CEOAnnette KennedyProgram CoordinatorA J HamptonVan DriverMelody CevelinDaycenter StaffMelissa DeloeDaycenter StaffStan BeckerditeFacilities

LINKS

Links
Interfaith Hospitality NetworkLazarus Restoration MinistriesMeridian Behavioral Healthcare PATH & HOME ProgramsPeaceful PathsPleasant PlaceSalvation ArmySt. Francis HouseVetspaceVolunteers of America Services/OtherAlachua County Coalition for the Homeless and HungryAlachua County Crisis CenterBread of the Mighty Food BankCatholic CharitiesChristians Concerned for the CommunityFire of God MinistriesFlorida Works One Stop Career CenterGainesville-Alachua County Office on HomelessnessGainesville Community MinistryGainesville HarvestHelping Hands ClinicThree Rivers Legal Services1-800-GOT-JUNK
National Family PromiseNational Alliance to End HomelessnessNational Coalition for the HomelessNational Healthcare for the Homeless CouncilNational Policy and Advocacy Council on HomelessnessNational Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness Florida Florida Coalition for the HomelessFlorida Education for Homeless Children and Youth ProgramFlorida ImpactFlorida Office on Homelessness Alachua County Shelters/Transitional Housing/HousingAlachua County Housing AuthorityArbor HouseCatholic Worker HouseCDS Family & Behavioral Health Services, Inc.Chrysalis Community

The links on this page are still under construction. The Webmaster is still

working on this page.

CONTACT

Our Address

Contact Us

Interfaith Hospitality NetworkP O Box 5189Gainesville, FL. 32627-5189gainesvilleihn_gmail.com

Office: 352 378 2030

Fax: 352 378 2720

CONCERT

Praise In The Field Benefit Concert for IHN

at the Bo Diddley Plaza

coming in April.....

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Get Involved

Who We Are

Consider becoming a Host Congregation

Donate To IHN

Interfaith Hospitality Network
P O Box 5189
Gainesville, FL. 32627-5189
352-378-2030

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