The Interfaith Option for Homeless Families
The Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) opened its doors in the greater Little Rock community in 2005. Interfaith is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to help homeless families achieve independence and provide area congregations with local mission activities.
IHN enables religious groups to work collectively to unite hearts and hands, providing shelter, meals, and compassionate assistance for families in need. Host congregations provide safe, clean, overnight lodging and nutritious meals.
Volunteers further support the family by having dinner together, playing with the children and/or listening to the parents after a long day.
IHN is a niche ministry, caring only for families defined as a mother and children, father and children, or mother and father and children. At any time children outnumber adults as our guests. Our network families are carefully screened to ensure the safety of the congregational volunteers and the other network families.
IHN isn't for every family. It's difficult to pack up your family and your belongings each and every week and move your entire family into another, single Sunday School room, the typical space the congregations have available. But for the families who persevere, all of the money they earn at their job while they are in the program can go into their savings account which will then be used as their deposit on a rent house or apartment and the deposit to get the utilities turn on. Moving day, when a guest family secures adequate housing, is like graduation, birthday celebration, and a honeymoon all rolled into one!
A Day in the Network
On a typical day in the network, families arrive at the host church around 5:00 p.m. by the Interfaith van or their own vehicle. The evening is filled with group dining, conversation, evening activities, and preparing for the next day. In the morning, families enjoy breakfast, make lunches, and head to work or the day center by 7:00 a.m.
During the day, those who can, go to work, while others stay at the day-center to care for their children, or look for employment and/or housing. Because IHN is limited to four families or 14 individuals at any one time, personal attention can be given to each family. Needs assessments and tailored case management help IHN staff members to equip the family with the “tools” they need to get their family back on its feet.
Our Mission
- To help homeless families achieve independence
- To increase public awareness of the needs of homeless & low-income people
- To give people of all ages meaningful volunteer opportunities
- To create initiatives that meet community needs
- To provide church congregations with local mission activities
If your congregation is ready for a life-changing outreach mission close to home, consider becoming a part of the Interfaith Hospitality Network. For more information please call us at 501-372-0733.
