The IHN Day Center operates in a small two-story house in an older residential neighborhood at 2605 Gay Street. The house serves as a day home for 3-5 IHN guest families from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The Day Center provides a permanent address for families in the program and enables the children to continue their school of origin. Each morning guests are transported by the IHN van to the Day Center and returned to the host congregation in the evening for meals and lodging. Each of the host congregations currently facilitates a one-week rotation 3-4 times per year. 

IHN unites staff professionals, community volunteers and local agencies in a cooperative effort to provide temporary shelter, meals and compassionate ongoing support to homeless families. In addition, IHN partnered with the Faith-Based Initiative (FBI), to offer a continuum of care and follow-up through a mentoring program to assist our guests in achieving sustained self-sufficiency, thus preventing the reoccurrence of homelessness. This mentoring program has proven to be highly successful and emulates true discipleship.  

The IHN staff provides case management to assist the guests in pursuing housing, jobs, and childcare. The needs assessment determines other referrals and advocacy needs for each family. Staff recruit and train host congregations and volunteer mentors for post-shelter guests and facilitate regular group meetings with the congregations’ Volunteer Coordinators. Hundreds of congregation volunteer hours enable IHN to provide this vital, cost-effective service for homeless individuals in several families. In 2005, 41 families were provided shelter by IHN.
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