Interfaith Hospitality
Network of Athens, Inc.
A community response for homeless families
Who are “The Homeless?”
Precipitating causes of homelessness may include:
Loss
of job
Loss
of transportation…leads to loss of job
Divorce
Family
/ separation
violence
Major
illness / disability
Other
family conflicts
Cost
/ Availability of childcare or elder care
Lack of affordable housing for low-income people
Family Promise

Started in Summit, NJ in 1981 by Karen Olsen

Over 190 affiliates

43 states

180,000 volunteers

6,500 congregations

Over 600,000 individuals
served
Who is IHNA?


First guests October 31, 2004
Staff:






Executive Director
Assistant Director
Service Director / Case Manager
UGA / Athens Tech. Interns
Special niche – intact families
11 Host / 19 support
congregations
Congregations
Host Congregations

First United Methodist Athens
• Tuckston United Methodist Church

First Presbyterian Church Athens
• Oconee Street United Methodist

Emmanuel Episcopal Church
• Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Watkinsville First United Methodist

Milledge Avenue Baptist Church

Central Presbyterian Church

First Baptist Church Athens

Covenant Presbyterian Church
Congregations
Support Congregations
Al-Huda Islamic Center
• Tuckston United Methodist Church

Ashford Memorial Methodist Church
• Oconee Street United Methodist

Athens Church
• Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Athens Religious Society of Friends
• First Christian Church of Athens

The Catholic Center at UGA
• Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church

Chestnut Grove Baptist Church
• Oconee Presbyterian Church

Christian Science Church
• Princeton United Methodist Church

Christus Victor Lutheran Church
• St. Gregory Great Episcopal Church

Congregation Children of Israel
• St. Joseph Catholic Church

East Friendship Baptist Church
• Trinity Lutheran Church

Young Harris Memorial Un. Methodist • Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Athens

Our Mission

Help families regain
independence

Provide outreach
opportunities

Serve community needs

Volunteers of all ages

Advocate for people
facing homelessness
IHNA accomplishes this via…

Congregational facilities for overnight
accommodations.

Caring volunteers to offer hospitality to
families in need.

A Day Center facility

Social service agency partners

Network staff for case management,
family advocacy, liaison to agencies, etc.
Who are we helping?









3 families at a time (up to 14 people)
No active substance abuse, untreated mental
illness, criminal record, or risk of domestic violence
Single mothers with children
Two-parent families
Single fathers with children
Grandparents raising children
Employed, underemployed, or unemployed –
willing to work
Trying to break the cycle of poverty
Individuals / Families in the community at large
How are families
admitted?

Initial contacts made: Phone / Walk In / Referral

Service Director / Case Manager screens family

In-person assessment with Service Director

Decision about admission is made:


Admitted / Wait-Listed / Referred Out
Balance:

Guest Needs vs. Volunteer Skills/Abilities
The Guest Experience

Families stay connected

Connect families with larger
community

Participate in savings plan

Connect families to resources

Set goals and monitor progress

Plan for success / Exit
Hosting Opportunities

Volunteer Coordinators / Co-Coordinators

Day Center Volunteers


Dinner Preparers:


2 volunteers, 5:30-8:30pm
Overnight Hosts:


2-3 volunteers, prior to 6:00pm
Evening Hosts:


1 volunteer, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 5pm
2 volunteers, 8:30pm-7:00am
Van Driver

1 Volunteer, 7:00-8:30am

1 Volunteer, 4:00- 5:30pm
Day Center Volunteers




Day Center is unique to IHNA and is part of the INHA mission.
In most shelters, guests have to be out in the morning and cannot
return to the shelter until night time.
IHNA provides our guest families with a “home base” every day (7
days a week) from 8am to 5pm at the Day Center.
Day Center Volunteers are important because…





You’re providing families with a home base during the weekend while they are out
doing family things.
You’re making the Day Center available for volunteer trainings.
You’re available to receive donations community members bring to IHNA.
You’re fulfilling the IHNA mission of making the Day Center space available to
guest families.
Keep in mind, you may not have lots of interaction with the families, but you are
providing an essential service.
Hosting Opportunities

Supplies


Activities




(crafts, reading, games)
Coordinating Donations


(staple foods, paper products, cleaning, etc.)
(Collecting household items / furnishings for when
guests move in to permanent housing)
Laundry
Setup and Takedown on Sundays
Day Center / Office
How can I help?






Understand my role…
 Small acts of kindness, here to serve not solve
See beyond stereotypes…Don’t judge
 Mutual respect; relate to guests despite differences
Strive for understanding…
 Our guests are in crisis (shame, fear, humiliation,
alienation, frustration, anger, depression)
Be a good listener, but respect privacy
 Listen more than talk, limit opinions, don’t pry
Focus on strengths…
 Empower and encourage guests as they begin to
solve problems on their own
FLEXIBILITY / COMMUNICATION / TEAMWORK!
“How Can I Help”
Video
Policies and Procedures
Host Staffing:

Two hosts on duty at all times.

Volunteers must be trained.

Be familiar with Guest Guidelines

Report violations of guidelines to
Coordinator / IHNA staff
Policies and Procedures
Continued
Meal Preparation:

Dinners: Healthy, nutritionally-balanced.


Lunches


Bag lunches (sandwiches) or leftovers
Breakfasts: Continental style


“Meat and potatoes” are appreciated;
(Spaghetti and lasagna in heavy rotation)
Cereal, toast, muffins, fruit, coffee/tea
Weekend

More relaxed and casual
(hot breakfast, pizza or cookout for dinner).
Policies and Procedures
Continued
Housekeeping:





Guests share in housekeeping duties.
After-dinner cleanup, taking out trash, cleaning bathrooms
Vacuuming / sweeping hospitality rooms
Pick up toys before bedtime
After-breakfast cleanup
Policies and Procedures
Continued
Recreational Activities:
 Guests are allowed evening /
weekend outings with notice

Keep it simple

Parks, local pools, libraries

Arts, crafts, board games,
puzzles, videos

Playgrounds, basketball
Policies and Procedures
Continued
Donations:
Furniture,
Toiletries


household goods, and clothes
/ Paper goods / Cleaning Supplies
For use at the Day Center
“Welcome Home” kits for families
All
donations should be made to the IHNA and
NOT directly to individual guests


Secures a legal tax deduction
Maintains appropriate boundaries
Policies and Procedures
Continued
Medications / Medical Needs:

OTC / Rx medications stored in a lock box that travels from
congregation to congregation. Keys are in Log Book.

On-call physician/nurse from your congregation should be
available for consult, or contact on-call staff.
Policies and Procedures
Continued
Medical Emergencies:

“Emergency Procedures” posted in host / guest areas.


Address of church, physical plant issues, inclement weather…
In general:






Phone 911
One host accompanies the guest family to the hospital while
the other host remains on site with the remaining guests.
Call Coordinator for back-up and guidance.
Report the emergency to IHNA staff via on-call phone.
Report back to the Coordinator and IHNA staff concerning
status and further arrangements.
If Rx meds need to be purchase, IHNA will reimburse cost
Policies and Procedures
Continued
Parenting:

Parents care for / parent their children. We can assist, but must
respect their right to parent.

Do not contradict a parent’s instruction to their child

Intervene only if a child is in danger or to prevent damage to the
congregation’s property.

Always ask parents’ permission.

Report any suspected abuse or
neglect to your Coordinator / IHNA
staff immediately.
Policies and Procedures
Continued
Conduct and Discipline:

Courtesy and respect at all times.

Don’t take distant / standoffish
behavior personally.

Report abusive behavior to the
Coordinator / IHNA staff.
If
a conflict escalates to a
threatening situation, call 911.
Policies and Procedures
Continued
Smoking, Alcohol, and Drugs:

Designated smoking areas outside congregations.

Alcohol and illicit drug use are strictly prohibited.

Volunteers should NOT confront guests who are under
the influence. Notify the Coordinator/IHNA immediately

If a guest suspected to be under the influence creates a
threatening situation, call 911.
Policies and Procedures
Continued
Spiritual Nurturing:

Volunteers should avoid direct
discussion of faith / beliefs unless
the guest specifically asks.

Volunteers may invite guests to
attend services, but do not push.

Volunteers may invite guests to
participate in an inclusive
(general) blessing at mealtimes.
Policies and Procedures
Continued
Confidentiality:




Do not discuss information about guests with others.
Always assume guests can hear your discussions with
other hosts / guests.
Share about your IHNA experience, but never use
names or other identifying details.
Information shared between IHNA staff, coordinators
and volunteers during host week should be protected
and transmitted with caution.


Do not leave red log book or notes where guests or non-IHNA
participants can read them.
Use caution in emails; avoid passing non-essential information
Volunteer / Guest
Relationships
What makes IHNA different from shelters and other services
for the homeless is THE VOLUNTEERS.
You





are there to serve but are also seen as authority figures
(rule keepers, schedulers, monitors, gate keepers)
What you say / do will carry additional weight and be
influential with our guests
Our guests may have issues with boundaries – you are
responsible to maintain appropriate boundaries at all
times
Volunteer Do’s / Don’ts
Signs of Unhealthy Boundaries
The Hospitality Code
The Key Points

Use your best judgment

Use common sense

Discuss things with other volunteers on duty

Call Coordinator for guidance

Call IHNA staff
Volunteer Training Videos


Introduction to IHN:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJvHnWdHd4&feature=youtu.be
How You Can Help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1muCbLL
quGw