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“What’s wrong with homeless shelters?” asks one New York Times blog post. Many, if not most, shelters are not set up to meet the unique needs of families with children. Families, like the Castellio’s, are mixed with the general population of the chronic homeless who are often drug-addicted, mentally ill, and have histories of violent pasts.

Only a small number of shelter serves women, children and families. Crowded conditions and late night busing to one-night shelters, for example, take a toll on thousands of families applying for shelter each year, according to NYC.gov. Furthermore, historically, there has been little priority placed on sheltering homeless families in their own communities. This has made it more difficult for some families to maintain community and family ties, while making it hard for children to remain in their own schools.

An Alternative…

In response to this crisis, the Interfaith Hospitality Network brings the faith community together to help families regain their housing, their independence, and their dignity.  IHN is a partnership of congregations within a community helping families who are facing homelessness.  It offers an opportunity for volunteers of all faiths to reduce homelessness and transform lives.

Interfaith Hospitality Networks are currently operating in 39 states and the District of Columbia, in large cities, suburbs, and rural counties.  They mobilize community resources: houses of worship for lodging, congregations for volunteers, social service agencies for assessment and referrals, and existing facilities for day programs.  This strategy enables networks to help homeless families achieve lasting independence at a third of the cost of traditional shelters.

***

http://www.familypromise.org/program/interfaith-hospitality-network

http://ideas.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/whats-wrong-with-homeless-shelters/?scp=2&sq=homeless%20shelters&st=cse

http://www.familyhomelessness.org/?q=node/4/

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/nyregion/24homeless.html

http://www.nationaltbcenter.edu/TB_IC/docs/09HomelessSh.pdf

http://www.hsunited.org/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/08/homeless-in-america-have_n_314449.html

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