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IHN (Interfaith Hospitality Network)

Interfaith Hospitality Network is a non-profit cooperative endeavor between the religious community, volunteers, and social agencies committed to providing cost-effective living and comprehensive support services and programs for homeless children and their families during temporary homelessness enabling them to regain their independence.

The first network was launched more than 20 years ago in New Jersey and now there are 140 networks in over 124 communities in the United States.

Northern Kentucky celebrated its fifteenth anniversary last year and Christ Church is proud to say it has been involved for fourteen of those years!

Ten churches serve as host churches with help from twenty-five support churches.  On Sunday evening the families are picked up at the Day Center at Ninth and Patterson in Newport and brought to the host church by a volunteer in a 15-passenger van.  The families are introduced to the church facilities and shown to their room for the week.  There is a gathering room with toys and TV where they are able to socialize.  They have dinner with the volunteers and after dinner they do homework, play games and relax until bedtime.  Each family has their own room.  Wake-up time is 6:00 a.m., breakfast is served and they prepare to leave.  The van driver takes them back to the Day Center where the children go to school and parents seek job and housing opportunities.

This endeavor takes about 70 volunteers every rotation.  St. Catherine of Siena, St. John Anglican Catholic, Highland United Methodist, and St. Paul UCC assist Christ Church UCC in this endeavor.  Volunteers set up and break down the rooms, drive the van, buy food, prepare meals and entertain.

There are 750,000 homeless people in the U.S., families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population and 40% of homeless people are children.

IHN is currently looking for caring and committed mentors to meet with homeless families exiting shelter to encourage and assist them to achieve self-reliance.  Training is provided.   Please call Jennifer at the IHN office at 859-431-6840 for more information.

Visit their website at www.nkyihn.org.

"Do  not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:2