The IHN program seeks to help homeless families by combining safe and comfortable surroundings with the hospitality of volunteer hosts. Guests benefit from interaction with compassionate volunteers who, by their kind deeds, create a homelike atmosphere in their churches and synagogues.

Each Hosting congregation furnishes overnight lodging and meals in its building for 3-5 homeless families (no more than 14 people) from approximately 5:30 pm to 7:00 am daily for one week at a time on a rotating basis. The volunteers also play with the guests’ children and help with homework. Each week utilizes 90 – 120 volunteers from the hosting congregation to house and support the families.

Support congregations, which do not host the families, support the Network by assisting with meals, volunteers, supplies and financial donations.

Housing Accommodations – The Host congregation turns their religious education rooms into bedrooms, so each family has their own room. The congregation also provides an area that includes tables for eating and doing homework, a relaxing area with sofas or chairs, a television and a children’s activity area that is stocked with games and toys.

Meals – The volunteers cook the dinners, either at home or in the Host kitchen, and the guests and volunteers dine together. Breakfast food is provided for the families to help themselves. Lunch food is available for the families to pack a sack lunch each day.

Volunteers - Volunteers in the IHN program provide homeless families with basic human needs – shelter, safety, and sustenance – with a spirit of warmth and hospitality. In addition to furnishing meals, overnight hosting and other program requirements, volunteers do simple but immeasurably important things. They talk to guests. They listen to them. They treat them with respect. Volunteers can be a source of hope, when hope has been lost.

Day Center – During the week at 7:00 a.m. the IHN Van Driver picks the families up at the congregation and brings them to the Day Center, 906 South Division Avenue, Grand Rapids. The Day Center is their “home base”. The children catch the school bus here, the parents can receive mail, use the telephone, rest, and they meet regularly with the staff to work on accomplishing their goals of finding permanent, affordable housing and also employment. The guests can also meet with their other social workers at the Day Center.

Referrals – IHN receives all of our referrals from the Salvation Army’s Homeless Assistance Program (HAP). They are the central point of entry into the shelter system for single women and families. The families are assessed by the HAP staff and then referred to IHN as we have openings.

Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homlessness – IHN is an active member of the Greater Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness. Mary Kay Baker, Director, serves on the Reducing Shelter Beds Roundtable.