The Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Grand Rapids helps low-income families achieve lasting independence. By providing a place to stay, meals, and intensive support, we alleviate homelessness for families with children. IHN is unique among shelters in that it does not split up families.

Four Basic Components:

1. Hosts. Fourteen congregations weekly provide lodging and food in their own buildings.

2. Day Center. IHN's main hub provides a place for family members to stay, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., when they are not at work, in school, or out looking for a job or a new place to live. It provides a mailing address and a base for housing or employment searches as well as assistance and guidance from IHN staff. Guests also can use the center to shower, do laundry and tend to preschool children.

3. Volunteers. Congregation members take on three main duties: Cooking and serving meals Playing with children or helping them with homework Interacting with guests with respect and compassion

4. Transportation. An IHN van takes guests to and from the day center. A truck carries bedding and luggage to the next host congregation.

Program Results

IHN defines success as a return to independent housing or transitional housing, rather than moving in with friends or relatives or to another shelter. IHN has an 84 percent success rate of placing families in their own permanent housing in an average of 26 days.

Over the past 12 years, IHN has served 2,638 individuals, or 877 families with a total of 1,625 children.

Beyond the Facts

From Wendy, a single mother with two children:

We came to IHN with the clothes on our backs and a small box of things. IHN was a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. They put a roof over our heads and made it feel like home. Even my kids felt safe here. It was easy for my kids to adjust because of the staff. IHN is not like any other shelter. Without this place, a lot of people would die out there.