INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK OF GREATER FORT WAYNE INC
2925 EAST STATE BLVD, FORT WAYNE, IN 46805 ihnfamily.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO SERVE HOMELESS FAMILIES BY UNITING FAITH COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AND LOCAL AGENCIES IN A COOPERATIVE EFFORT TO PROVIDE SHELTER, MEALS AND COMPASSIONATE ONGOING SUPPORT TO OUR GUESTS.

INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK OF GREATER FORT WAYNE, INC. (DBA JUST NEIGHBORS INTERFAITH HOMELESS NETWORK) IS A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. WE BEGAN PROVIDING EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR FAMILIES IN 2000. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE SHELTERED 3,489 INDIVIDUALS WITH THE DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICES GROWING. OUR MODEL IS INNOVATIVE, EFFECTIVE AND COST EFFICIENT. OUR PROGRAM IS UNIQUE BECAUSE: 1) IT IS THE ONLY LOCAL PROGRAM THAT SERVES ENTIRE FAMILIES IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE TEMPORARY HOUSING AND KEEPS THEM TOGETHER AS AN INTACT FAMILY UNIT; AND 2) THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT VOLUNTEER COMPONENT WITH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO VOLUNTEER TO SERVE OTHER FAMILIES WHO ARE HOMELESS. ALL EVENING MEALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ARE DONATED, PREPARED, AND SERVED BY OUR DEDICATED GROUP OF CHURCH AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. AS A RESULT, WE OFFER A HOME-COOKED, SIT-DOWN, AND NUTRITIOUS EVENING MEAL 365 DAYS A YEAR. THE INTERACTION THAT OCCURS BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND GUESTS PROVIDES LASTING IMPRESSIONS AND LIFE CHANGING LESSONS FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. POPULATIONS SERVED: WE ARE THE ONLY EMERGENCY SHELTER IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR ENTIRE FAMILY UNITS (PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN). EACH YEAR WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 300 INDIVIDUALS WITH THE HELP OF OVER 970 VOLUNTEERS FROM OVER 30 LOCAL CHURCHES. SERVICES PROVIDED: WE PROVIDE OVERNIGHT SHELTER AND MEALS. OUR STAFF ALSO PROVIDES. CASE MANAGEMENT INCLUDING A NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE MEDICAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND EMPLOYMENT NEEDS. WE ALSO ASSIST GUESTS WITH APPLYING FOR SERVICES FROM OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IN OUR PROGRAM IS 36 DAYS. IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY: WE COORDINATE A STRONG LOCAL COALITION OF OVER 30 HOST AND SUPPORT CONGREGATIONS; RECRUIT AND TRAIN OVER 970 VOLUNTEERS EACH YEAR; AND PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR APPROXIMATELY 300 INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR INCLUDING CHILDREN. 33 FAMILIES RECEIVED SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN 2020. 88% OF FAMILIES SERVED IN 2020 SUCCESSFULLY MOVED TO TRANSITIONAL OR PERMANENT HOUSING (NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 55%). SINCE WE OPENED OUR DOORS IN 2000, WE HAVE SERVED 1,479 FAMILIES COMPRISED OF 3,489 INDIVIDUALS. MUCH MORE THAN A HOMELESS SHELTER, JUST NEIGHBORS IS AN ADVOCATE FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS. IN FACT, WE OFTEN SAY THAT WE COULD LOSE OUR SHELTER BUILDING TODAY AND IT WOULD NOT SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE OUR CULTURE. EACH YEAR, WHILE WE HOUSE OVER 300 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR SHELTER, WE HANDLE OVER 1,000 CRISIS CASES OVER THE PHONE AND ASSIST OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUALS WITH OUR OUTREACH CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO LIST ACHIEVEMENTS SUCH AS MORE THAN DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SHELTERED AND DECREASING THE AVERAGE IN-SHELTER STAY FROM OVER 60 DAYS TO 36, WE BELIEVE THAT OUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT HAS BEEN OUR DEVELOPING STORY OF COLLABORATION AND ADVOCACY OUTSIDE OUR SHELTER WALLS. WE NOW ACTIVELY STRIVE TO PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION FOR FAMILIES BEFORE THEY NEED SHELTER. RESOURCES ALONE WILL NOT SOLVE THE NEED FACED BY THE SOCIAL SERVICE SECTOR IN COMBATING POVERTY. ONLY ADVOCACY AND PERSON-TO-PERSON SUPPORT CAN DO THAT. MANY OPTIONS EXIST FOR HELP, BUT WE BELIEVE OUR VALUE IS IN OUR ABILITY TO INSPIRE HOPE, MAKE CONNECTIONS AND SERVE AS A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS. OUR RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. IN ADVOCATING FOR FAMILIES, WE CAN GET THEM TO THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND STRENGTHEN THEM TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS CHAIRMAN OF THE REGIONS' PLANNING COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS. WE SIT AT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE REGIONALLY IN MAKING LASTING SOLUTIONS AND LEADING INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES. OUR IMPACT FAR EXCEEDS OUR SIZE. WE ARE AMONG THE SMALLEST AGENCIES IN OUR REGION DOING THIS WORK, BUT WE HAVE MADE AN OVERSIZED IMPACT. WE HAVE LED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VISION THAT HAS REDUCED THE EFFECT OF HOMELESSNESS FOR THOUSANDS WITH GOALS AND PROCESSES THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY MULTIPLE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. NOT ONLY ARE WE PERFORMING AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL INTERNALLY, BUT OUR MODEL IS PERFORMING REGIONALLY DUE TO OUR ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE SECTOR AS A WHOLE. THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, WE REFUSED THE TEMPTATION TO CIRCLE THE WAGONS AND PROTECT OUR OWN INTERESTS IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY. WE LAID NO ONE OFF. NO STAFF TOOK A CUT IN PAY. THERE WERE NO MISSED SHIFTS AND NOT A SINGLE STAFF MEMBER EVER CALLED IN TO CANCEL. WHILE FOCUSING ON KEEPING OUR STAFF AND RESIDENTS HEALTHY, WE TOOK ON THE DIFFICULT TASK OF LEADING OUR ENTIRE SECTOR THROUGH TRULY UNPRECIDENTED TIMES. WHILE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DID LESS, WE DID MORE. WE MANAGED AN OVERNIGHT HOTEL SHELTER PROGRAM FOR SINGLE WOMEN, PROVIDED PORTABLE RESTROOMS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY FOR DAYTIME USE, AND WE CO-MANAGED THE FORT WAYNE WINTER CONTINGENCY PLAN THAT PROVIDED A DAYTIME WARMING SHELTER FOR ALL THOSE WHO WERE HOMELESS WHILE PROVIDING 50 MEALS EACH DAY FOR LUNCH AND DINNER. WITH NEW EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP IN 2018, WE ARE STEPPING INTO A NEW CHAPTER WITH THE SAME MISSION. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ADDRESSING OUR STRATEGY FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS OF SERVICE. OUR BOARD AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO FOCUSING ON HOMELESS PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND DIVERSION IN ADDITION TO THE SHELTER PROGRAM.

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