Guilford Interfaith Hospitality Network (GIHN)
Contact Cathy Ingram or Leslie Webb for information or to get involved.
GIHN is a nonprofit organization that seeks to alleviate homelessness by uniting religious and community organizations to provide shelter, meals and compassionate assistance to homeless families. The mission of GIHN is to help low-income families achieve and sustain independence, while increasing volunteer involvement in direct service and advocacy. Local faith communities have committed the hearts and hands of their members, their financial resources and/or the use of their facilities to provide a safe and dignified refuge for GIHN families. Contact Cathy Ingram or Leslie Webb for information or to get involved.
GIHN's "host congregations" provide overnight accommodations and meals for 3 to 5 families for one week each, four times a year, at each location. Each family is given a private room set up in the congregation's building with beds supplied by GIHN. Volunteers from the host and other "support congregations" share dinner and breakfast with the families and provide overnight on-sight support. Each day, the families are transported in a GIHN-owned van between the host congregation and GIHN's "day centers," which are equipped with laundry and shower facilities. The families may leave for work or school or pursue job and/or housing searches with the help of GIHN staff. GIHN's Case Managers meet weekly with the families to develop personal goal plans to build the foundation they need to maintain permanent housing and long-term independence.
Starmount Church has been a host congregation for GIHN since 2000. Many of our members participate regularly in our "rotations." The year 2008 will bring about a few changes in Starmount's participation with the network. We will become a support church to St. Pius X Catholic Church during their first 2 rotations in January and March. In turn, St. Pius will support Starmount when we host the families in June and October. During this transition time, we will be looking for new volunteers to coordinate the rotations at our church.