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Our
Our Vision is to make homelessness a temporary phase in the lives of families who seek assistance from our organization.
Who We Are Why We Exist
SPIHN provides compassionate, loving support with shelter, meals, and counseling services through a faith-based network to the homeless families of
SPIHN is an affiliate of Family Promise (formerly the Interfaith Hospitality Network) which has over 150 networks spread across the
Website: www.familypromise.org
Families are the fastest growing segment of homeless. Families with young children now account for more than 40% of
What We Do
We provide essential life skills education with the intent to break the cycle of homelessness and we provide opportunities for volunteers of all faiths to reduce homelessness and transform lives.
OUR SERVICES Day Center About five times a year, for one week at a time, Host Congregations open up their churches and provide overnight lodging, meals (supper, breakfast, and a bag lunch) and hospitality. Hosting rotates among the ten to thirteen Host Congregations in the Network, which provide lodging for up to four families (up to fourteen individuals) from 6:00pm to 7:00am the next morning.
Guests are transported to a day center every morning, which is located in a facility provided by a downtown church. At the day center, family members engage in daily activities. For children, the activities include going to daycare or school. Parents engage in different life-skills applications i.e. anger management, financial literacy; however, more instruction is needed to sustain an independent lifestyle. The day center is also equipped for guests to look for employment and housing.
Host Congregations
one of the guest rooms
Weekend Life Skills Project
The adult and youth guests of SPIHN, ages 11 and up, participate in an online life skills training course with Mr. Lucas Patterson. These sessions take place on Sunday afternoons for one hour. The objective of this project is to equip guests with the knowledge and skills to set goals and make better life choices. Lessons throughout the course assist in:
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Enabling adults to develop their coping and parenting skills as well as their employability skills;
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Creating employability awareness among youth;
- Engaging youth in activities that assist to negate any social behavioral issues caused by their present living situation;
- Building positive relationships and self-esteem.
BEGINNINGS OF
by Troy Bridges
In the fall of 2003 an article appeared in the Spartanburg Herald Newspaper announcing a meeting at St. James Methodist Church about a meeting regarding homeless families and to learn about an organization that reaches out to those families. I noticed the article and called our Deacon Chairman and suggested we have someone attend this meeting. He did not get anyone to go, so I asked our pastor, Dr. Kirk Neely if he knew anything about the organization and he said yes, that Morningside had a representative that attended meeting back several years before. I suggested that someone ought to go to this meeting and his response was: “Why don’t you go?” At the meeting the main speaker, Tony Dade, director of GAIHN (Greenville Interfaith Hospitality Network) explained how the program had 13 churches that hosted families one week at a time and the families spent the day at a day center where they were assisted in job search and finding housing. It was brought out in the meeting that As I attended some of the organizational meetings I learned about the lives being touched and what a wonderful blessing it was to these families to get this kind of help. I also learned from Dr. Kirk how the Interfaith Hospitality Network became a reality in North and As I look at how things have fallen into place and how this facility seemed to fit every need – I am convinced the Lord has brought this about for His Glory. I feel blessed to have been a part of bringing this about. To give some insight into this – I had no idea how this building was structured, but as you look about you will see evidence that this was used earlier as the Youth Room for Morningside Youth. We found when we looked closely at the facility this space met the criteria and had its own utilities, heat, air and separate electrical meter. A contract was set up with It was fitting, I felt, since Dr. Kirk’s son, Erik had passed away due to a seizure, that the
The Benefits of SPIHN
...To Guest Families
- More than 70% secure permanent housing. 63%remain self-sufficient and do not become homeless again
- Intensive case management by the SPIHN Director and Case Manager to assist in housing and job searches and in meeting other needs
- Safe, homelike lodging where families can stay together
- Teaching life skills
- Intensive case management by the SPIHN Director and Case Manager to assist in housing and job searches and in meeting other need
...To The Community
- Cost-effective mobilization of existing community resources
- Assists homeless families for about 1/3 the cost of public programs
- SPIHN becomes catalyst for other community initiatives, such as job counseling, parenting workshops, and transitional housing
...To Volunteers
- Opportunity to make a difference in their own community
- Opportunity for families to volunteer together
- Range of volunteer jobs fits varying schedules, talents, and commitment levels
...To Congregations
- Informs, energizes and motivates congregations
- Offers meaningful family-centered local outreach
- Offers interfaith partnerships
