Local churches come together to help homeless
Abby
Conely,
Reporter
Few dry eyes remained among those gathered in ETSU’s
auditorium March 1 as they listened to the words of Karen Olson, the founder of
an organization that brings together all denominations to aid the homeless.
Olson founded the Interfaith Hospitality Network in 1988, six years after she
first gave a sandwich to a homeless woman. As Olson talked with the woman, she
realized she could do more. Soon, she and her sons were visiting the homeless on
a regular basis.
“I think there’s a little bit of homelessness in all of us,” Olson told
her audience. “We’ve all known loss in a job, an illness or loss of a family
member. We can imagine in some small way what homelessness is.”
Realizing that one person could not provide food and shelter for the homeless
alone, Olson founded IHN to care for homeless families. Since that time, the
program has grown to 88 networks in 28 states utilizing approximately 85,000
volunteers each year.
IHN’s primary focus is on families, according to Joy Drinnon, a member of the
board of directors in Johnson City and assistant professor of psychology at
Milligan. Singles can get residence in shelters, but there, men and women are
usually split up. At traditional shelters, spouses must sleep separately and
older children are often separated from their families when night comes.
However, IHN residents are allowed to live together as a family.
IHN’s success relies on the willingness of churches to provide shelter and
volunteers. The network is comprised of both host churches and support churches,
according to Drinnon. Host churches house the families and provide volunteers
and supporting churches aid those congregations by providing food and more
volunteers.
In addition to providing food and shelter, IHN also helps families find other
resources in the community, teaches budgeting skills and helps them find
permanent housing, according to Brian Rosecrance, director of Johnson City’s
IHN chapter.
A long-term follow-up program for the families is not possible with the funding
IHN has. However, IHN averages less than four per cent returning to the same
program.
In the Johnson City network, only one family has returned to the program in the
last two and a half years, said Rosecrance.
Johnson City’s IHN consists of 11 host churches and 17 support churches of all
denominations. Last year, the IHN of Johnson City served 172 individuals, 61
families, and 124 children, according to IHN statistics.
Nancy Ross, assistant professor of the practice of developmental studies at
Milligan, was on the board that helped start Johnson City’s IHN around 1998.
Since that time, she and her husband have remained involved.
“I’ve grown up in church and been active in church all my life,” said
Ross. “This is the strongest ministry I’ve ever been involved in.”
Ross read from Matthew 25, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to
eat…I was a stranger and you invited me in…Just as you did it to the least
of these…you did it to me.” This ministry through the IHN is putting that
gospel into action, said Ross.
Senior Amanda Ruble has volunteered with IHN through Grandview Christian Church
in Johnson City. IHN works because homelessness is a problem bigger problem than
one person or one church can handle, said Ruble.
“There’s not a lot of people who have a solution,” said Ruble. “But
there is a solution.”
Senior Adam Kneisley also volunteers with IHN, usually from 7 to 9 p.m. when he
“just hangs out with the families.”
Hearing stories of families who are now successful is the greatest reward, said
Kneisley. The people leave the program with dignity and respect, and usually
with a home, and a future.