Interfaith Hospitality Network of Ocean County, Inc.

Area churches and synagogues (our "host congregations") provide overnight accommodation on their premises, as well as a place for dinner and breakfast. Volunteers from host and support congregations provide a family-style evening meal as well as breakfast. Each congregation hosts for one week at a time, and they may host up to 14 guests. Typically, each congregation hosts families four times per y

ear. Support congregations partner with host congregations to staff a hosting week. IFS's trained volunteers welcome homeless families to their churches and synagogues and offer a caring environment. Our guests often form valuable and beneficial friendships with congregation members and have discovered community resources, employment leads, and housing opportunities through interactions with volunteers. During the day, guests work with staff to set priorities and take the steps necessary to gain self-sufficiency. In additional to shelter, IFS provides guest families with comprehensive case management, education and training in life skills, parenting, financial management, counseling and other services as need. Services are tailored to the family's individual needs. IFS often continues to provide services to families after they have left the program. We recently enhanced continuing services by adding a Family Mentoring Program.