History
 

IHN of Spokane

Where We Came From

Interfaith Hospitality Network of Spokane began as a labor of commitment and vision.  A few dedicated people saw the dire need to provide emergency shelter service to homeless children and their families.  Instilling a desire in more people about meeting this need they became a dynamic group organized to serve the community.  Using the Interfaith, now Family Promise, model, they contacted local churches to develop a network of host and support churches.  Finally, after many hours of hard work and prayer, the program opened on March 16, 1997. 

Initially located in three rooms of the First Covenant Church serving as the Day Center, the families began the schedule of evening shelter and meals in host churches, returning to the Day Center for case management support.  Over 100 families participated in the program before the need for a larger Day Center facility spurred the move into a house in the Gonzaga University neighborhood on Indiana St. 

While at the Indiana St. location, the program identified the need for post shelter services.  An Aftercare program was designed and implemented in July 2002.  Relying on the skills of a dynamic coordinator as well as the resources of the community, many of the past guests enhanced their skills to improve their ability to sustain their independence.

In 2005, as a result of the need to locate a new Day Center facility, the opportunity arose to move into our current location.  Our new building has a number of potential options that will benefit the families in the Network, at least once all the modifications and renovations to this building are completed.  Because the building is capable of expansion, we may also have the opportunity to provide two transitional housing units for families.  While this is a plan for the future, we hope to implement it within the next two years. 

Our history, through the efforts of the many volunteers, has laid the foundation for our future.  We have served over 225 families, consisting of 350 adults and 422 children, since our opening.  Yet, the need for shelter services for children and their families is growing.  We are poised to be a tremendous resource to the community to meet this need because our faith community has stepped forward to help their fellow community members with a hand up, not a hand out.

Send mail to ihnspok@cet.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 08/30/06