How WIHN is organized WIHN is a private, non-profit agency for Wake County. Professional staff provide families with daily, individual case management at a Day Center on Method Road. Each evening, two churches provide shelter, meals and transportation to up to five families each, serving up to ten families every night in the program. Each church commits to shelter families a week at a time, approximately once a quarter. There are 32 host and 16 support congregations in the Wake Network.  WFUMC has two support congregations- Hope Lutheran Church and Wake Christian Church which assists us by providing meals.

The Day Center While the families are in the program, the Day Center serves as the participants' or guests' address, home phone and central location for day-to-day activities. The children catch the school buses here and adults can access the public bus system as well. Computer access, workspace, laundry facilities, lockers for belongings, showers and lounges are available for guest use. Bedroom for sick or nightshift workers can be used as needed.

The Day Center staff interview potential families provide case management and counseling. Staff help guests to connect with the appropriate Social Service agencies for housing, medical care, etc. Congregations are supported with training, scheduling, and meetings with staff. Staff also secure funding, maintain the Day Center facility and promote awareness of the needs of the homeless in the community. There is a WIHN board which oversees the entire program and is responsible for Day Center staff.

The Day Center is located at Method Road in Raleigh off of Western BLVD at the edge of the NC State campus. The mailing address is 903 Method Road Raleigh, NC 27606. The phone number is 832-6024.

WIHN or Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network is a mission begun as a response to the problem of homelessness in the US.

Why should we be concerned about homelessness?

Poverty and homelessness in the US is a problem that affects all of us.

Nationally, over 12% of our population lives below the poverty line. That is 1 in 9 adults and 1 in 6 children. A poor child in the US is more likely to live in a working family than to be on government assistance, and more likely to live in a rural or suburban area than an inner city. A minimum-wage worker cannot afford fair market rent anywhere in the United States.

Locally, over 19,500 people live below the poverty line with more than 2000 people homeless. Families make up 56% of the total homeless population, the fastest rising segment of the homeless population. Over 380 of the total homeless persons in our region are children with an average age of 9 years old. Therefore this problem is widespread and includes many persons and families of different types and situations.

WIHN is here to help motivated homeless families who have lost housing, have jobs and need help to get back on their feet.

How to apply to the program for help

WIHN can house:

•    couples with children
•    single parents
•    married couples without children
•    single pregnant women

WIHN does work on an interview basis. If you are in need of shelter please call the Program Manager to check on availability and to schedule an intake appointment. All adult family members must be present for the interview and must have identification.

If your family is accepted into WIHN's shelter program after an on site interview, we will then schedule a time for you to move into our program. This interview process typically takes at least 1-2 days.

WIHN offers temporary housing for a period of 6-8 weeks while families strive to regain their independence. Housing is provided during daytime hours at a 'Day Center' and during the evening and overnight hours at one of many Wake County congregational facilities that are involved with WIHN.

WIHN provides:

•    24 hour shelter with private sleep rooms for each family
•    3 meals per day
•    transportation to and from the day center and host facilities
•    case management and referral
•    voice mail for each family and telephone access
•    access to computers and printers
•    laundry facilities and detergent at no charge
•    toiletries, diapers, and other day to day items
•    evening educational classes on such topics as budgeting and finance, parenting, and health WIHN requires that each family:
•    meet with staff once each week to complete goal planning
•    attend the evening educational program each week
•    complete an assigned chore daily
•    be employed full time or be looking for stable employment
•    have a TB test
•    be actively searching for housing and working toward goals
•    save the majority of their income toward housing

To apply for admission to WIHN call the Day Center at 832-6024 to schedule an interview.

National Interfaith Hospitality Network organization

www.nihn.org